by Rita Herron
He was hot simply from the thoughts.
Rain splattered the roof and ground as they climbed out and ran up to her porch. Beauregard barked, then loped inside and sprawled on the braided rug as if he owned the place.
Moisture glistened off Lisa’s face, dripping from her hair as it did his. He twined a finger around a strand, then his gaze met hers for a long second before it fell to her breasts. The white silk halter top she wore was soaked, plastered to her skin, her nipples tight and puckering, pushing at the thin damp fabric.
“You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” he whispered.
Lisa smiled, held out her hand, then led him to the bedroom. She lit a candle, flipped on an Alicia Keys CD, then turned and grasped for his hand just as the singer belted out, “I keep on falling in love again….”
In silent invitation, she placed his hand on her breast. He felt her heart beating beneath his fingers, felt her nipples tighten, her breath catch, and knew he’d never forget the sight of her, so sweet, so sexy, so unselfish, offering herself to him in the candlelight.
Without asking for anything.
She was so courageous, much more so than him.
“God, Lisa.” He slid his hand to the tie at the top of her neck, wiggled it loose, then watched, his body hardening, as the sheer fabric slithered down, revealing her bare breasts. He swallowed, looking his fill, wishing he could be the man she deserved.
“I…I don’t know how to be what you want,” he said gruffly. “I’m so afraid I’ll disappoint you.”
Lisa cupped his face in her hands. “You already are the man I want, Brad, just the way you are.” She pressed her lips to his and unfastened the buttons of his shirt, her fingers tangling in his chest hair, her touch igniting the flame of desire burning within him. “And you could never disappoint me.”
He quivered with the need to believe her.
She thought he had saved her, but in reality, she had been the one to save him.
Emotions crowded his throat at the realization. He eased her down on the bed, stripped the skirt from her legs, ran his fingers and tongue over her body, loving every inch of her as she writhed in his arms. And when he sank inside her, and she cried out her love, every shred of doubt and fear shattered within him.
He rose above her, the two of them still connected in the deepest way possible, then whispered for her to open her eyes. “Look at us together, Lisa.”
She glanced down at their bodies entwined, a sultry look darkening her irises. “I love you so much, Brad.”
“I love you, too, Lisa.”
With every ounce of emotion he possessed, he thrust inside her one more time, bringing them both to a mind-shattering climax that rocked his soul as they came together.
As they lay in each other’s arms, rain softly splattered the roof and music floated through the air. Through the open window, the fresh scents of grass, of cinnamon and apples, and of hope drifted toward him. He imagined Lisa picking apples, making pies, rocking his babies and being his wife.
He hugged her to him, planted a kiss in her hair, then ran a finger along her cheek, stunned that he was with her now, that he had gotten so lucky.
In a heartbeat, he had almost lost Lisa. But a heartbeat later, she was back.
And she was his forever.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this story by USA TODAY bestselling author
RITA HERRON
be sure to check out these other edge-of-your seat titles in her
THE HEROES OF HORSESHOE CREEK series!
LOCK, STOCK AND MCCULLEN
MCCULLEN’S SECRET SON
ROPING RAY MCCULLEN
WARRIOR SON
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“Deception Island is a brilliant thriller that will have you begging for more. The plot is a maze of surprising and harrowing twists and turns that lead to a dynamic conclusion.”
–Fresh Fiction
If you are looking for an intense, fast-paced, action-packed romantic suspense set in the tropical islands and the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, don’t miss this stunning Golden Heart® Award–nominated debut novel by award-winning journalist Brynn Kelly.
DECEPTION ISLAND
A stolen boy
A haunted soldier
A cornered conwoman…
Rafe Angelito thought he was done with the demons from his past—until his son is kidnapped. Blackmailed into abducting an American heiress, the Legionnaire soon finds himself trapped in paradise with a fiery, daring beauty who’s nothing he expects…and everything he desires. But when he uncovers her own dark secret, Rafe realizes he’s made a critical mistake—one that could cost him everything.
Playing body double for a spoiled socialite was supposed to be Holly Ryan’s ticket to freedom. But when she’s snatched off her yacht by a tall, dark and dangerous stranger, the not-quite-reformed con artist will make a desperate play to turn her captor from enemy to ally, by any means necessary.
Yet as scorching days melt into sultry nights, Holly is drawn to the mysterious capitaine, with his unexpected sense of honor and his searing touch. When they’re double-crossed, they’ll have to risk trusting each other in ways they never imagined…because in this deadly game of deception, it’s their lives—and hearts—on the line.
Order your copy today!
“Deception Island is the wildly captivating debut novel by award winning journalist Brynn Kelly, and if this is any indication of future books, count me all in as a huge fan.”
–The Romance Reviews
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If you love thrilling tales set in the rugged wilderness of Montana, you’ll love The Montana Hamiltons series by New York Times bestselling author B.J. Daniels.
Into Dust
Hard Rain
Lucky Shot
Lone Rider
Wild Horses
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“[The Montana Hamiltons] should definitely be on the must read list...a great introduction for new readers to this amazing author.”
—Fresh Fiction
Danger runs high and passions burn hot in B.J. Daniels’ Beartooth, Montana series, don’t miss any of these exciting reads!
Mercy
Atonement
Forsaken
Redemption
Unforgiven
Fallen (novella)
Available now wherever ebooks are sold!
“Daniels is truly an expert at Western romantic suspense.”
—RT Book Reviews
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ISBN: 9781459296541
IN A HEARTBEAT
Copyright © 2006 by Rita B. Herron
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permissi
on of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
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