by Sara Orwig
“Thank you,” Claire said as Fortune took her arm. They went out through the side door. With Badru driving, they headed for the Chattahoochee River to take a boat south to the Gulf and Mobile.
She glanced back at the house, and Fortune placed his arm around her shoulders. “Stop worrying. Sophia will fuss over him constantly. And I suspect Chantal and Rafe will stay another two or three days with them before they head back to New Orleans.”
She turned to look at Fortune and he smiled at her, sliding his arm around her waist. “Now I have you all to myself for a week.”
They drove through downtown Atlanta, past city hall. At the river a steamboat was waiting at the landing when they arrived, and Fortune helped her from the carriage. She watched while he told Badru good-bye and the carriage turned for home.
Fortune took her arm to board the boat, and a tall, bearded man stood at the head of the plank.
“Welcome aboard, Colonel O’Brien, Mrs. O’Brien. I’m Captain Duncan.”
Fortune shook hands with him while she greeted him. He motioned to them as stewards carried their trunks on board. “This way, sir, and I’ll show you your quarters. We’ll be underway in the next few minutes.”
They followed him up a ladder, and he opened a door to a large cabin. “Here’s where you’ll be. Your brother’s sent champagne and flowers,” he said. “Is there anything you’ll be needing?”
“I don’t think so,” Fortune replied while she walked across the cabin. It was spacious, holding a large built-in bed, a table and chairs, a desk, a copper tub in one corner. Two vases with large bouquets of roses and mixed flowers were on the table and desk. A bottle of champagne was cooling in a bucket.
She turned as the door closed behind the captain and Fortune slid a bolt across it, locking it. “Now you’re all mine and no one will disturb us,” he said, shedding his coat and draping it over a chair. He crossed the cabin to open the champagne, the cork popping loudly. He poured them glasses and returned with hers.
“Here’s to you, Claire,” he said quietly, raising his glass.
“To us, Fortune,” she said, touching his glass lightly before she sipped the bubbling dry champagne.
He took her glass from her hand and set them both down. His gaze darkened, becoming more intense. He removed her tiny rose silk hat and tossed it on a chair. Then he began to unfasten her buttons.
“Claire, why do you always have dresses that have hundreds of buttons?” he asked softly, bending his head to kiss her throat. He twisted another button free and another. “I know how it’ll disturb you if I rip this dress off you, but I don’t want to wait.”
She helped him, and he removed her sheer silk chemise, her corset, her silk underdrawers and finally her silk stockings, bending down, his fingers drifting over her long legs, and she trembled with eagerness for him.
“Fortune,” she whispered, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it over his head, reaching down to unfasten his black trousers that bulged with his arousal.
He stood naked before her, and she ran her hands across his chest and down over his belly and thighs, sliding her fingers across his hard, muscular body.
He caught her to him, his arm banding her waist tightly as he looked down at her. “I want you, Claire,” Fortune said. “Thank God I found you and Michael.”
Joyous, she clung to him, gazing up at him and feeling love well up inside her. She ran her fingers through his dark hair and pulled his head down so she could kiss him.
He held her tightly while she clung to him, moaning softly, knowing this was the man for her. Fortune had her heart forever. She tightened her arms around him, so thankful that she and Michael both had him, and now they all had Kieran.
She leaned back to look up at him. “I love you, Fortune O’Brien.”
“It’s the luck of the Irish, love,” he said softly. “Such wonderful luck to find you,” he added.
She clung to him, her heart beating with joy. They were beginning a life together filled with love and children’s laughter.
More from Sara Orwig
New Orleans
The start of a sweeping historical trilogy, the search for romance begins as the threat of civil war looms. From USA Today bestselling romance author Sara Orwig.
As rumblings of succession begin in the south, New Orleans heiress Chantal Theirrie is looking for a husband. Obligation drives her towards Lazare Galliard, the man who has it all, including wealth, power and passion. But Rafferty O’Brien, an Irish immigrant who has come to New Orleans to seek his fortune, has an impossible-to-resist drive, and is determined to get what he wants, including the beautiful but out of reach Chantal.
As a war brews between the states, Chantal will be fighting her own war between what her heart and her mind wants.
Memphis
In the second book of the sweeping historical trilogy, a woman defies expectations to hold onto her land, and her heart. From USA Today bestselling romance author Sara Orwig.
