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For the love of family...
The DuGrandpres of Charleston
Austin DuGrandpre never had a relationship with his father. Determined that his son—put up for adoption without his knowledge—won’t suffer the same fate, he tracks the young boy to Charleston...and to the home of his sister’s beautiful best friend Bree Collins. The all-consuming attraction is unexpected, but when Bree learns Austin’s true motives she faces potential heartbreak and difficult decisions.
JACQUELIN THOMAS is an award-winning, bestselling author with more than fifty-five books in print. When not writing, she is busy catching up on her reading, attending sporting events and spoiling her grandchildren. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.
Also By Jacquelin Thomas
Five Star Attraction
Five Star Temptation
Legal Attraction
Five Star Romance
Five Star Seduction
Styles of Seduction
Wrangling Wes
Five Star Desire
Forever My Baby
Only for You
Return to Me
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
Return to Me
Jacquelin Thomas
www.millsandboon.co.uk
ISBN: 978-1-474-08479-6
RETURN TO ME
© 2018 Jacquelin Thomas
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk
“Bree?”
She gasped at the sound of her name and turned from the window.
Austin stood naked except for his pajama pants, which rode low on his hips, looking sexier than he had earlier that night.
“Yes?”
“Why aren’t you in bed?”
His masculine scent reached out to Bree, sending her entire body into a heated tailspin.
“I thought you were sleeping,” she said, trying to stay in control.
A slow smile touched his lips and her body tingled in response.
The erratic pounding in her chest returned.
Had it truly ever left?
“I couldn’t sleep.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “You should probably try to get some rest. We have an early flight in the morning.”
Bree glanced down at her empty cup and came up with the perfect excuse to leave the living room. “I’ve finished my tea. Maybe sleep will come now.”
When she walked past him, Austin reached out, taking the cup from her hand and placing it on the end table before wrapping a strong arm around her waist and pulling her to him.
His head lowered to hers.
Dear Reader,
For unmarried biological fathers, having the right to consent or object to the adoption of one’s child is a huge issue. Imagine not knowing about that child until after the fact. In Return to Me, Austin DuGrandpre moves to Charleston for two reasons: to build a relationship with his father and to find his son.
My inspiration for this story was born out of an article I read about fathers in certain states having to prove paternity if they are not married to the mother.
I hope you will enjoy reading Austin and Bree’s story in the third installment of The DuGrandpres of Charleston.
I love hearing from my readers, so please visit me on the following:
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/jacquelinthomas
Web: www.jacquelin-thomas.com
Email: jacquelinthomas@gmail.com
Blessings to you,
Jacquelin Thomas
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
About the Author
Booklist
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
Dear Reader
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Extract
About the Publisher
Prologue
“I wish I’d never met you,” she muttered as she ripped clothes from hangers, tossing them into a tattered suitcase.
“Jasmine, I’m sorry you feel that way,” Austin DuGrandpre responded. “The truth is that we’re toxic together, so it’s best to end things now.”
A cold, congested expression settled on her face as she hurled a string of profanity back at him.
Jasmine was leaving town with her best friend, and Austin thought it was a good idea. They needed some separation. They had dated for two years and the relationship was tumultuous at best. For the past month, Jasmine had been pressuring Austin for a marriage proposal. When nothing came of it, she decided to give him an ultimatum—marry her or she would leave town and find a new man.
Austin chose the latter. Jasmine was free to start over with someone new. Perhaps she’d be much happier.
Her mouth took on an unpleasant twist as she shot daggers toward him with her eyes. “I can’t believe I wasted all this time with you. I should’ve known better than to get involved with someone like you...”
Austin opened his mouth to utter a retort, but remained silent. He would not allow himself to be baited into another argument with Jasmine.
“Did you ever love me?”
“That wasn’t the problem.”
She frowned with cold fury. “Then what is it? I’m not good enough to be your wife—the wife of a lawyer?” Jasmine folded her arms across her chest. “What? You wanna be with some snobby ivy league graduate...huh?”
“Jasmine, the problem is that you and I are not a good fit,” Austin stated. “You can’t go around starting fights with every woman who looks my way. I come home to you every night, but you still accuse me of cheating...we’re just not good together. You like to party and you get angry when I tell you I’m tired.”
