“And stop throwing daggers my way, will ya? Seeing as how I’m doing you a huge favor. Any other woman would be kissing up to me right about now.”
Splaying a hand over throat, Lettitia recoiled. “How dare you suggest that I—”
“I wasn’t,” he interjected. Mick left it at that, not in the mood to give a lesson in twenty-first century slang. “Now how about answering my question?”
A long pause stretched into an awkward silence. Fast losing his patience, Mick repeatedly tapped the end of his pen against the notepad.
“If you must know, my sister is no longer received in society,” Lettitia finally divulged. “That is why we meet surreptitiously on the days when I go to the hospital.”
Suddenly feeling like he’d crash-landed into an episode of Downton Abbey—every red-blooded man’s nightmare—Mick had to ask the asinine follow-up: “Why is she, um, no longer received in society?”
“My father had gone to great lengths to arrange a marriage between Emmaline and Lord Wortham. While my mother is of noble birth, my father’s antecedents are not nearly so exalted. Although between my sister’s great beauty and my father’s great fortune, such an impediment hardly mattered. At least it wouldn’t have mattered if my sister had shared our father’s lofty ambitions. Emmaline, however, refused to marry a man that she did not love.”
“So I take it that Emmaline broke off her engagement to this Lord Wortham fellow?”
The question elicited another lengthy silence during which time Lettitia began to nervously fiddle with a button on one of her gloves.
Mick silently counted to ten then repeated the question.
“It pains me to confess that my sister ran off with the Welsh stable master,” Lettitia murmured bleakly, unable to look him in the eye. “In retaliation, my father cut Emmaline off without a cent. She was then forced to… to—” Pausing mid-sentence, Lettitia wiped a wayward tear with a gloved finger.
“Okay, I’ve got enough details for now,” Mick said abruptly, unnerved by Lettitia’s agonized expression. He didn’t do distraught women. At least not well. Stuffing the notebook into his pocket, he rose to his feet. “You can give me a list of addresses later.”
After grudgingly paying for his two drinks, Lettitia beat a hasty retreat from the pub.
Mick caught up to her a few moments later. “I need to speak to your good pal Madame Mazursky. This time portal thing is—” Suddenly noticing a skinny kid standing a few feet away hawking newspapers, he momentarily lost his train of thought.
Christ Almighty, I don’t frigging believe it.
Fishing a quarter out of his pocket, he handed it to the newsboy. Although the grimy-faced urchin eyed the coin suspiciously, he nonetheless handed Mick a newspaper dated November 4, 1888. The banner headline, set in bold, old-fashioned typeface, read: JACK THE RIPPER STILL AT LARGE.
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A Love for All Time
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From modern-day New York to Victorian London, one thrilling mystery brings together two passionate souls—for all time…
Homicide detective Mick Giovanni has seen lot a strange things in the NYPD—but nothing like Miss Lettitia Merryweather. Waltzing into his precinct dressed like some actress on Masterpiece Theater, the stunning British beauty implores Mick to find her missing sister. The strange part is, she disappeared in London—in 1888. Of course, Mick doesn’t believe Lettitia. Until he steps through a time portal onto a gaslit street and sees a newspaper headline that reads: Jack the Ripper Still At Large…
For Mick, it’s the dream of a lifetime—a chance to hunt down the most notorious killer in history. But for Lettitia, it’s all too personal, and Mick is her only hope. The tough, handsome cop has only seven days to solve the world’s greatest mystery before he loses his chance to go home. But the closer Mick gets to the truth, the deeper his feelings for Lettitia grow. Even if he solves the case, can these two soul mates say good-bye to a love that was meant for all time?
* * *
After losing her sister, Bethany Rogers needs a shoulder to lean on more than ever—though she never expects that shoulder to belong to her new boss…
Bethany has been in love with Robert Ashford since they were teachers at the same high school. After Robert leaves to start his own construction company, Beth puts her feelings aside to focus on her goals. When she finally lands a gig as a part-time designer, she is shocked to find her new boss is none other than Robert… and he’s hotter than ever. But Bethany’s happiness is short-lived when she receives word that her sister has been killed in combat.
With the success of building homes for one happy family after another, Robert is finally ready to settle down. When Beth is left to care for her nine-month-old niece, Robert can’t help but step in. And before long, the trio are inseparable. Yet convincing the cautious, bereaved Beth to let him in proves difficult—but Robert will give everything he’s got for the chance at his own happily ever after.
* * *
One hot kiss from a smoldering Dragon and all her thoughts go up in flames…
Lianne McGowan is a scientist on a mission. As brilliant as she is beautiful, she believes the key to the Earth’s future is a new energy source. To find it, she’ll delve deep into the fiery heart of an imposing mountain—and take on an even more imposing man: the sinfully seductive Nic Vladik.
Shape-shifting dragon Nic has sworn to guard the secret to his brethren’s insatiable power. He must stop Lianne’s search, yet the moment he feels the soft silk of her skin, his soul is set on fire. Unable to resist, Nic and Lianne submit to desire and experience an exquisite passion unlike either has ever known. But their pleasure is short-lived. Lianne has made a discovery that endangers herself, Nic, and all dragonkind. With his world at stake, will Nic save his clan—or the woman he loves?
* * *
Love is always in season.
There’s no place like home for the holidays, especially for divorced pastry chef Iris Nelson. After escaping an abusive marriage, she’s found peace on charming Cavanaugh Island. As the holiday approaches, Iris looks forward to spending it with her newfound best friend’s family… and their very handsome visitor.
On leave from Afghanistan, Army Master Sergeant Collier Ward is excited to be reunited with his family for Christmas. But the best gift of all may be this warm, beautiful stranger who joins them for the festivities. With his visit coming to an end, Collier can’t deny the heat smoldering between them. Yet Iris can’t help but wonder if it’s just the glow of the season—and one night of passion—or a true miracle of love that will change their lives forever…
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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
About the Author
A Preview of A Love for All Ti
me
Also by Chloe Douglas
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Copyright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 by Chloe Palov
Excerpt from A Love for All Time © 2014 by Chloe Palov
Cover design by Diane Luger
Cover illustration of dragon seal by Mike Racz
Cover copyright © 2014 by Hachette Book Group
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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ISBN 978-1-4555-8507-6 (ebook edition)
ISBN 978-1-4555-8508-3 (print on demand edition)
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Our Time Is Now Page 30