by Tracey Lyons
She turned so they were facing each other. Her gaze was intent when she spoke. “I need you to understand why I went after you. When Julia brought the note and I read the contents, I saw it as a way to finally prove myself to you. For me it was the only way to make you see that I trusted you.”
“I wish you hadn’t gone to such extremes.”
“It’s been so difficult for me to know what you’ve been going through. I was so intent on saving the land and helping my neighbors, that I didn’t see what it was doing to you.”
“Don’t feel that you need to take all the blame, I’m just as at fault. I could have been honest with you from the beginning.” Chase took her hand in his, marveling that it fit so perfectly inside his. “We’ve come a long way together.”
“Yes, we have.”
He sensed a tension in her. Hoping to ease it a bit, he offered, “Would you like to go for a ride?”
“Sure.”
The sun was shining brightly, high over the Adirondack Mountains as they rode out of the homestead.
His crisp, white shirt outlined the hard muscles of his back and shoulders. A cool breeze ruffled the fabric of his sleeves. Hannah tipped her head back and inhaled deeply, smelling the damp, dewy woods and just a hint of Chase’s muskiness. She could feel his excitement.
They rode along at a slow pace, he seemed intent on taking in every bit of the forest that now surrounded them. The trail narrowed and Hannah pulled her horse to a stop.
“We’re going to Crane Pond?”
He turned to look at her, his eyes filled with a tenderness that Hannah had never seen before. “Together we can do this. I won’t leave you alone, I promise.”
“I can’t do this. I’m sorry, but I can’t go back there. Please, don’t ask me to do it. I won’t do it. Not even for you.” Hannah caught her trembling lower lip fast between her teeth.
The front of his shirtfront fluttered against the hard wall of his chest as he inhaled and then slowly let his breath out.
“I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. You do believe that, don’t you, Hannah?”
She didn’t even have to think before answering him. “Yes.”
“Then trust me now.”
Hannah thought she couldn’t possibly love him any more than she did right now. He waited until she was alongside him before continuing. She gripped the leather reins between her hands. They talked softly as they made their way up the trail. “I thought about this long and hard before making the decision to bring you back here.”
“You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Think about things before you do them. I’m a little more impetuous.”
“Yes, you are. The point is, I know how much you love this place, almost as much as you do your mountain. I don’t ever want you to be afraid to come here.”
“So you think I should face my fear head on?”
“Yup. We need to put the entire nightmare with Amos Smithson behind us.”
She couldn’t respond to that comment. The fear and rage over what had happened to her brought on such emotion that she couldn’t speak. Several minutes of silence passed when Chase turned to look at her.
“Are you going to be all right?”
“Yes.” She smiled bravely.
Since he wasn’t certain how Hannah would react to being at the place where they’d first made love, he took her to a spot higher up on the trail. He dismounted on top of the flat ledge that rose up above the shoreline. The ledge was framed by the tall pine trees. Off to the left side a curved pathway wound its way over rocks and in between two large boulders before it ended at the water’s edge.
The waves lapped along the shoreline. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms about his waist. His breath caught in his throat. He felt the gentle swell of her breasts pressing against his back. His arousal was swift. He ignored his desire. Gently extricating himself from her hold, Chase caught hold of her arm and pulled her around so they were standing side by side.
“Have you ever seen a sight more beautiful?” He watched as two hawks soared above the pond, letting the breeze carry them across the water.
Following his gaze with her own, Hannah whispered into the breeze, “Just the sight of you.”
He turned and pulled her into his embrace. With her head resting against his shoulder he said, “I know how difficult it is for you to be here. Hannah, it’s important to me that we put the past in its place.”
Hannah didn’t say a word. Her only response was to pull him closer to her. He felt the pressure of her arms wrapped around his waist.
“You remember when we were going home, after I found you here?”
She nodded.
“You said that this place was ruined. I told you we would make it special again and I meant what I said, Hannah.” He put his hand under her chin and tipped her head back so they were looking into each other’s eyes. “I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. Will you be my wife, Hannah?”
“I love you so much. Yes, I will marry you.”
He didn’t even know when they’d moved, only that in the next moment Hannah’s arms had snaked up his back and were twined around his neck. As always the passion inside her amazed him. She kissed him fiercely—her lips upon his with a hunger that could only match what he was feeling right at this moment. Her tongue teased his lips.
Chase groaned aloud, ripples of pleasure flowed through him like the water lapping against the rocks below them.
“I’ve missed you so much, Chase. I’ve missed this.”
“So have I.”
“Thoughts of you were all that kept me sane while I was with Amos.”
“It’s over now, Hannah. We are going to start fresh from this day forward.”
Hannah’s sapphire eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
“Do you know what your touch does to me?”
Her face was flushed with desire. “I can feel what my touch does to you.” Ever so slowly, Hannah’s hand trailed down his chest, over his flat stomach, stopping when she found his hardness.
In the next instant time stood still. They were the only two human beings who mattered. Chase tasted of Hannah and she of him as together they undressed each other. With their clothing strewn beneath them, they lay side-by-side on the ledge.