Her face was marked by loathing. “Why shouldn’t I have a good time? When you’re home, all you do is work. It’s always about your clients.”
“You knew I was an attorney when we met.” He paused a moment before asking, “If you find me so boring, why have you been pushing so hard for marriage?”
“All of my friends are getting married and it’s not like I’m getting any younger, Austin. Any man would want me for a wife...anyone but you.” Jasmine met his gaze. “But it’s cool. You see, I know what you really want and it’s the one thing you won’t get. I’m gonna make sure of it.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Jasmine shrugged, then closed her suitcase. “Doesn’t matter.”
Coming out of the musing, Austin looked down at the birth certificate in his hand as if seeing it for the first time.
He wasn’t.
He had stared at it many times since procuring the copy from Jasmine’s former best friend, Cheryl. They left Dallas, Texas, with Las Vegas in their sights.
Then one day Cheryl was back home. She requested a meeting with Austin, shocking him with the news that Jasmine was pregnant when they left town.
Austin could not believe she would just put the child up for adoption. He eyed the birth certificate once more. He was never listed as the father. In fact, the space was blank.
She had taken his son from him—the one thing that would hurt him most.
Chapter 1
“Aren’t you going to dance with the bride?”
Austin’s sister, Jadin, was standing before him.
His gaze slid to find her identical twin dancing with her new husband. Austin’s mouth turned upward into a smile. “Maybe later. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jordin look so happy.”
“She’s just married the man of her dreams, big brother. She’s completely over the moon.”
A sea of people dressed in tuxes and bright dresses in summer colors roamed through the elegant space, admiring the paintings and photographs dotting the cream-colored walls. Surrounded by fourteen acres of live oak groves with serene views of the Ashley River, Austin’s mind was elsewhere.
“You look distracted. Everything okay?”
“I’m fine,” he responded. “Uh... Aunt Rochelle is trying to get your attention.”
Jadin grimaced. “I guess I’d better see what she wants. That woman is getting on my last nerve today. Ever since she broke her ankle, she acts like I’m her personal maid.”
“You volunteered your services, remember?”
“Do me a favor. Next time I open my mouth, punch me in it.”
Austin bit back his amusement as he watched his sister make her way across the room. He hadn’t known their aunt long, given his mother’s determination to keep him from that side of his family, but it was enough to know she could be very demanding.
His eyes traveled to the table where the wedding party was seated. There were a couple of bridesmaids engaged in conversation. One of the ladies was Dr. Sabrina Collins, whom everyone affectionately called Bree—the woman who had adopted his son when Jasmine had placed him up for adoption.
Austin’s gaze locked on her. She looked up, meeting his gaze. When she smiled, he felt the weirdest sensation—a strange mixture of both calm and excitement churning through his bloodstream like a virus, quickly spreading until he could hardly breathe.
Austin gave himself a mental shake. He wasn’t looking for a romantic liaison. He sought to get back what had been taken from him. He never had the luxury of a relationship with his father, due in part to his mother’s bitterness over losing the only man she ever loved to another woman. Her actions forced him to watch on the sidelines as his father doted on his twin sisters, Jordin and Jadin. Austin vowed his child would not tread down that same painful path.
With the help of a private investigator, Austin had succeeded in locating the child in Charleston, South Carolina. He thought it a blessing and fate that his son lived in the same city as his father and siblings. Austin had been taking steps to build a relationship with his family. Locating his son here, too, was perfect.
However, he was not prepared to discover that the woman raising his son was also the best friend of his sister, Jordin. This could be a potential complication, but he was not going to let this stop him from petitioning the courts to reverse the adoption.
Austin walked out on the balcony to enjoy the June weather. It was bright and sunny, but the temperature was just right. He agreed with guests who’d commented that the day was perfect for the wedding celebration.
He stood out there enjoying the picturesque grounds before navigating back through the doors and sea of wedding guests toward the nearest drink station, where he ordered a rum and cola.
At the sound of laughter, Austin turned in time to watch as Jordin and Ethan cut slices of their wedding cake. His sister looked happy and very much in love.
He smiled.
“What are you doing over here by yourself?”
Austin glanced over at his father. “Getting one last drink.”
