Harper's Bride by Alexis Harrington

This story jumps right into it with a confrontation between two of the main male characters. At the beginning I was not so sure about our hero. What I did like was that there was no instant attraction, or spark like other stories. Which to me isn't realistic. The hero, Dylan Harper, and bad guy, Coy Logan, were in a heated argument. Coy shows his true despicable nature and sells his wife and child to get out of a large debt. Of course Dylan is not interested, he wants his money, not a woman and baby. He doesn't want to add to his responsibilities. As both Dylan and Coy continue to argue, Dylan's friend, Rafe Dubois, joins the confrontation. With Rafe's persuasion, Dylan realizes that if he doesn't help Melissa, she and the baby would suffer physically and his conscience could not live with that.
For all outward appearances, Melissa and baby Jenny are now living with Dylan as his wife and child. She cooks and cleans for him, but he has agreed to no physical relationship. As time passes, Dylan sees the true character of Melissa come out. Her beauty which was hidden before under fear, meekness, and a few bruises softens Dylan's aloofness. Her caring and strength begin to show immediately while she takes care of Dylan and baby Jenny. Melissa begins her new life with determination to make the best of it. She wants a better life for her daughter and is set on finding a way to make it happen. As she watches Dylan, she begins to relax. She sees a man who takes care of his responsibilities, which now include her and her daughter. The attraction between to two grows steadily.
Dylan comes to the rescue when Coy comes back and threatens Melissa and Jenny. Then news from Dylans past comes just in time to make up Dylan's mind that it is time to return home. Melissa travels with him to her home. They both have unfinished business to take care of.
I enjoyed this story. I do wish it would have given a bit more incite to Dylan's and Melissa's future life. I will be looking for more books by Alexis Harrington. This story left me feeling cheerful. Of course I am a sucker for happy endings.