Willa spoke first, her words tumbling out in a rush. “If you didn’t want to hurt me, then why didn’t you tell me about the cocaine? Didn’t you think I had a right to know?”
Nick winced. “At first it was because I didn’t know how you’d react. After that scene in the parking lot, I … I wanted to protect you. You had enough just dealing with Miller, and I didn’t think you needed the added pressure of knowing just how devious he was. I thought … hell, I guess I wasn’t thinking. I told you, I’m new to this knight business. I trust you, Willa, and I know you don’t want anyone taking care of you—but dammit, I can’t seem to stop wanting to try.” Willa’s tremulous smile encouraged him. “And please don’t be mad at Sky. He didn’t like all of it, but he wasn’t just being loyal to me, he wanted to protect you too.”
“He already apologized.” She paused, dipping her head before saying softly, “Nick, I owe you an apology … about Doc.”
Nick pulled her into his arms at the pain that flickered in the depths of her eyes at the mention of her old friend. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there with you through all that.”
She didn’t pull away from his embrace, allowing herself finally to draw the strength from him she’d needed for so long. “I saw him on my way here. He’s addicted to gambling, Nick. He didn’t know what to do, he’d gotten in so far over his head. Eric’s offer seemed like a godsend to him.”
Nick rubbed her back and lightly traced a finger down her arm. “It’s hard for me to be forgiving, I hate what he did to you. I’m sorry, baby, I know he was like family.”
“I’ve lost all respect for him, but I can’t hate him. Part of me will always love him for what he once was to me.”
Nick gently tipped up her chin. “And what about me?”
Willa’s voice trembled, she wanted so badly to erase the uncertainty she saw in his eyes. He really did love her!
“Nick, I—” Her voice broke, but she had to ask. “That afternoon, in your house, when Sky was searching mine …”
“My God,” Nick whispered. He pulled her around to face him. “Is that what you’ve been thinking all this time? Do you really think so little of me?”
“Nick, I’m sorry if that hurt. But look at it from my point of view. Everyone I loved, or thought I loved, either lied to me or used me for some self-serving purpose. You had better reason than most, given what you suspected. Then, after the arrest, you didn’t need me. You never called me. I couldn’t find you. Or Sky. I didn’t know what to think.”
Nick heaved a huge sigh, wishing now he hadn’t been so stubborn about wanting to find her himself and had let Sky track her down immediately It would have saved them both so much heartache. “Willa, listen to me, because I’m only going to say this once. That day was”—he looked at the ceiling for a moment—“mind-blowing, life changing, more than that. But I certainly didn’t need to take you to bed to keep you out of your house for a few hours.”
“Nick—” She didn’t get a chance to finish. Nick pulled her to him and kissed her with a ferocity that would have been frightening had she not felt the exact same way. She responded fully, with her heart and her soul.
When he pulled away, they were both breathing hard. “The night Eric was arrested, I had no idea he was there. I was coming to see you because I couldn’t sleep in my bed—our bed—without you. I was coming to tell you that I loved you. Even finding you with Miller didn’t stop me from trusting you. If you’d stuck around instead of running, you’d have known that weeks ago.”
Willa lightly touched his face, tracing over every line and crease. “I love you, Nick Logan, even when I thought I was being a world-class fool, I couldn’t stop loving you.”
Nick kissed her again. Happiness stole through him. Their noses touching, he said, “My ban has been lifted and I’m back in everyone’s good graces again. Eight months ago that’s all I wanted. Right now that means nothing if I don’t have your trust.”
Willa’s eyes sparkled as she flashed him a dazzling grin. “I trust you, Nick. I’ll never doubt it again.”
Nick trapped her head between his hands, brushing his nose across hers. “Ah, Princess, I love you, but if I don’t get your delectable little trusting body upstairs very shortly, we may shock a few of the guests with a very public display of affection.”
“There are no guests. Except you.” When Nick wiggled his brows, she added, “The owners are friends, but they’re out of town at a wedding. So it’s just you and me.”
