title: Tidings of Great Joy
author: Brown, Sandra
description: Ria Lavender hadn't planned on spending a passionate Christmas night in front of a roaring fire with Taylor Mackensie.  But somehow the scents of pine tree, wood smoke, and male flesh produced a kind of spontaneous combustion in side her, and morning found the lovely architect lying on her silver fox coat beside the mayor-elect, a man she hardly knew.  Ten weeks later she was pregnant with Taylor's child...and insisted they had to marry.  A marriage "in name only", she promised him, to protect the innocent baby, with an annulment right after the birth.  Taylor agreed to a wedding, but shocked Ria with his demand that they live together as husband and wife  --  in every way.  She couldn't deny she wanted him, the ladykiller with the devil's grin, but there was danger in succumbing to the heat he roused  --  in falling for a man she couldn't keep.  Taylor knew the child she carried bound her to him, but could his rough and tender loving be the miracle gift she longed for?