Etienne surveyed his face. “You okay, son?”
His gaze traveled back to Bree. “I am.” The truth was that he had missed the first two years of his son’s life and it filled his heart with an unrelenting ache. His pain was a shadow that resided in the corners of his heart but never failed to appear morning, noon or night.
“How are you dealing with the idea of Jordin being married?”
Etienne shrugged. “Ethan’s a good man and he’ll make her happy—of that, I have no doubt...but I have to confess, I’m feeling a mite old right now. All of my children grown...” He turned to face Austin, giving him a faint smile that held a touch of sadness. “I hate missing out on so much of your life.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“It doesn’t lessen the pain.”
Austin believed his father because he felt the same way where Emery was concerned.
* * *
The office was empty when Austin arrived Monday morning around seven. He’d been working at his family’s Charleston firm for a year but wasn’t normally the first to arrive. Today he wanted to get an early start. It helped him to keep busy.
Austin entered the break room and made a cup of coffee.
The office manager, a woman in her early forties, walked in and gasped. “Oh, goodness... I’m sorry, Austin. I didn’t expect anyone to be here. I’m usually the first to arrive.”
“I woke up at five and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I decided to come in a little earlier,” he explained. “No point in wasting the time doing nothing.”
She nodded in agreement. “I have to tell you...your sister’s wedding was beautiful. Oh, my goodness... Your family really knows how to throw a wedding.”
“It was nice,” he told the office manager. “I enjoyed meeting your husband, Gwen. It turns out that I went to high school with the son of one of his frat brothers.”
She smiled. “He told me. This world isn’t as big as we think.”
Austin couldn’t agree more.
They talked a few minutes more while she waited for her tea to brew.
“I’d never been to Lowndes Grove Plantation before Jordin’s wedding,” Gwen stated. “And that house...it was stunning.”
Austin agreed. “Jordin told me that it was built around 1786. The owners did a great job with the restorations.”
“I almost want to have another wedding. Just to hold it there.”
He smiled, then checked his watch. “Time to start my workday. I’m covering for Jordin while she’s on her honeymoon.”
“You’ve been pulling a lot of long hours, Austin.” Gwen picked up her cup of tea. “Work-life balance, okay?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Austin took his coffee and headed to his office.
As soon as he sat down, his focus shifted to the stack of documents on his desk.
It was almost eleven when he called one of the paralegals and asked, “Were you able to get the information we needed from the mother?”
“Yes, I emailed it to you a few minutes ago.”
“Thanks,” he said before hanging up the phone.
Right after lunch Austin reviewed a couple of Jordin’s cases. He appreciated the fact that she was so organized with everything he needed right where he could find it.
The sound of a baby crying in the hallway caught his attention, and he felt a wretchedness he’d never known before.
A stab of guilt lay buried in his chest. Maybe if he’d handled things with Jasmine differently, he might have had a chance to be with his son.
From everything he’d been told about Dr. Bree, Austin believed her to be a good woman. According to Jordin, she was also a very good mother to Emery. He wanted what was best for his child. It was this desire that conflicted him.
Austin intended to be a part of his son’s life, but he worried about the effect it would have on Emery. He was safe and secure with Bree. The little boy didn’t know he had a father. How would he respond when Austin made his presence known?
* * *
Austin walked back to his desk and picked up a file. He had just returned to the office from the courthouse. It was after five, but he wasn’t quite ready to call it quits for the day. He’d always driven himself hard, putting work ahead of pleasure.
He also wanted to make his father proud. Austin had a lot of respect for both his father and uncle. Etienne and Jacques DuGrandpre had the same passion for law as their father, and his father before him. It was no wonder he, Jordin and Jadin all became attorneys.
It was in their blood.
He worked another two hours before shutting down his computer.
Tonight, he was leaving work earlier than usual. It was 7:30 p.m. Austin wanted to spend some time at the gym before he went home.
Just as he did every time he was on his way out, Austin paused in front of the large, looming portrait of Marcelle DuGrandpre, his grandfather. Austin’s heart swelled with pride. Despite all odds during a time of racial tension, his grandfather opened the doors of the DuGrandpre Law Firm in 1960. When he died, Austin’s uncle and father took over, the legacy continuing with their children.
