Take A Chance On Me (Logan's Legacy) Read online

  “If I don’t let you go now, we’ll end up in my bedroom.”

  “Maybe it’s time we gave in to this. Maybe it’s time we grab what we can now. Before it’s too late.”

  “You’re not the type of woman who has an affair.”

  “No, I’m not. At least, not with just any man. But with you… I want to feel you again, Adam. I want to touch your skin and let you touch mine.”

  “Leigh.”

  His voice was a sharp warning, and she knew her words were as arousing as anything else they might do. Somehow she managed, “I’ve missed you, Adam.” It had taken her this long to realize the emptiness inside of her had always been her loss of Adam. No other man had come close to filling up that space.

  “If I touch you—” His hand stopped in midair.

  “Touch me,” she whispered.

  But instead of touching her, he kissed her.

  Now there was no turning back.

  Dear Reader,

  Well, if it’s true that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, you’re going to need some fabulous romantic reads to get you through the remaining cold winter nights. Might we suggest starting with a new miniseries by bestselling author Sherryl Woods? In Isn’t It Rich?, the first of three books in Ms. Wood’s new MILLION DOLLAR DESTINIES series, we meet Richard Carlton, one of three brothers given untold wealth from his aunt Destiny. But in pushing him toward beautiful—if klutzy—PR executive Melanie Hart, Aunt Destiny provides him with riches that even money can’t buy!

  In Bluegrass Baby by Judy Duarte, the next installment in our MERLYN COUNTY MIDWIVES miniseries, a handsome but commitment-shy pediatrician shares a night of passion with a down-to-earth midwife. But what will he do when he learns there might be a baby on the way? Karen Rose Smith continues the LOGAN’S LEGACY miniseries with Take a Chance on Me, in which a sexy, single CEO finds the twin sister he never knew he had—and in the process is reunited with the only woman he ever loved. In Where You Least Expect It by Tori Carrington, a fugitive accused of a crime he didn’t commit decides to put down roots and dare to dream of the love, life and family he thought he’d never have. Arlene James wraps up her miniseries THE RICHEST GALS IN TEXAS with Tycoon Meets Texan! in which a handsome billionaire who can have any woman he wants sets his sights on a beautiful Texas heiress. She clearly doesn’t need his money, so whatever can she want with him? And when a police officer opens his door to a nine-months-pregnant stranger in the middle of a blizzard, he finds himself called on to provide both personal and professional services, in Detective Daddy by Jane Toombs.

  So bundle up, and take heart—spring is coming! And so are six more sensational stories about love, life and family, coming next month from Silhouette Special Edition!

  All the best,

  Gail Chasan

  Senior Editor

  Take a Chance on Me

  KAREN ROSE SMITH

  To Edie, my critique partner, my phone sister, my second set of eyes. I’m so grateful we’re friends.

  With deep appreciation to my research sources: My Portland contacts—Doreen Roberts and Leah Vale; my transplant experts—Dr. Danil Hammoudi, Dr. Meir Wetzler; as well as Linda Goodnight and her son Dr. Travis Goodnight. Thanks also to Judy Duarte and Lynda Sandoval, who made coordination of the prequel books easy.

  Books by Karen Rose Smith

  Silhouette Special Edition

  Abigail and Mistletoe #930

  The Sheriff’s Proposal #1074

  His Little Girl’s Laughter #1426

  Expecting the CEO’s Baby #1535

  Their Baby Bond #1588

  Take a Chance on Me #1599

  Silhouette Books

  The Fortunes of Texas

  Marry in Haste…

  Silhouette Romance

  * Adam’s Vow #1075

  * Always Daddy #1102

  * Shane’s Bride #1128

  † Cowboy at the Wedding #1171

  † Most Eligible Dad #1174

  † A Groom and a Promise #1181

  The Dad Who Saved

  Christmas #1267

  ‡ Wealth, Power and a

  Proper Wife #1320

  ‡ Love, Honor and a

  Pregnant Bride #1326

  ‡ Promises, Pumpkins and

  Prince Charming #1332

  The Night Before Baby #1348

  ‡ Wishes, Waltzes and a Storybook

  Wedding #1407

  Just the Man She Needed #1434

  Just the Husband She Chose #1455

  Her Honor-Bound Lawman #1480

  Be My Bride? #1492

  Tall, Dark & True #1506

  Her Tycoon Boss #1523

  Doctor in Demand #1536

  A Husband in Her Eyes #1577

  The Marriage Clause #1591

  Searching for Her Prince #1612

  With One Touch #1638

  The Most Eligible Doctor #1692

  Previously published under the pseudonym Kari Sutherland

  Silhouette Special Edition

  Wish on the Moon #741

  Silhouette Romance

  Heartfire, Homefire #973

  KAREN ROSE SMITH

  Award-winning author Karen Rose Smith first glimpsed the Southwest on a cross-country train ride when she was sixteen. Although she has lived in Pennsylvania all her life, New Mexico has always called to her. The mountains there have a power and beauty she hopes she managed to convey in this book. Readers can reach Karen at her Web site (www.karenrosesmith.com) or write to her at P.O. Box 1545, Hanover, PA 17331.