Spirited Sophia Merrick is left to run the family farm after her father and brothers go off to fight for the South in the ongoing civil war. Scorning the limitations imposed on her because she’s a woman, Sophia vows to protect her family’s land from invaders. What she doesn’t anticipate are the stirrings of passion dredged up by cavalryman Caleb O’Brien, the immigrant who has vowed to fight for the South just as his forefathers fought to protect Ireland. Her resistance to his charms makes Sophia all the more alluring to Caleb, and he’s just as determined to bring her womanly passion to the surface as he is to protect her from the dangers of war.
Atlanta
The conclusion to the sweeping historical trilogy, as both the South and its people have been transformed by war, unexpected passions are ignited. From USA Today bestselling romance author Sara Orwig.
The Northern soldiers ravaged Atlanta during the Civil War. Now as the city attempts to recover, all Claire Dryden has left is the little boy she has adopted and sworn to protect with her life. When the handsome Yankee colonel Fortune O’Brien storms into town, demanding to reclaim the boy he claims is his stolen son, Claire’s vow is put to the test. For she loves the boy more than life itself, but the passion O’Brien ignites in her threatens to weaken her resolve.
San Antonio
Luke Dabney grew up in Texas, the land of peril and promise. It is there that the hardened lawman vows to exact revenge on Domingo Pietra, the man who destroyed Luke’s family.
Catalina is the beautiful daughter of the powerful and ruthless Domingo Pietra, but not even her father can control the desire that blazes inside her for Luke Dabney.
Will the strength of her love be enough to pierce Luke's determined heart, a heart set on vengeance?
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the boomtown of the New Mexico territory, where ambition and greed make even the boldest of dreams come true. It is where April Dabney resides, singing in church by day and serenading the patrons of a local saloon by night.
It is also where Noah McCloud comes to build a promising future from the remains of a broken past.
It is where these star crossed lovers find one another amidst bitter enemies and the undeniable pull of desire.
Denver
When Tigre Castillo is wrongfully accused of murder, he flees to Denver, leaving behind his outlaw past and his name. In Denver, he becomes Dan Castle, a man with dreams of a better future, and a fierce determination to have the woman his heart has always longed for.
Mary O'Malley has learned how to survive, using wits and guile in a tough city, one ruled by men. When Dan and Mary’s paths collide, she finds herself surrendering—body and soul—to the only man with the power to destroy her.
Heat Wave
As the temperature rises, passions are ignited during the hottest summer in Kansas yet. From USA Today bestselling romance author Sara Orwig.
Marilee O’Neil isn’t one to turn down a challenge, not even when it’s to pilot a friend’s hot air balloon in a race. But when she’
s forced to change course and make an unexpected landing on a wheat farm, Marilee’s overconfidence gets the better of her, and she ends up in the middle of a swimming pool, giving the handsome sunbathing farmer quite a shock! But Cole Chandler takes surprise in stride, gallantly rescuing Marilee from her soggy landing, and instantly setting her body afire. Though Marilee tries to resist their growing attraction, she can’t deny that it isn’t just the summer heat that has her on the edge.
Oregon Brown
Fantasy clashes with reality as a woman’s passions are torn between two impossible options. From USA Today bestselling romance author Sara Orwig.
Charity Jane Webster spends her evenings listening to the sexy voice of DJ Rory Runyon flowing across the airwaves. Filling her nights with love songs and whispered endearments, he’s the perfect fantasy lover—unlike her distractingly handsome neighbor. Oregon Brown drives Charity crazy, somehow knowing all of her deepest secrets while being impossibly seductive. Charity will have to choose between the voice that haunts her dreams, and the man who can hold her in his arms.
The Goodies Case
The search for the perfect man ends in a sweet surrender. From USA Today bestselling romance author Sara Orwig.
Crystal has dedicated her life to caring for her nutty but loving family. She’s determined to bring order and reason into her life, and the next goal on her list is to settle down with an ordinary man. But Pug Moffitt is determined to throw Crystal’s plans off course. The owner of a gourmet food shop where Crystal is reluctantly taking cooking lessons, Pug seduces her with sweet confections, appealing to her sweet tooth, as well as the passions she’s been trying to keep at bay.
Connect with Diversion Books
Connect with us for information on new titles and authors from Diversion Books, free excerpts, special promotions, contests, and more:
@DiversionBooks
www.Facebook.com/DiversionBooks
Diversion Books eNewsletter