“I miss him.”
He hadn’t heard anyone enter the room. Austin glanced over his shoulder. “Jadin, I didn’t know you were still here. I thought I was the only one working late.”
“Unfortunately, I will be putting in some long hours all week,” she responded.
Austin had grown close to his twin sisters, Jadin and Jordin, since moving to Charleston a little over a year ago from Dallas.
“I met him once,” Austin told his sister. “Granddad was in town for a conference or something. He came to the house.”
Jadin smiled. “I’m not surprised. He was all about family.”
“I remember thinking that I was in trouble.” Pointing to the portrait, he added, “He had that same stern expression on his face. But then he smiled at me.”
“People used to think he was mean, but he wasn’t. He would do anything he could to help others. He even offered his services pro bono to those who couldn’t afford to pay.”
“He was a good man. I’m glad I had the chance to meet him.” Austin escorted Jadin to her car, then strolled down the next row to where his SUV was parked.
* * *
He drove the short distance to Holbrooke Boot Camp Gym, which was owned by his brother-in-law, Ethan.
He needed a strenuous workout to expend some of his pent-up energy. He’d been on edge ever since locating his son. Austin gathered his bag and navigated inside.
After a two-hour intense training, Austin still found himself wound tight, his frustration banked, but not eliminated.
When he arrived home, he pulled up his contact list on his phone. He stared at the names for a solid ten minutes before shutting it down. Austin considered calling a young woman he’d spent time with in the past, but changed his mind. She’d made it clear on several occasions that she wanted more than he was willing to offer.
Austin liked her, but she reminded him of Jasmine and that was a path he wasn’t willing to travel down again.
He wasn’t looking for a serious relationship now—his thoughts were consumed with his son. Austin’s heart ached with the knowledge that he had a child who was just beyond his reach.
Chapter 2
Bree Collins exited through the doors of New Beginnings Preschool, heading to her car. She checked her watch. She had taken Monday off to wind down after Jordin’s wedding. Since Jadin was currently working on a high-profile case, Bree volunteered to run the necessary errands for the wedding, returning rental items and finalizing payment.
Today she wanted to get to the office early enough to have her first two cups of coffee while reviewing notes before the arrival of her clients.
Her receptionist was on the phone when she arrived.
“Good morning, Casey,” Bree greeted.
“Hey, beautiful.”
She loved the woman’s bubbly personality and genuine demeanor. Her patients adored Casey.
“How was the wedding?” the receptionist asked.
“It was very romantic and beautiful,” Bree responded. “I don’t think it could’ve been more perfect.”
Casey’s infectious grin always set the tone for the day. “I know Jordin looked stunning.”
“She did,” Bree confirmed with a smile. “Speaking of weddings, have you and Eric set a date yet?”
Casey nodded. “We’re getting married in October. On the tenth.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“Now that we’ve picked our wedding day, the engagement feels more real to me.” Casey handed her a stack of files. “You’re booked all morning and two appointments after lunch.”
“Light day...”
“Don’t worry, you have a full day tomorrow.”
Bree strolled into her office. Her eyes landed on the photograph of her son that sat on her desk. Her heart sang with delight whenever she thought about Emery.
When she lost her husband, Caleb, just before their second wedding anniversary, Bree wasn’t sure she would ever recover. As a psychologist, she worked with others who were dealing with grief, but when it came to her own... Bree found herself in a bad state of mind.
It wasn’t until she decided to adopt that she found hope again. When she met Emery, it was love at first sight. The moment she laid eyes on him—Bree knew he was the child for her.
* * *
Bree picked up Emery and headed home. She was thrilled to see her little boy and looked forward to spending some quality time with him after dinner. He was a very happy and secure soon-to-be three-year-old.
“Mommy, I wanna ’nana.”
“Don’t you want to eat dinner, sweetie?” she asked. “Mommy’s making fried chicken and macaroni.”
“Shick’en...mac’roni...yummy.”
Bree laughed. “That’s what I say. Yummy.”
As soon as they arrived home, she turned on the television for Emery, then went straight into the kitchen, where Bree washed her hands, then poured oil into a fryer. While it heated, she seasoned four chicken drumsticks and boiled water for the macaroni.