had done for me lately, I could hardly say anything else.
Although I admit I was worried about Marquita coming
upstairs and finding us in flagrante, as it were, and what
she’d do to me.
“Glad you agree. That mean you’ll stand still and
enjoy it?”
My eyes wavered. “I’ll . . . um . . . try.”
“Good. Now just relax, darlin’. This ain’t gonna hurt
a bit.” He tipped my chin up and leaned down. My knees
buckled and my eyes rolled back in my head. From very
far away, I heard a chuckle and felt a pair of arms settle
around my body. A voice murmured in my ear. “Not that
relaxed. Try to stay awake, darlin’. You don’t wanna miss
nothing.”
And I tried, I really did. The idea of being unconscious
and completely at his mercy—and with a bed within easy
reach, too!—was too dreadful to contemplate. But then
his lips moved from my ear, across my cheek, and over
to close over mine, and the next second, everything went
black. My last coherent thought was that if I got out of
this room with my virtue and my sanity intact, I’d never
let him get within touching distance ever again.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This particular book—the first I wrote—wouldn’t have made it into print without the help, support, and encouragement of a lot of people. Chief among them:
My wonderful agent, Stephany Evans. You’re one of a kind, and I’ll always be grateful for the way you took me, Savannah and Rafe under your wing, and didn’t give up on us over the two years it took to find us a home.
Everyone at PublishingWorks, for your excitement and enthusiasm for me and my characters. You’re a fine bunch of folks, and I’m proud to be associated with you.
My family and friends, here and abroad, especially my husband and my two boys, who share daily life with me and love me anyway. It isn’t easy to live with someone who spends half her time in another world, but the three of you manage to thrive in spite of me. You’re a constant source of inspiration, amazement, and awe, and I feel so fortunate to have ended up with you.
Last, but certainly not least, Tasha Alexander. Sometimes, through no particular act or ability of our own, Fate blesses us with the gift of someone who changes who we are and makes us believe that anything’s possible. You’ve been my friend and my mentor, my cheering section and my sounding board. A girl wanting to write a book couldn’t have a better role model than you. This one is all yours.
About the
Author
Bente Gallagher is a former Realtor® and home renovator. She is also the nationally bestselling author of the acclaimed Do-It-Yourself Home Renovationmysteries from Berkley Prime Crime, written as Jennie Bentley. She lives in Nashville with a husband and two boys, a hyperactive dog, a killer parakeet, two frogs, and a couple of goldfish. A native of Norway, she’s been hanging out in the U.S. for the past twenty years and still hasn’t been able to kick her native accent. You can learn more about Bente and her various doings and undoings on her website, www.BenteGallagher.com.
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