by HELEN HARDT
But as they did the last time I came here, the vines stay silent. They keep Dale’s secrets.
I love him. I love him so damned much.
But I don’t know how to be with him. Clearly I’m not fulfilling his needs.
“Fuck this.” I stand, knocking over the votive holder. “Shit.” I quickly pick it up and blow out the candle. Then I let it cool for a few minutes before I throw it into the backpack. I pour my undrunk wine onto the ground, recork the bottle, and pack everything up.
“Let’s get out of here,” I say to Penny. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
I take hold of Penny’s leash and lead her back to the car.
Where we drive back to Dale’s…alone.
Epilogue
The most recent fire to break out in Colorado this fall began on the western slope, igniting remote, rough terrain including juniper and sagebrush outside the small town of Snow Creek.
* * *
Several vineyards are in its path, including those owned by Colorado Pike Winery and Steel Acres Vineyards. Grape harvesting has begun, and so far, the fires have had minimal effect. Firefighters hope the recent moisture from thunderstorms will keep the fire from spreading too rapidly.
* * *
No evacuations have been ordered, though that could change at any time. Firefighters are blaming a lightning strike for starting the blaze, but fire from campers in the foothills has not been ruled out.
Continue reading the Steel Brothers Saga with Book Eighteen
Coming June 29, 2021!
Pre-Order Now
* * *
Enjoy Cherished?
Please leave a review.
Message from Helen Hardt
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Cherished. If you want to find out about my current backlist and future releases, please like my Facebook page and join my mailing list: http://helenhardt.com/signup/. I often do giveaways. If you’re a fan and would like to join my street team to help spread the word about my books, you can do so here. I regularly do awesome giveaways for my street team members.
If you enjoyed the story, please take the time to leave a review on a site like Amazon or Goodreads. I welcome all feedback.
I wish you all the best!
Helen
Also By Helen Hardt
The Steel Brothers Saga:
Craving
Obsession
Possession
Melt
Burn
Surrender
Shattered
Twisted
Unraveled
Breathless
Ravenous
Insatiable
Fate
Legacy
Descent
Awakened
Cherished
Freed
* * *
Blood Bond Saga:
Unchained: Volume One
Unhinged: Volume Two
Undaunted: Volume Three
Unmasked: Volume Four
Undefeated: Volume Five
* * *
Misadventures:
Misadventures of a Good Wife (with Meredith Wild)
Misadventures with a Rock Star
* * *
The Temptation Saga:
Tempting Dusty
Teasing Annie
Taking Catie
Taming Angelina
Treasuring Amber
Trusting Sydney
Tantalizing Maria
* * *
The Sex and the Season Series:
Lily and the Duke
Rose in Bloom
Lady Alexandra’s Lover
Sophie’s Voice
* * *
Daughters of the Prairie:
The Outlaw’s Angel
Lessons of the Heart
Song of the Raven
* * *
The Cougar Chronicles:
The Cowboy and the Cougar
Calendar Boy
* * *
Collections:
Destination Desire
Her Two Lovers
* * *
Non-Fiction:
got style?
Acknowledgments
My poor Dale…
At my very first writers’ conference back in 2007, I attended a workshop presented by RITA Award–winning author Linnea Sinclair called Character Torture 101. Our assignment was to think of the worst thing that could happen to a character. Then, Linnea said, “Make it worse.” I use this advice a lot in my writing, but never more than in Cherished. Dale, Ashley, and their love will all be tested in Freed.
Huge thanks to the always brilliant team at Waterhouse Press: Jennifer Becker, Audrey Bobak, Haley Boudreaux, Keli Jo Chen, Yvonne Ellis, Jesse Kench, Robyn Lee, Jon Mac, Amber Maxwell, Dave McInerney, Michele Hamner Moore, Chrissie Saunders, Scott Saunders, Kurt Vachon, and Meredith Wild.
Thanks also to the women and men of Hardt and Soul. Your endless and unwavering support keeps me going.
To my family and friends, thank you for your encouragement. Special shout out to Dean—aka Mr. Hardt—and our amazing sons, Eric and Grant.
Thank you most of all to my readers. Without you, none of this would be possible.
Freed is coming soon!
About Helen Hardt
#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic fiction, she’s a mother, an attorney, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.
For more information, please follow Helen Hardt at:
www.HelenHardt.com