He took a deep breath. "Angela burned me. I stayed with her way longer than I should have because I loved her. It nearly cost me Tyler. And it cost Tyler more than any kid should have to pay for his father's mistakes."

"You couldn't have known-"

"Uh-uh. You're listening, remember?" He said it with a gentle smile.

Kara nodded and let him continue.

"I made up my mind that I would never love another woman. Not when it messed up my judgment to the point where I put my own child at risk. When I came here, when I started...pursuing you, that was the attitude I was clinging to. That I wouldn't love you. That I was incapable of loving you. But you were...you were just too good to pass up. If I could have started from scratch and created the perfect mother for my son, she would have been you, Kara."

She nodded. "I understand."

"No, you don't. I thought I'd stick around here maybe for a year or so and then talk you into coming back to Chicago with me. That I'd pick up my life right where I left off. But something happened while I was wooing and winning you, Kara Brand. Something happened to me. You happened to me. You made me fall in love with you."

She drew in a soft breath, because those were the last words she had been expecting him to say to her tonight.

"I love you. It took me way too long to realize it. But I did, and when it hit me, it hit me hard, Kara. I love you. I want you to marry me because I love you. And the fact that you're the best woman in the whole world and the perfect woman to help me raise my son-those are just bonuses."

Tears welled in her eyes. She tried to blink them back, but they spilled over all the same. "I can't believe-"

"Well, you will, because I intend to spend the rest of my life proving it to you. If...if you're willing to let me. Will you marry me, Kara?"

She smiled through her tears and met his eyes, stunned to see they were damp as well. "Yes. Of course I will. And if you really want to go back to Chicago, then I'll go with you. I'll go anywhere you want me to, Jimmy."

"Stop it. Stop sacrificing yourself, will you? You don't want to go to Chicago. Kara, you deserve to ask for and have what you want. So tell me the truth. Where do you want to live?"

She blinked and searched his face. "I...I want to live here."

He smiled and seemed to drink in her face with his eyes. "I don't want to go back to Chicago anymore, honey. My life is here now. With you and this town and your family." He looked around the house. "This is the first place I've lived that...that feels like home."

"That's because it is home," she whispered. "For you and Tyler and for me."

"And it always will be," he promised. And then he drew her close and kissed her gently. "Always."

Books by Maggie Shayne.

Silhouette Intimate Moments.

Reckless Angel #522 Miranda's Viking #568 Forgotten Vows...? #598.

Out-of-This-World Marriage #633 Forever, Dad #694 *The Littlest Cowboy #716 *The Baddest Virgin in Texas #788 *Badlands Bad Boy #809.

*The Husband She Couldn't Remember #854.

Brides of the Night #883,

"Twilight Vows"

*The Baddest Bride in Texas #907 *The Outlaw Bride #967 *Angel Meets the Badman #1000 Who Do You Love? #1027 "Two Hearts"

The Brands Who Came for Christmas #1039 Brand-New Heartache #1117.

Secrets and Lies #1189 Feels Like Home #1395 *The Texas Brand Wings in the Night The Oklahoma All-Girl Brands Silhouette Shadows.

Twilight Phantasies #18 Twilight Memories #30 Kiss of the Shadow Man #38 Twilight Illusions #47 Silhouette Books Born in Twilight.

*The Texas Brand: The Homecoming Run from Twilight Strangers in the Night "Beyond Twilight"

Fortune's Children.

A Husband in Time World's Most Eligible Bachelors *That Mysterious Texas Brand Man The Fortunes of Texas.

Million Dollar Marriage Family Secrets Enemy Mind.

Broken Silence "The Invisible Virgin"

COMING NEXT MONTH.

Be enthralled, moved, thrilled and delighted by exceptional reads from outstanding authors and well-loved series.

Come back every month for newly released selections in a variety of categories offering stories that appeal to every taste and mood.

Have a great time!

ON SALE IN JANUARY 2006.

Look for new titles in the following categories Bestseller Enthralling stories by the brightest stars in women's fiction-from MIRA Books. Big romances that sweep you away-from HQN Books Passionate Reads Powerful, provocative tales full of heat and passion-from Harlequin Blaze, Silhouette Desire and Harlequin Presents Romantic Suspense Danger...romance...adventure...suspense! Stories that will take your breath away-from Harlequin Intrigue and Silhouette Intimate Moments Inspirational Stories of faith, hope and love that warm the heart and nourish the soul-from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Compelling suspense-from Love Inspired Suspense. Faith-inspired chic lit from Steeple Hill Cafe Women's Fiction Books that celebrate the "next" stage of women's lives...because every life has a second chapter! From Harlequin Next Women's Action Adventure Strong, sexy, savvy heroines who save the day...and always get their man. From Silhouette Bombshell Chick Lit Women's fiction with attitude, these humorous, edgy, hip stories celebrate life's little curves...From Red Dress Ink Fantasy/Science Fiction Powerful, magical tales, vivid characters and richly imagined worlds from the first imprint solely dedicated to female focused fantasy-Luna Books AVAILABLE NOW.

