Kissing Jessie — Laurie Kellogg

A Reluctant Groom

Just one kiss and he knew . . . he'd made a terrible mistake

Growing up unwanted left contractor, Mike Danvers, unwilling to risk his heart. Despite wanting marriage less than an incurable disease, he yearns for the family he never had. At nearly thirty-eight, he feels time running out and reluctantly proposes to his uptight girlfriend, Tracy, fearing he may regret settling. When he meets his fiancée's much younger sister, Jessie, he's enchanted by her exuberance and wishes there weren't thirteen years between him and the bubbly pixie.

Twenty-four-year-old culinary school graduate, Jessie Perkins, is hesitant to accept Mike's offer to turn the old Victorian she's inherited in Redemption, PA, into a B&B. The heart-thumping attraction she feels for her sister's hunky intended could become a big problem. The last thing she wants is to provoke Tracy's perpetual jealousy. Unfortunately, with an extremely tight budget, she'd be a colossal idiot to turn down Mike's help and expertise.

Within weeks of starting the renovation, they forge a precious friendship. Mike is bummed when Tracy suddenly breaks their engagement, but he and Jess are both confident she'll change her mind about wanting children. Then, one night, Jessie's innate sensuality shatters his resistance. He kisses her and realizes he made a huge mistake proposing to her sister. Despite that he would never ask Jessie to give up her youth to become his wife, there's no going back with Tracy -- especially after his sizzling, unforgettable night with the girl who taught him to trust a woman's love.

Jessie couldn't care less about their age difference. Even so, she refuses to destroy her relationship with her sister. Somehow, she must convince Tracy Mike isn't right for her. Meanwhile, she won't hesitate to use all the secrets he shared -- about what men want and how to tempt them -- to lure him back into her bed and persuade him to stay there for a lifetime.