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Ain't She Sweet?

Филлипс Сьюзен Элизабет

Colin watched Heidi coming toward him with a carving knife. “You’re the only man here who can cut up a ham without mangling it,” she said. “Give Honeybell to me.”

“I’m not eatin’ anything but my Lean Cuisine,” Meryli

Sugar Beth caught his gaze across the women’s heads and gave him one of those smiles he cherished, a hint of bewilderment still clinging to its edges, as if she couldn’t quite believe all this was hers. Sometimes he had a hard time believing it himself.

A Love Story for Valentine had lived up to Sugar Beth’s prediction and had become his most popular book, although he could have done without the resultant publicity, not to mention his editor’s pleas that he someday write another romance novel. Colin shuddered. Sugar Beth, of course, thrived on the publicity and gave interviews at the drop of a hat. Valentine’s Books, the name she’d settled on for her store, was an immediate success, and Jewel had expanded Gemima’s. The Depot Coffeehouse that Heidi managed for Sugar Beth had turned into the gathering place for everyone in town, and a bigger hotbed of gossip he never hoped to witness.

Life was good but not perfect. He and Sugar Beth still argued whenever the mood struck them. The Seawillows were involved in a cockamamie scheme to find a sex partner for Meryli

“Di

“One of these days I’m bringing sushi,” Heidi said. “They’re sellin’ it at Big Star now.”

“I’m not eatin’ sushi,” Deke retorted. “I doubt it’s even legal in Mississippi.”

“Time for grace,” Amy a

“Come here, Honeybell.”

Sugar Beth took the toddler from Heidi and wove through Ryan and Deke to get to Colin’s side, where she clasped his hand and they both gave thanks for more blessings than either of them could ever have imagined.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Bouquets of magnolia blossoms to everyone who helped me with my Mississippi research, especially Susan Jordan and Sherry Colhoun at the Holly Springs, Mississippi, Chamber of Commerce; Bridgette Correale for the photos; and Adele San Miguel for making certain I received them. Thanks to Elizabeth Baucom, Do

Thank you, Peter Janson-Smith and Sir Richard Rougier, for permission to quote from the works of the incomparable Georgette Heyer.

I’ve received information, advice, and support from so many friends and associates. Thank you, Steven Axelrod, Jill Barnett, Je

At William Morrow and Avon Books, I am forever grateful to Carrie Feron, my fearless and peerless editor. Also Nancy Anderson, Richard Aquan, Leesa Belt, George Bick, Ralph D’Arienzo, Karen Davy, Darlene Delillo, Gail Dubov, Tom Egner, Seth Fleishman, Josh Frank, Jane Friedman, Heather Gould, Brian Grogan, Cathy Hemming, Angela Leigh, Kim Lewis, Selina McLemore, Brian McSharry, Judy Madonia, Michael Morrison, Jan Parrish, Shelly Perron, Chadd Reese, Rhonda Rose, Pete Soper, Michael Spradlin, Debbie Stier, Andrea Sventora, Bruce Unck, and Do

Bless all your hearts,

SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS

About the Author

Susan Elizabeth Phillips soared onto the New York Times bestseller list with her 1998 smash Dream a Little Dream. In addition to being the only two-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year award, she holds the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Susan delights fans by touching hearts as well as fu

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