by Tracey Lyons
Megan gasped and pulled free of him just as Suzannah’s huge emerald eyes flashed in warning. “You’ve insulted my closest friend, Mr. Steele, and now I must insist you find other company to keep for the remainder of this trip.”
“No, wait!” Megan wailed. “I have something to say first.”
Ben and Suzannah stared, united for once in disbelief at the gentle girl’s strident tone.
“Miss Braddock?” he asked cautiously. “Are you angry?”
Megan moistened her lips. “Suzannah? Could you give me just a moment alone with Mr. Steele?”
“Pardon?”
“Please? Just… well, ten minutes?”
“Ten?”
It was all Ben could do to keep from grinning victoriously in the flabbergasted chaperon’s direction, but he wisely adopted a humble tone instead. “I assure you I’ll behave, Miss Hennessy.”
Suzannah was quick to rally. “I wouldn’t be so smug, Mr. Steele. I’m quite certain she simply wants to say good-bye.” With a haughty glare, the golden-haired passenger slipped out of her deck chair, smoothed the skirt of her finely tailored traveling outfit, and hurried away.
Ben waited, patient and hopeful, while Megan visibly gathered her thoughts. Finally she blurted, “I’m flattered by your attention, Mr. Steele. But honestly, I don’t understand it! I can only imagine the adventures you’ve had and the women you’ve known…” She blushed frantically. “In any case, I have apparently misled you, and so you are entitled to an explanation, and so… Well, I’m not in love with Mr. Riordain yet. I can’t imagine how you guessed that. I suppose your experience—”
“I’ve had little experience with true love,” Ben interrupted gently. “But they say that when it happens, one knows. By the racing of the pulse, and the tightening of the throat, and the yearning of the heart. You feel it too, don’t you, Megan darling?”
“Mr. Steele, please. Don’t say such things.”
He grasped her hand and knelt quickly before her. “I’m sure you have your reasons for admiring this Dennis Riordain fellow. Perhaps he’s been kind to you in the past, and has promised to care for you. I appreciate that, but…” He caught the flicker of something—confusion? embarrassment? guilt?—in her dove gray eyes, and prodded warily, “What is it, Megan?”
“It’s…it’s just… you wouldn’t understand. You’re being so patient, though. I thank you for that. But I assure you, the situation is hopeless.”
Her smile, so hesitant and vulnerable, made Ben yearn to gather her into his arms. Instead, he murmured, “You can tell me anything, darling. I promise I won’t judge you.”
Megan tilted her head, as though seeing him for the first time, and he thought for an instant he had managed to find the only words that could unlock the mysteries of her heart. Then she reached into her satchel and pulled out a fold of paper, which she proffered shyly.
It was a letter. A love letter? Ben struggled against a surge of jealousy and forced himself to read it. At first it made no sense, and then…
“He’s a stranger?”
Megan nodded.
“You’ve never even met him?”
“No.”
“This has been arranged?”
“By my uncle. It is his business, and his talent. I’m sorry, Mr. Steele.”
“Megan…” He was almost giddy with relief. “Darling, our obnoxious chaperon will be back at any moment.” Cupping her chin in his hand, he whispered, “May I kiss you?”
“But—”
“Shh.” He smiled, completely confident at last. “Just one kiss. Mr. Riordain won’t mind, I assure you.”
Mountain Jewel
Tracey Lyons
A dangerous love, any way you cut it.
After four years at a conventional Boston boarding school, Hannah Jackson is perfectly content to live a quiet existence at her grandparents’ Adirondack homestead. However, her peaceful existence is soon shattered by the arrival of the formidable Chase Malone, a representative of Tyler Mining.
Though the year is 1880, nineteen-year-old Hannah isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Garnet mining would ruin North Creek, the life blood of her sanctuary. Carrying her stubborn resolve with her like a shield of armor, Hannah vows to keep that from happening.
From the moment Chase and Hannah clash, more than simple conflict ignites. He is a man with secrets—a U.S. Customs agent on an undercover mission to prove Tyler is passing cheap garnets off as priceless rubies.
In the raven-haired beauty he finds a fearlessness to match his own—and an intelligence behind those sapphire eyes that sees too much. Soon they are both entering the world of gem smuggling—and encountering danger from which their love may not save them.
Warning: Contains a multifaceted story sparkling with passion.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
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Mountain Jewel
Copyright © 2012 by Tracey Lyons
ISBN: 978-1-61921-004-2
Edited by Heidi Moore
Cover by Valerie Tibbs
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First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: January 2012
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