  THE PORTLAND PRESS

  Rare Blood Disorder Reunites Twins Separated As Infants!

  Portland, OR, March 2004—Adam Bartlett, sexy, single CEO of Novel Programs, Unlimited, was reunited with twin sister Lissa Cartwright Grayson—the woman who snagged her own most eligible bachelor last month—after their biological father tracked Adam down in the hopes of saving his younger son’s life. Sources tell the Press that eight-year-old Mark Cambry collapsed during a soccer game and was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder last year. Witnesses called the reunion between the twins “heartwarming” and “beautiful.” Adam Bartlett’s business partner, Dylan Montgomery, had this to say, “Adam’s reaction at learning he had a sibling—let alone a twin—was nothing short of pleased shock.” Word also has it that the moment he arrived at Portland General to start the proceedings, Adam had another unexpected reunion—with his long-ago love, Nurse Leigh Peters. Is it possible that before the month is out, Adam will go from bachelor businessman to heroic husband?

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  CEO Adam Bartlett rose to his feet.

  The men and women sitting around the large mahogany table went silent, though Adam’s former college roommate and present partner, Dylan Montgomery, winked at him. Adam almost smiled. At twenty-seven, he and Dylan ran the software firm they’d started after college. Who could have guessed they’d be this successful…this rich…this respected?

  Towering above his board of directors, Adam glanced down at the papers on the table before him. He didn’t actually need notes. “Good morning, everyone. I called this meeting to discuss the success of our latest product line. Our recent endeavors have produced another winner. Since m
ost companies who have networks have jumped on the bandwagon—”

  Unexpectedly, the door to the conference room swung open. His pretty brunette receptionist, Darlene, looked harried. Though she’d only been with Novel Programs, Unlimited, for a few months, she knew better than to interrupt his board meetings.

  Now, however, she waved her hand toward his office suite down the hall. “I’m terribly sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Bartlett, but there’s a man out here who demanded he be shown to your office. He won’t take no for an answer. He insists this is a matter of life and death.”

  Over the years, through his company’s meteoric rise, Adam had managed to stay out of the limelight and away from the public. “What’s his name?”

  “Jared Cambry.”

  The name wasn’t familiar unless Adam had met the man at a conference or a merger meeting. He looked over at Dylan, but Dylan shook his head indicating he didn’t recognize the name, either.

  “He said he’s a lawyer,” Darlene added in a rush as if in her agitation she’d forgotten that important detail.

  Adam pushed his hand through his thick brown hair, accepting the fact his day was going to take a sharp left turn onto a road he didn’t expect. To the board, he said, “Dylan will take over the meeting and keep me posted on everything you discuss. Hopefully I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  As sandy-haired Dylan took Adam’s place at the head of the table, Adam exited the room and started down the hall to his office. The door was ajar, and Adam spotted a man around his own six-two height pacing the room.

  “Jared Cambry?” Adam asked, examining the man’s features, his dark-brown hair, thinking something about him seemed familiar. Though the lawyer appeared to be in his midforties, if the tension lines on his forehead persisted, he would age fast.

  Cambry stared at Adam for a long moment. “Are you Adam Bartlett?”

  “Yes. I only have a few minutes. I’m in the middle of a board meeting.”

  “This could take more than a few minutes,” Cambry said wearily. “Can we sit down?”

  “Mr. Cambry, I have a tight schedule today. If you’d like to make an appointment for later in the week—”

  “This can’t wait. I need to talk to you now. My son is dying.” He stopped abruptly, then took a moment to compose himself.

  Adam took a few steps deeper into the office, closer to Cambry. “I’m sorry about that, but I don’t understand what it has to do with me.”

  When Cambry squared his shoulders, his expression became unreadable. “I’m your father.”

  Everything inside of Adam went still. His adoptive mother had only told him his mother’s name had been Olivia and she’d been a teenager when he was born. When Adam had searched for further information after he’d turned eighteen, he’d discovered that a fire and power outage at Portland General and The Children’s Connection Adoption Center had wiped out hard drives that had stored confidential as well as necessary information.

  Adam’s childhood with his adoptive family had not been a happy one. How he’d longed to find and know his real parents….

  Hope nudged a frozen part of his heart open, but before he could ask any one of the myriad questions clicking through his head, before he could rejoice in the fact that he did indeed have a real father, Jared Cambry told Adam why he’d come.

  “My son Mark has a rare blood disorder and needs a bone marrow transplant. His sister and brother aren’t a match. Your sister, Lissa, isn’t a match.”

  “My sister?”

  This time, obviously not caring whether or not Adam sat, Cambry sank down into the wine leather chair in front of Adam’s desk. “When I went searching for Olivia and her baby—” He stopped. “Maybe I should start at the beginning.”

  Automatically Adam closed the door to his office, feeling as if his whole world had suddenly tilted. He wouldn’t be getting back to that board meeting, not until he learned every detail he possibly could about his background from Jared Cambry.