“Any more questions?” She shook her head. “Good, because your ten minutes are up.”
He scooped her up and headed for the stairs. Willa struggled briefly. “Nick, your knee …”
“You’re right. I couldn’t have waited that long anyway.” He placed her gently back on the couch and slowly started to unbutton her blouse. “We’ll have plenty of time later to explore the upper realms of your present castle.”
Several hours later all was well in Willa’s castle. She snuggled next to the hard-muscled length of Nick’s warm body. She was drifting off to sleep, thinking that she hadn’t embellished on reality one bit—in fact, her memory hadn’t done him justice—when Nick nuzzled her awake by pressing light kisses to her hair.
“I wonder if the horse is still there.”
“Oh my goodness! I completely forgot.” She started to get up, but Nick tightened his hold on her, and she snuggled back down with little resistance. None, actually. “Where did you get the horse and that armor anyway?”
“You’d be amazed what you can rent these days.” His voice was still husky from their strenuous afternoon. He was idly twirling her hair around his finger, thinking he was the luckiest man alive. “Don’t worry, I’m sure he’s fine.”
“It must have cost you a fortune.”
“Is that a polite way of asking how I’m going to support you?”
“I don’t need supporting,” was her indignant reply. “I know I’ve taken a leave of absence, but even if I lose my job, I’m sure I can get another one. My training center will just take a little longer to achieve, that’s all.”
“Well, I won’t have my wife worrying her pretty, not to mention very educated, little head over finances.”
Willa smacked him playfully. “Is that your way of asking me to marry you?”
“Well, I’d get down on bended knee, but then I’d have to wait. I can’t wait, Willa.” He pulled her hard against his body. “I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know everything about you. Will you be my wife?”
“I love you, Nick Logan. I’d be honored.”
Nick rolled over and drew her on top of him, dropping kisses onto her shoulder. Willa wriggled on top of him and he groaned, pushing her away a bit.
Willa stilled. “Did I hurt you? Oh, your knee!”
Nick chuckled. “My surgeon’s probably out right now putting a down payment on a small island.” When Willa started to get up, he tightened his grip. “It hurts, but that’s not why I groaned. I just wanted to talk to you before we, uh …”
Willa grinned devilishly. “Well, you’d better talk fast.”
“While I was trying to find you I did a lot of thinking about our future.” Willa raised an eyebrow, but Nick gave her a cocky grin. “My knee is shot, so football is out.” He placed a finger across her lips. “It’s okay, Willa. Besides, I’m thinking of investing all that money I earned letting people pummel my body in a new venture. What would you think about turning your farm into the training facility you’ve been wanting to start? We can live at my place—correction, our place.”
Willa was dazed by his offer. “Nick, that’s wonderful! But it will take up a lot of time. It’s a big project.”
“Well, I’m not so generous that I’m willing to give my time with you away. You make all the decisions about how the place should be set up. I have only two wishes.”
“Anything, sire.”
“Oooh, sire, I could get to like that—ouch! Just kidding.”
“You better ask quick, buster.”
Nick heaved a mock sigh. “Not even married yet and I’ve already been ousted from my throne.” He raised her chin with his finger and kissed her long and hard. “I want to work with you. Got any use for a beat-up ex-jock?”
“Several come to mind.” She gave him a sassy wink, then added, “I’d like nothing better than for this to be a team effort all the way.”
“Team efforts happen to be my specialty.” He pressed his aroused body against her in case she didn’t fully comprehend his meaning.
She gasped in helpless desire, but managed to push at his chest. “You said two things, what’s the other?”
“I want to save a week or two each summer for the kids to use the facilities. Maybe we can get some of the other pros, both active and retired, to lend their support.”
“Nick Logan, have I told you in the last two minutes how much I love you?”
“No. But does that mean yes?”
Willa nodded and Nick’s blue eyes turned dark and passionate and he pulled her to him.
“Wait a minute, it’s my turn. I have a wish of my own. Remember at your house that day when you mentioned something about showering together?”
