The Purloined Letter Opener
Page 15
“I’ve seen it,” Lydia admitted.
“I can do better,” Ellis said, taking a half step closer. “You make me want to do better.”
Lydia closed the distance between them. She put her hand up on Ellis’s chest, amazed to find out that his heart was beating as fast as her own.
He placed one of his own warm hands against hers, pressing it harder against him.
“I can’t promise forever,” Lydia said. She needed to make sure that he understood that. “All I can say is that I want to take a run at it, at least try to make it work.”
“That’s all I can ask for,” Ellis said. “And to let you know that I’ll try as well.”
That amazing scent of his aftershave washed over Lydia as she stepped closer, masculine and steady, like the best wood soap mixed with bay leaves. His lips were soft even as his other arm circled her waist and pulled her close.
Oh, Lydia could get used to this. Being held like this. Supported. Maybe even loved.
It was more than enough for now.
The End
About the Author
Leah Cutter writes page-turning fiction in exotic locations, such as a magical New Orleans, the ancient Orient, Hungary, the Oregon coast, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, and many others.
She writes literary, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, and horror fiction. Her short fiction has been published in magazines like Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Talebones, anthologies like Fiction River, and on the web. Her long fiction has been published both by New York publishers as well as small presses.
Find Leah’s books on Knotted Road Press at (www.KnottedRoadPress.com)
Follow her blog at www.LeahCutter.com.
Reviews
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Also by Leah R Cutter
Forgotten Gods
Three People inhabit all the known territory: the Wind People, the Stone People, and the Sea People. All of them have different magical abilities and natural talents.
A dark wall of smoke now approaches, moving with unnatural speed and cunning.
Who is behind that wall? How will it change the fate of them all?
A gripping dark fantasy that is truly epic with unique magic and a world never seen before.
A Wind Blown Torment
A Stone Strewn Clash
A Sea Washed Victory
Available now!
The Tanesh Empire Trilogy
Read the completed trilogy of this exotic, immersive epic-fantasy trilogy!
Follow Trulliç and Nadeem as they travel their dark paths across both the real world and the dream lands of the Gods, seeking where they truly belong.
The Glass Magician
The Desert Heart
The Ghost Dog
Available at your favorite retailers!
The Witch’s Progress Series
Tara seems like a perfectly normal person. She works two jobs to cover the rent, her boss takes advantage of her good nature, and she constantly studies so she can progress and pass into the next circle of witchcraft.
But a supernatural being takes interest in her, wanting to trap her soul.
A twisted look into the heart of Portland, the secret behind its bridges, and the magical battles that happen even among friends.
Circle of Air
Circle of Fire
Circle of Water
Circle of Earth
Available now!
The Seattle Trolls Trilogy
A different kind of ugly duckling story.
Once, there was a young woman who lost a bet to her brother. By daring to go “live” a little, she changes her entire world.
A delightful new-adult trilogy full of quirky characters and unique magic.
The Changeling Troll
The Princess Troll
The Fairy-Bridge Troll
Available now!
The Troll Wars Trilogy
Once, there was a young woman who discovered that she was actually a troll. Then she discovered that she had a Destiny: to win the next Great War fought between the demons and, well, everyone else.
Follow the further adventures of your favorite troll as she learns what it means to truly be a badass warrior princess.
The Troll-Demon War
The Troll-Human War
The Troll-Troll War
Available now!
The Cassie Stories
Psychic powers? Check. Annoying, interfering gods? Check. Smart-mouthed lesbian whose superpower is sarcasm? Absolutely! What else could you ask for from an urban fantasy series?
Poisoned Pearls
Tainted Waters
Spoiled Harvest
Bloodied Ice
Available from your favorite retailers!
The Clockwork Fairy Kingdom Trilogy
Read the completed trilogy about the Greater Oregon Fairy Kingdom that hides beneath the Pacific Ocean cliffs, the human twins Nora and Dale and their special powers, plus the dwarves, the Old One, and many other charming characters! A new adult trilogy that will delight every age.