He trailed kisses along her face, down the slender column of her neck. He continued on, kissing each rosy nipple of her ripe breasts, then moved lower, running his tongue down her smooth stomach. He looked up at her, wanting to see her passion. Hannah watched him, a smile teasing her lips, a rosy flush heightening her cheekbones. With her hands she pushed his head lower. Acquiescing to her silent wish, his mouth found the soft open petals of her womanhood. She moaned and arched her back as his tongue darted in and out of her tender flesh. Her pleasure filled his mouth. He shuddered at her passion.
Slowly he left that spot, trailing kisses back up her body. He covered her warm flesh with his body. She yielded to him. He entered her slowly. She arched her back to receive him.
Together their passion took them to heights that neither of them knew existed. The sun beat down on them as they rode their passions out.
Her nails bit into his shoulders. She called out his name. Spent, his body still covered hers. “You are the most splendid creature.”
She shifted beneath him, accommodating his weight. “So are you.”
Their passion and desire quenched, Chase pulled Hannah next to him saying, “I have a surprise for you.”
Snuggling closer to him, Hannah murmured, “Umm, I think I liked this one.”
He laughed. “Me too. But, I have something just for you and unfortunately we have to leave here so I can show you what it is.”
“But, I don’t want to leave just yet.” Hannah kissed Chase’s earlobe and then ran the palm of her hand up and down his chest. “Must we go now?” Seductively she whispered the words into his ear. Her hand found his shaft hard and pulsing.
Chase groaned in pleasure
and in one swift motion pulled Hannah’s lithe form on top of him. “Perhaps, my sweet, we could stay another few minutes.”
Half an hour later their passions were quieted once more. Chase leaned on one elbow and looked down at her. “We must go now, before the sun sets and the snakes eat us for their supper.”
His remark was enough to send Hannah jumping to her feet. Hastily she snatched up her clothing. Within minutes she was completely, if not looking a little disheveled, dressed.
“I hate snakes!”
Chase threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, Hannah, I had no idea you hated snakes.” Pulling on his pants, he smiled at her. “I guess we still have a lot to learn about one another.”
“Yes, we do. Just think of all the fun we’ll have learning.”
They lingered for one more kiss and then Hannah said impishly, “Show me my surprise.”
Chase led the way down the gentle slope and instead of taking the path that went back to the homestead he veered off to the right and headed up toward her mountain.
“Why are we going here?”
He slowed his mount, cresting the rise. “Trust me, Hannah.”
“I do.”
Chase found himself looking into sapphire pools of warmth and pure trust the likes of which he’d never known. “Here, let me help you down.” Reaching up, he laid his hands on her waist and lifted her to the ground.
“Why are we here?”
He led her to the top of the ledge. “This is the place where I discovered without this land surrounding you, you would never survive.”
They stood together, her back nestled against his chest, his arms wrapped around her. He could feel each breath she took. Looking out over the treetops, Chase knew this was right for them.
“I love it here,” Hannah breathed.
“I know you do, that is why I bought the land from your grandfather.”
Hannah’s silence worried him. He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Hannah?”
He felt her intake of breath and turned her to face him. “Oh, Hannah. Don’t cry. I never meant to make you cry.” He kissed first one eyelid and then the other. Then, cradling her face in his hands, he pulled her toward him. Kissing her, he tasted the salt from her tears.
Breaking away from his kiss, she asked in disbelief, “You bought this for me?”
“Yes, I did.”
“What about your job with the government? Don’t you want to continue being an agent?”
Chase sighed. “After what happened to you, the job doesn’t hold the charm it once did. I can still pick up odds and ends of assignments. I think I’d like to take a break from that nomadic way of living for a while.”
She ran her hand down his jaw. “Chase, are you sure this is what you truly want?”
“I would never take you away from all of this. The Adirondacks are your life’s blood.”
“But I would have gone anywhere you wanted to be.”
“I know that now. We will be happy here with our family and friends.”
“What about your boss, Radley? I bet he didn’t think you would ever be true to your word and become quite so involved with me.” She grinned up at him.
Shrugging, Chase said offhandedly, “Radley will just have to find a replacement for me. Besides, think of all the fun you’re going to have making a local out of me.”
“Yes. Fun indeed!” Hannah left his side to throw her arms wide as if she could capture the world.
“I have one more gift for you, Hannah.” Reaching into his pocket, Chase pulled out a small pouch marked with the Tyler Mining insignia.
Hannah stopped twirling about long enough to look at him. “I don’t need any more gifts.”
“This one is to remind you of how we came to be. It is to remind you of our love and of what this very earth that we are standing on right now can give up.”
Like a small child awaiting the perfect birthday gift, Hannah held out her hands expectantly. He opened the pouch, emptying the contents into her outstretched palms.
Hannah gasped as she looked at the beautiful, flawless, star garnet that lay nestled inside the golden prongs of a broach.
“I don’t know what to say.” Hannah touched the gemstone with reverence, knowing what this one piece of garnet had cost.
Taking hold of her shoulders, Chase looked at her. “You don’t have to say anything. Just treasure the broach always. Treasure this Adirondack jewel, as I treasure you.”