Showcase Enthralling stories by the brightest stars in women's fiction-from MIRA Books. Big romances that sweep you away-from HQN Books KILLER TAKES ALL by Erica Spindler, MIRA (psychological thriller) BEFORE SUNRISE by Diana Palmer, HQN (contemporary romance) DARK SKY by Carla Neggers, MIRA (romantic suspense) 50 HARBOR STREET by Debbie Macomber, MIRA (women's fiction) GHOST WALK by Heather Graham, MIRA (paranormal mystery) MASQUERADE by Brenda Joyce, HQN (historical romance) CODE NAME: BABY by Christina Skye, HQN Books (romantic suspense) NIGHT FEVER by Diana Palmer (contemporary romance) Passionate Reads Powerful, provocative tales full of heat and passion-from Harlequin Blaze, Silhouette Desire and Harlequin Presents THE ITALIAN'S STOLEN BRIDE by Emma Darcy, Harlequin Presents UNCONTROLLABLE by Susan Kearney, Harlequin Blaze WHATEVER RILEY WANTS by Maureen Child, Silhouette Desire SEXY ALL OVER by Jamie Sobrato, Harlequin Blaze HOT TO THE TOUCH by Jennifer Greene, Silhouette Desire TALKING ABOUT SEX...by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin Blaze THE TYCOON'S TROPHY WIFE by Miranda Lee, Harlequin Presents BOSS MAN by Diana Palmer, Silhouette Desire DON'T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS by Leslie Kelly, Harlequin Blaze Romantic Suspense Danger...romance...adventure...suspense! Stories that will take your breath away-from Harlequin Intrigue and Silhouette Intimate Moments MAN OF HER DREAMS by Debra Webb, Harlequin Intrigue LOVING THE LONE WOLF by Ingrid Weaver, Silhouette Intimate Moments GHOST HORSE by Patricia Rosemoor, Harlequin Intrigue SUSPICIOUS by Heather Graham, Silhouette Intimate Moments RIDER ON FIRE by Sharon Sala, Silhouette Intimate Moments SECURITY MEASURES by Joanna Wayne, Harlequin Intrigue EPIPHANY by Rita Heron, Mallery Kane, Debra Webb, Harlequin Intrigue FEELS LIKE HOME by Maggie Shayne, Silhouette Intimate Moments Inspirational Stories of faith, hope and love that warm the heart and nourish the soul-from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Compelling suspense-from Love Inspired Suspense. Faith-inspired chic lit from Steeple Hill Cafe LOVING FEELINGS by Gail Gaymer Martin, Steeple Hill Love Inspired BLESSED BOUQUETS by Lyn Cote, Lenora Worth and Penny Richards, Steeple Hill Love Inspired FOR THE TWINS' SAKE by Jillian Hart, Steeple Hill Love Inspired NOTE OF PERIL by Hannah Alexander, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS by Elizabeth White, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense BLACK HILLS BRIDE by Deb Kastner, Steeple Hill Love Inspired WINDINGO TWILIGHT by Colleen Rhoads, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense MILLION DOLLAR DILEMMA by Judy Baer, Steeple Hill Cafe STORM CLOUDS by Cheryl Wolverton, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL by Shirlee McCoy, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense DECK THE HALLS by Arlene James, Steeple Hill Love Inspired HER BROTHER'S KEEPER by Valerie Hansen, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense WEDDING AT WILDWOOD by Lenora Worth, Steeple Hill Love Inspired EVEN IN THE DARKNESS by Shirlee McCoy, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense PAST SECRETS, PRESENT LOVE by Lois Richer, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Women's Fiction Books that celebrate the "next" stage of women's lives...because every life has a second chapter! From Harlequin Next THERE'S ALWAYS PLAN B by Susan Mallery, Harlequin Next RIGGS PARK by Ellyn Bache, Harlequin Next CUTTING THROUGH by Joan Hohl, Harlequin Next THE ME I USED TO BE by Jennifer Archer, Harlequin Next PELICAN BAY by Charlotte Douglas, Harlequin Next STARTING FROM SCRATCH by Marie Ferrarella, Harlequin Next GRIN AND BEAR IT by Leslie LaFoy, Harlequin Next Women's Action Adventure Strong, sexy, savvy heroines who save the day...and always get their man. From Silhouette Bombshell ONCE A THIEF by Michele Hauf, Silhouette Bombshell HOT PURSUIT by Kathryn Jensen, Silhouette Bombshell DEVIL'S BARGAIN by Rachel Caine, Silhouette Bombshell THE GOLDEN GIRL by Erica Orloff, Silhouette Bombshell The It Girls miniseries FLAWLESS by Michele Hauf, Silhouette Bombshell The It Girls miniseries LETHALLY BLONDE by Nancy Bartholomew, Silhouette Bombshell The It Girls miniseries MS. LONGSHOT by Sylvie Kurtz, Silhouette Bombshell The It Girls miniseries Chick Lit Women's fiction with attitude, these humorous, edgy, hip stories celebrate life's little curves...From Red Dress Ink WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by Carole Matthews, Red Dress Ink KILLER SUMMER by Lynda Curnyn, Red Dress Ink DO THEY WEAR HIGH HEELS IN HEAVEN? By Erica Orloff, Red Dress Ink THE NIGHT I GOT LUCKY by Laura Caldwell, Red Dress Ink SCENES FROM A HOLIDAY by Laurie Graff, Caren Lissner, Melanie Murray, Red Dress Ink THE JINX by Jennifer Sturman, Red Dress Ink Fantasy/Science Fiction Powerful, magical tales, vivid characters and richly imagined worlds from the first imprint solely dedicated to female focused fantasy-Luna Books THE DESTINED QUEEN by Deborah Hale, LUNA URBAN SHAMAN by C.E. Murphy, LUNA POISON STUDY by Maria V. Snyder, LUNA IN STONE'S CLASP by Christie Golden, LUNA WINTER MOON by Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, C.E. Murphy, LUNA BRIGHID'S QUEST by P.C. Cast, LUNA.