The Clockwork Fairy Kingdom
The Maker, the Teacher, and the Monster
The Dwarven Wars
Available at your favorite retailers!
The Chronicles of Franklin
Ghosts get stuck sometimes…
Read the completed trilogy about Franklin, as he deals with demons, cursed blades, as well as the ghosts who haunt him and his family. Because, well, family.
A delightful contemporary fantasy set in rural Kentucky.
Franklin Versus The Popcorn Thief
Franklin Versus The Soul Thief
Franklin Versus The Child Thief
Available at your favorite retailers!
* * *
The Shadow Wars Trilogy
Read the completed trilogy of The Shadow Wars trilogy, about the shape shifters who hide among us and their battles with those who would destroy humanity:
The Raven and the Dancing Tiger
The Guardian Hound
War Among the Crocodiles
Available from your favorite retailers!
Additional books by Leah Cutter
Forgotten Gods
A Wind Blown Torment
A Stone Strewn Clash
A Sea Washed Victory
* * *
The Tanesh Empire Trilogy
The Glass Magician
The Desert Heart
The Ghost Dog
* * *
The Witch’s Progress
Circle of Air
Circle of Fire
Circle of Water
Circle of Earth
* * *
Seattle Trolls
The Changeling Troll
The Princess Troll
The Fairy-Bridge Troll
The Troll-Demon War
The Troll-Human War
The Troll-Troll War
The Cassie Stories
Poisoned Pearls
Tainted Waters
Spoiled Harvest
Bloodied Ice
The Shadow Wars Trilogy
The Raven and the Dancing Tiger
The Guardian Hound
War Among the Crocodiles
* * *
The Clockwork Fairy Kingdom
The Clockwork Fairy
Kingdom
The Maker, the Teacher, and the Monster
The Dwarven Wars
The Chronicles of Franklin
Franklin Versus The Popcorn Thief
Franklin Versus The Soul Thief
Franklin Versus The Child Thief
* * *
Huli Intergalactic: Science/Space Fantasy
Origins
The Strawberry Girl
* * *
Contemporary Fantasy
Siren’s Call
The Immortals’ War
About Knotted Road Press
Knotted Road Press fiction specializes in dynamic writing set in mysterious, exotic locations.
Knotted Road Press non-fiction publishes autobiographies, business books, cookbooks, and how-to books with unique voices.
Knotted Road Press creates DRM-free ebooks as well as high-quality print books for readers around the world.
With authors in a variety of genres including literary, poetry, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction, Knotted Road Press has something for everyone.
Knotted Road Press
www.KnottedRoadPress.com
The Purloined Letter Opener
A Lake Hope Mystery
Copyright © 2020 Leah Cutter
All rights reserved
Published by Knotted Road Press
www.KnottedRoadPress.com
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ISBN: 978-1-64470-164-5
Cover Art:
ID 149501307 © Porntep Lueangon | Dreamstime.com
ID 65654416 © Stephen Dumayne | Dreamstime.com
Cover and interior design copyright © 2020 Knotted Road Press
http://www.KnottedRoadPress.com
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Reviews
It’s true. Reviews help me sell more books. If you’ve enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review of it on your favorite site.
* * *
Come someplace new…
Are you a traveler? Do you enjoy exploring strange new worlds, new cultures, new people?
* * *
Journey into the various lands envisioned by Leah Cutter.
* * *
Sign up for my newsletter and I’ll start you on your travels with a free copy of my book, The Island Sampler.
* * *
I will never spam you or use your email for nefarious purposes. You can also unsubscribe at any time.
* * *
http://www.LeahCutter.com/newsletter/
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, the purchaser or reader may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer or sell any information contained in this book without the express written permission of Leah Cutter or Knotted Road Press. Requests to use or quote this material for any purpose should be addressed to Knotted Road Press.
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