As the setting sun kissed the mountaintop, showering them with colors of gold and ruby, Chase gathered Hannah close in his arms.
Hannah thought her heart might burst with the love that she felt for this man. “I love you, Chase.”
“I love you, my Adirondack jewel.”
About the Author
Tracey Lyons has been writing romance novels for over twenty years. She sold her first novel on 9/9/99. She lives in New York State with her husband, two dogs and four chickens. Visit Tracey at her website www.traceylyons.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tracey.j.lyons or send Tracey an email at [email protected].
Not a hero. Not a villain. Just a man afraid to risk his heart…and hers.
Game of Hearts
© 2011 Kate Donovan
The Happily Ever After Company, Book 1
Aengus Yates broke Suzannah Hennessy’s heart. Twice. As an eight-year-old, she entreated the handsome young rancher to wait. He laughingly rebuffed her and went on to marry his beautiful fiancée. When he abandoned his family years later, Suzannah should have felt justified. Instead, her heart broke all over again—with disillusionment that the man she loved could do such a thing.
Now fully grown, Suzannah signs up along with her shy, self-conscious best friend to let a matchmaker find them husbands. Love may not be in her future, but there is adventure to be had in the Wild West.
Aengus has done his best to make a fresh start, to banish old betrayals. When Suzannah appears at his door, it’s clear she’s no longer a lovesick child. Now her womanly curves make his heart pound with desire. Yet he dare not trust himself to love again, and he plans to tell her just that…as soon as she stops berating him long enough to let him get a word in edgewise, to tell her he’s just trying to live an honorable life—against some very dishonorable odds.
Warning: Contains a love-soured heroine and a love-starved hero who’d like nothing better to sweeten things up.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Game of Hearts:
Ben Steele played games for a living. Playing games, devising strategies, distracting opponents—his effectiveness at such pursuits could not be denied. But he was beginning to think he’d met his match in Suzannah Hennessy, who seemed to have a counter for his every move, an insight into his every bluff, and a determination to win that equaled his own in every way. She was pretty too. Under other circumstances, she might have figured in this contest as both opponent and prize. But in this particular game, it was a beautiful creature named Megan Braddock he was determined to win.
The dark-haired beauty made the gambler’s usually untouchable heart pound in his chest, to the point where she was in his every thought and dream. Her long, graceful neck; her soft, melodious voice; the perfectly manicured hands that nested in her lap, so prim and proper, waiting patiently to be introduced to the feel of a man. Ben Steele was determined to be that man.
Since the day he’d first met the pretty pair and offered to serve as their escort on the long voyage from New York to San Francisco, his interest in Megan had shifted from admiration to lust to pure yearning, then back to lust, again and again. If only he could be alone with her for just a few moments. Or the rest of his life. Or anything in between.
But the only thing “in between” was Suzannah Hennessy. And of course, the mysterious “Mr. Riordain” of whom they spoke in guarded whispers. And the even more mysterious “Aengus Yates,” who was apparently someone from their past who had earned Suzannah’s undying wrath. It was all very intriguing. Not to mention frustrating.
&n
bsp; “What exactly did he do to you?” Ben demanded finally in mock exasperation as their ship sailed into the royal blue waters of the Caribbean.
“I beg your pardon?” Suzannah shot him a haughty glance. “Was our conversation disturbing you, Mr. Steele?”
“Completely, Miss Hennessy.” Ben winked toward Megan. “You’ve mentioned a scoundrel named Aengus so often I almost feel as though he’s riding along with us.”
To Ben’s delight, his true love’s soft gray eyes began to twinkle. “Aengus is always with us, Mr. Steele, because Suzannah carries such strong feelings for him in her heart. Would you like to hear the story?”
Before Ben could respond, Suzannah frowned and insisted, “It’s the story of an irresponsible man. I’m certain that, in your profession, you meet dozens of such men every year.”
“Suzannah!” Megan blanched. “Forgive her, Mr. Steele.”
“Call me Ben,” he reminded her. “And don’t apologize. I wasn’t at all offended.” Leaning forward, he dared to up the ante. “May I call you Megan?”
“You may not!” Suzannah scolded. “We’ve tolerated your attentions on this voyage, Mr. Steele. But you would be mistaken to feel encouraged in any way.”
Megan’s eyes clouded. “You’ve been a wonderful escort, Mr. Steele. And a perfect gentleman. We don’t mean to seem ungrateful, but—”
“But we’ll be in Panama City in just a few days, boarding the steamship for San Francisco,” Suzannah reminded her friend firmly. “Mr. Steele will be heading to his fancy hotel. And you will be only weeks away from marrying Dennis Riordain.”
“Marrying?” Ben almost choked on the word. “Is that so, Miss Braddock?” When Megan’s gaze dropped from his, he groaned aloud. “I had no idea. Forgive me. You just didn’t seem…”
“Didn’t seem what, Mr. Steele?” Suzannah taunted. “Didn’t seem engaged to be married? Well, I’m afraid she is.”
Ben placed his hand tenderly over Megan’s. “You didn’t seem like a girl in love, Miss Braddock. You seemed like a girl falling in love.”