A bargain is struck between the stargazing adventuress and society's most sophisticated lord. He will sponsor her as his prodigy and she will cover for him as he hunts London's darkest warrens for a missing colleague from his shadowy past. But time and again Giles finds his quest compromised by his fierce and unwise attraction to the lovely girl who, though no lady, may well be the one dame to finally unlock the secrets of his heart.
He smelled faintly of cedar and spearmint and this close she could see the starburst of lines radiating from the corners of his eyes, the cut-glass glitter of his irises framed by gunmetal gray auroras, the hard line of his jaw smudged with a nascent beard, and the deep lines scored on either side of his nose. Lines of dissipation? Or weariness? Could they be erased with a caress. . . ?
She jerked back. Where had that thought come from? He released her chin and she released her breath. Thank God, he didn’t seem to notice.
“Your heart is racing and your eyes are dilated.”
Treacherous pulse. Feckless eyes.
“I forgot to eat lunch. It may have made me faint.”
“You? Forgot to eat?” His patent incredulity rekindled her indignation. She nearly thanked him.
“Am I to presume that is how one is suppose to commence ‘a polite conversation’?” she asked. “Such helpful instruction. I shall endeavor to remember it next time I am in polite company.”
His lips twitched in an unfairly attractive manner. “I see that whatever ailed you was only temporary and that you are back to your customary contentious self.”
“I am not contentious.”
“You are. Decidedly contentious.” He went back round to his chair.
“Only with you.”
This took him by some surprise. “Is that true?”
“Mostly.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “And why is that do you suppose?”
“You provoke me.”
“I most certainly do not,” he said.
“Intentionally, I suspect.”
“Good God. You don’t really believe that? I will allow that, perhaps, at times, I do provoke you,” he said. “But never intentionally. Such behavior is beneath a gentleman and, for all my sins, I am still a gentleman.”
“Except when you are with me.”
An odd light banked deep within his grey eyes. Then he tore his gaze away and quaffed back the glass of port near his hand. “Madame, especially when I am with you.”
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MORE HISTORICAL ROMANCES for your NOOK
by Connie Brockway
Short Stories (under 15,000 words or, depending on your font size, around 50 paperback sized pages):
THE LAIRD’S FRENCH BRIDE
Novellas (around 30,000 words or, depending on font size, around 100 paperback sized pages)
HEAVEN WITH A GUN
Full Length Historical Romances (85,000-110,000 words or, depending on font size, 375-425 paperback sized pages)
ANYTHING FOR LOVE
A DANGEROUS MAN
MY DEAREST ENEMY
MCCLAIREN’S ISLE: THE PASSIONATE ONE
MCCLAIREN’S ISLE: THE RECKLESS ONE
MCCLAIREN’S ISLE: THE RAVISHING ONE
THE BRIDAL SEASON
BRIDAL FAVORS
THE ROSE HUNTERS: MY SEDUCTION
THE ROSE HUNTERS: MY PLEASURE
THE ROSE HUNTERS: MY SURRENDER
SO ENCHANTING
THE GOLDEN SEASON
Full Length Contemporary Novels
HOT DISH
SKINNY-DIPPING
About the Author
Connie Brockway has written over twenty full-length novels and a dozen novellas, bringing the current number of her books in print to over 2 million published in thirteen countries.
Many of her books have received Publishers Weekly and Library Journal starred reviews. Her 2004 title, My Seduction, was named one of 2004’s top ten romances by BOOKLIST.
An eight time finalist for Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award, Brockway has twice been its recipient, first in 1998 for My Dearest Enemy and in 2002 for The Bridal Season. Her books regularly appear on national and regional bestseller lists and are frequent Doubleday/Literary Guild selections. In 2012 she became Montlake Publishing’s launch author with THE OTHER GUY’S BRIDE.
Today, Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.
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