THE FRENCHMAN'S BRIDE,Used

Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Excerpt: "There's a place on our property near the Dordogne river you ought to see while you're here." Vincent took the next left onto a single lane road. After following it through the lush countryside to a cherished spot, he stopped the car. >From this view you could see the elbow in the river. Rows of grape vines met the water. Though there was a swift current, the top looked like glass. The rounded shapes of the trees matched the same cloud formations in the sky. He cast Hallie a covert glance, eager to witness her reaction. Again he had to ask himself why he wanted her to see what he saw in the view. "It's so beautiful." Her breath caught. "It couldn't be real. It just couldn't." Her dazed eyes swerved to his. "Is this whe" "No It's too deep and dangerous." "I wasn't going to bring up Arlette," she assured him quietly. "I wouldn't be that insensitive. I thought maybe this was your favorite swimming hole growing up with your friends." Mon Dieu, what was wrong with him? "I'm sorry, Hallie. The last thing I want to do is offend you. Now that the twins know about their mother, I want to close the door on that chapter of our lives forever." "I don't blame you." "But will you be able to forgive me?" She jerked her head around. He saw a blur of bluegreen fire. "How can you ask me that? Don't you realize I'm your friend?" Friend. In his gut he recognized he wanted her to be more than that to him. He wan "Tell me what Paul's reaction was like. Does he wish you hadn't destroyed his image of his mother?" He struggled for breath. "Paul took the news much better than I would have imagined." "So did Monique. Her last words before she went to sleep were, 'There's no one like papa." Vincent felt his eyes smart. "Thank you for telling me that. I just wish the rest of it were as simple." His hand curled tighter around the steering wheel. Her expression fell. "I don't understand. I thought you inferred Paul had forgiven you and is talking to you again. What's wrong now?" "It's true we've reached a place where he's at least acknowledging my existence. Unfortunately I'm afraid we're going to have to scratch Dr. Maurois's theory and come up with a new plan." "Why?" "A new ingredient has slipped into the mix neither I or the good doctor knew about when we talked at the hospital." Her eyes implored him to be specific. "Your previous marriage," he muttered. She lowered her head. Since meeting Hallie, one of the things he'd found remarkable about her was her outward calm. To watch her unexpectedly clasp her fingers until they went white revealed she was barely holding on to her control. Vincent knew all about that chaotic state. For some inexplicable reason he liked the idea that a lay nun could be thrown off base as well. "Now that Paul knows you've been a woman in every sense of the word, he's convinced you're not nun material. On the contrary, he finds your interests and needs an irresistible challenge rather than a turnoff. "Before he left my room he made it clear he intends to become so important to you, you won't look at him and see your husband's face anymore. You'll see Paul's." Product Description THE FRENCHMAN'S BRIDE by Rebecca Winters released on Dec 25, 2003 is available now for purchase. From the Publisher A most unlikely wife Hallie Linn can't fall in love with gorgeous millionaire Frenchman Vincent Rollandit's too complicated, too difficult, it will change her life forever. Vincent, too, has reasons for not getting involved with Hallie, but he wants heras his bride... Wonderfully unique every time, Rebecca Winters will take you on an emotional roller coaster! Read on to find out how Hallie and Vincent overcome all the odds stacked against them and unite in marriage forever... From the Author I wrote this story to show the complication of a man who falls in love with a woman his son is crazy about. He loves his son and would neve