  Unbuttoning his suit jacket, he sat on the corner of his desk and waited.

  Cambry cut a look toward Adam, another out of the office building’s window, then his gaze came back to rest on Adam again. “To put it simply, I got a girl pregnant in high school. Her name was Olivia Maddison. When she told me she was pregnant, I—”

  Shifting uncomfortably, he cleared his throat. “I came from a wealthy family, had plenty of money and offered it to her for an abortion. She wanted to have the baby. Then she told me to get out of her life because she intended to do without me or my money. After my family and I moved to Arizona, where I attended college, I contacted her, but she hung up on me. Around the baby’s due date, I tried to call again, but her phone had been disconnected and I couldn’t locate her.”

  When he looked away this time, Adam wondered what kind of man Jared Cambry was now. Did he still run from responsibility?

  “Go on,” Adam prompted, needing to know the whole story.

  “I didn’t get married until I was twenty-seven. Danielle and I had two kids, a boy and a girl, who came along eighteen months apart. Eight years after that, Danielle suddenly found herself pregnant again. That’s when we had Mark.”

  Adam could see how Jared’s face lit up at the thought of his younger son.

  “Mark was sunshine from the minute he was born, always had a smile on his face, got along with everybody. I’m not sure why—maybe because of my roots and my past—I felt drawn back to Portland about a year ago, moved my family and opened a law office here. We were building a new life…a great life. Mark liked T-ball and soccer and we gave him hockey equipment for his eighth birthday. But then one day, he passed out while he was playing soccer, and we rushed him to the hospital. We learned he had this rare blood disease and without a bone marrow transplant, he won’t make it past the age of ten.”

  Jared stopped, then pulled himself together again and went on. “Danielle and I were tested. So were Mark’s sister and brother. None of us was a match. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t concentrate on anything and then I remembered Olivia…and our baby.”

  Adam couldn’t imagine any man forgetting that he had a child out in the world somewhere.

  “I’d never told Danielle anything about her, but now Mark’s life depended on finding Olivia. Danielle agreed we had to do everything possible so I hired a private investigator. Searching newspapers, he found that Olivia and her mother had been in an accident and taken to Portland General Hospital. From obits, he found that Mrs. Maddison died immediately after the accident and Olivia passed on a few weeks later.”

  Adam was beginning to get the gist of the search. “Your investigator went to Portland General?”

  “Yes. But the hospital had suffered a fire and power outage that affected not only Portland General but The Children’s Connection Clinic attached to it. Most records from that time had been destroyed. We got a break when we found out The Children’s Connection personnel in recent years had taken time to input information from burned paper files and now they did have some sketchy information. We got bits and pieces—Olivia’s name and a partial list of expenses sent to the state.”

  When Cambry rubbed his fingers back and forth across his temple, Adam could see this situation was hard on the man.

  An instant later, Cambry continued, “We couldn’t tell exactly what info matched up. I had what I’d thought was your name—Adam Bartlite—but the address listed Valencia Vineyard about two hours outside of Portland. When I went there, I found Lissa who had been adopted by the Cartwrights. It turned out her birthday was the same one I had for you. With the obvious resemblance, you must be twins. Olivia was a twin—her sister died at birth.”

  Not only a sister, but a twin. Adam tried to absorb that while he listened.

  “Lissa was tested, but she’s not a match, either. We finally discovered your last name had been misspelled on the records. My private investigator tracked you down. And here I am.”

  “Does Lissa still live at the vineyard?”


  “She does, and she’s interested in meeting you. But she’s away on her honeymoon right now.” He glanced out the window again, then back at Adam. “I know the chief of staff at the hospital. We can have your testing done today if you agree. We’ll know in a week to ten days if you’re a match.”

  Trying to digest all of it piece by piece, Adam kept the impact of the news deep inside. He was used to not showing his feelings. He was used to not sharing what he was thinking about anything but business.

  That’s just the way it was.

  He hated the idea of going back to the hospital where his adopted sister had died twenty years ago—the same hospital where doctors gave impersonal care to patients they didn’t think twice about. He avoided memories of that day whenever he could. Over the years he’d learned to eat right and exercise so he didn’t have to see doctors. Yet that could all change now if he agreed to do this.

  Bringing out a handkerchief, Jared Cambry wiped his brow. He was sweating, and Adam understood why. “Did you say Mark is eight?”

  “Yes. He’s at home right now. But if you’re a match and you agree to donate your bone marrow, he’ll have to be admitted to the hospital to be prepped and have chemo and possibly radiation before the transplant.”

  Adam had been seven the day that the horse he loved had trampled his sister, the day his adoptive father had had the horse put down and Delia had died. At that age it had been close to impossible to understand life and death as well as hospital protocol. How could Cambry’s young son deal with the idea of a bone marrow transplant or face the possibility of dying?

  No matter what Jared Cambry had done or not done in the past, Adam couldn’t know he had a half brother out there and not help him.

  Looking Jared square in the eye, he decided, “Set up the testing and let’s see if I’m a match.”