My Man Michael

Table of Contents

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF LORI FOSTER

“Intense, edgy, and hot. Lori Foster delivers everything you’re looking for in a romance.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

“Tension, temptation, hot action, and hotter romance—Lori Foster has it all!
Hard to Handle
is a knockout!”

—Elizabeth Lowell,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

“Another success for Lori Foster. The humorous bantering and friendship among the characters makes for an enjoyable escape into the world of hunky SBC fighters and the women they love . . . a sweet read.”—
Fresh Fiction

 

“A well-written tale with lots of details . . . Emotional, warm, stressful, and humorous moments keep the story interesting. Reading the previous books will add some background, but this book stands well on its own.
Hard to Handle
is one book not to miss.”—
Romance Reviews Today

 

“An enjoyable book with great characters and plot that flows well.”—
Love Romances and More

 

“With many familiar faces and a delightful secondary romance, Foster’s latest is a wonderful, heartwarming story with plenty of action, a suspenseful mystery, and a glimpse into the sport of fighting. This very pleasing third addition to Foster’s series is one that even readers who don’t like sports can enjoy.”—
Romantic Times

 

“An entertaining contemporary tale.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“Delightful . . . an enjoyable, fast-paced read. Foster turns up the heat with Simon and Dakota’s relationship, which makes the story even more satisfying . . . A double thumbs-up!”

—
Roundtable Reviews

 

“Exhilarating . . . readers will enjoy going the distance with this fine pairing of two champions.”—
Midwest Book Review

 

“Quintessential Lori Foster . . . This would make a good beach book—although it’s spicy enough that you may want to read it in air-conditioned comfort rather than sitting in the sun!”—
The Romance Reader

 

“Has delightfully familiar faces as well as intriguing new ones.”—
Romantic Times

 

“Foster is at her best
Causing Havoc
with this delightful combination family drama, romance, and a bit of a mystery that all blends together into a wonderful contemporary.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“She writes about real people that are easy to connect with yet flawed enough they seem true to life and lovable. The plot is intricate, interesting, and entertaining, making this yet another page-turner that you can’t put down. The sexual chemistry between couples in
Causing Havoc
palpates and explodes off the pages of this sizzling book . . . There is no doubt in my mind that you will love this book . . . You can’t go wrong with a Lori Foster book.”—
Two Lips Reviews

 

“Foster supplies good sex and great humor along the way in a thoroughly enjoyable romance reminiscent of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s novels.”—
Booklist

 

“Convincing, heartfelt family drama.”—
Publishers Weekly

MORE PRAISE FOR LORI FOSTER

“The pages sizzle.”

—Christine Feehan,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

“Fun, sexy, warmhearted . . . just what people want in a romance.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

“Foster outwrites most of her peers.”—
Library Journal

 

“Lori Foster delivers the goods.”—
Publishers Weekly

 

“Known for her funny, sexy writing.”—
Booklist

THE WINSTON BROTHERS
WILD
CAUSING HAVOC
SIMON SAYS
HARD TO HANDLE
MY MAN, MICHAEL

 

 

 

HOT CHOCOLATE
(with Suzanne Forster, Elda Minger, and Fayrene Preston)
SINFUL
(with Maggie Shayne, Suzanne Forster, and Kimberley Randell)
WILDLY WINSTON
THE POWER OF LOVE
(with Erin McCarthy, Rosemary Laurey, Kay Stockham, Toni Blake,
Lucy Monroe, and Dianne Castell)
CHARMED
(with Jayne Castle, Julie Beard, and Eileen Wilks)
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE
(with Deirdre Martin, Jacquie D’Alessandro, and Penny McCall)

 

 

 

 

 

SERVANT: THE AWAKENING
SERVANT: THE ACCEPTANCE

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

MY MAN, MICHAEL
A Berkley Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley edition / February 2009

Copyright © 2009 by Lori Foster.

 

All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form
without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in
violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

 

eISBN : 978-1-440-68646-7

 

BERKLEY
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Berkley Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY
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The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

To my sister, Monica Flowers, aka Moni, aka Mo.

 

Let me tell you, you are one tough cookie! You also happen to be a lot of fun, even when bruised and broken. The wreck, the hospital stay, and the very long recuperation were awful, but even under those circumstances, we really enjoyed having you around.

 

We look forward to taking the “Little Angel” RVing with us again!

 

Love ya bunches,

 

LoLo

CHAPTER 1

M
ORNING brought the sounds of muted footsteps, soft chatter, and the rattling of trays and machines. Life disturbed the quiet that had settled over the hospital during the long night. Unshaven, sullen, bordering on depressed—though he’d never admit it—Mallet shifted, and winced in pain.

All that had happened still seemed surreal—except for the awful pain. That was real. Very real.

Dawning sunlight flickered through the frozen layer of lacy frost that climbed the bottom of the window, blocking a dull view of the parking lot. Mallet stared at it, brooding, wishing for a change.

For uplifting news.

It was futile, and he knew it, but he wouldn’t accept it. He couldn’t.

Tomorrow they would release him from the hospital, and a few days later he’d be expected to start therapy to learn to walk with only one good leg.

Closing his bloodshot eyes and swallowing around the pain left in his throat from the resuscitation tube, he considered his destroyed future. How could everything change so drastically in such a short time?

In the last four years, he’d made a strong name for himself in the SBC. At twenty-six, he was considered a major contender in two weight classes and one of the most feared competitors in the sport. In another month, he would have fought for—and won—the title belt.

His hands fisted. His jaw flexed and tightened.

Thinking of the wreck brought an invisible weight to his chest, crushing his lungs.

Crushing his legs.

Through closed eyelids, he saw it all, felt it and smelled it and relived it again and again. Flashing lights, metal grinding against metal, the acrid stench of burnt rubber as tires squealed and brakes ground without success; the lash of the seat belt cutting across his body, trying in vain to pin him in place.

The impact of the wreck sent his brand-spanking-new, shiny black sports car tumbling like a snowball going downhill. Each flip had compressed it more, disfigured it, destroyed it.

Only when it slammed into a concrete wall did it finally stop.

With Mallet trapped inside.

“Good morning, Michael. Are you ready for your breakfast?”