Nick’s smile turned downright wicked, but he didn’t answer. He just got out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom, emerging several long minutes later. In a swirl of jasmine-scented steam, he stood next to the bed. Leaning on his cane, he gave a formal bow and drew Willa’s hand into his. “Princess, your bath awaits.”
She accepted and they strolled naked into the fog, hands held in the formal court fashion of centuries ago. Their laughter quickly faded into moans of delight, while outside, a very large white horse munched on the hedges.
THE EDITOR’S CORNER
Welcome to Loveswept!
Happy New Year! Kick off 2013 with an e-original from Loveswept: debut author Wendy Vella’s sexy romance THE RELUCTANT COUNTESS – our second historical release! Set amongst the intrigues and scandals of London society, Sophie Countess of Monmouth is forced into playing a dangerous game to secure both her and her brother’s futures. She fears if anyone is to unmask and find the truth to her charade it will be the persistent Earl of Coulter, who is led to believe as well as the rest of the town that Sophie is recently widowed. Overly curious to the rumors that surround the Countess and even more enchanted by her beauty, Patrick is compelled to uncover the facts surrounding the mysterious Countess of Monmouth. I can’t wait for this release!
And we have more fantastic books for you to start the new year. Donna Kauffman’s exhilarating WILD RAIN, Karen Leabo’s passionate Brides of Destiny story MILLICENT’S MEDICINE MAN, and three absorbing books from Linda Cajio: SILK ON THE SKIN, HARD HABIT TO BREAK, and THE RELUCTANT PRINCE.
If you love romance … then you’re ready to be Loveswept!
Gina Wachtel
Associate Publisher
P.S. Watch for these terrific Loveswept titles coming soon: In February, we have another alluring e-original for you, Sharon Cullen’s THE NOTORIOUS LADY JANE, Patricia Olney’s touching and funny JADE’S GAMBLE, Linda Cajio’s sexy STRICTLY BUSINESS, Sally Goldenbaum’s wonderful A DREAM TO CLING TO, and two enticing books from Sandra Chastain, LOVE AND A BLUE-EYED COWBOY and MIDNIGHT FANTASY. March brings some classics you’ll want to read: Patricia Olney’s moving and funny STILL MR. AND MRS., Juliana Garnet’s compelling and sensual THE BARON, Jean Stone’s exceptional and heartwarming FIRST LOVES, Linda Cajio’s extraordinary UNFORGETTABLE, and beloved author Iris Johansen’s brilliant AN UNEXPECTED SONG. Don’t miss any of these extraordinary reads. I promise that you’ll fall in love and treasure these stories for years to come.…
Read on for excerpts from more Loveswept titles …
Read on for an excerpt from Samantha Kane’s
The Devil’s Thief
London, June 5, 1817
Chapter One
The faint, metallic screech sounded as loud as thunder in the oppressive silence of the dark bedroom. Julianna froze, silhouetted by the moonlight against the back wall, the sudden noise stealing her breath away.
“Unless you care to be shot this evening, I wouldn’t move from where you’re standing.” The deep voice was quiet but firm and it came from the shadows of the big bed.
Julianna remained still as a statue, her mind awhirl. For a moment all was silent, but then she heard the bedsheets rustle and the mattress groan. She cast her eyes toward the bed, afraid to move even an inch. She could see from the man’s outline that he was now leaning against the headboard. His arm appeared to be resting on his upraised knee, but it was too dark to tell whether or not he was actually holding a gun.
“You’re probably wondering if I do indeed have a gun,” he said nonchalantly, and Julianna had to suppress a gasp. How did he know? She closed her eyes and pursed her lips in annoyance at herself. Of course he knew. It’s what any halfway intelligent person would be thinking if they were discovered in her position.
“Let me reassure you that the answer is yes.”
His reassurance was hardly necessary, since she had already concluded that to be the case. In her experience, gentlemen were alarmingly odd, at least in most respects, so it was no surprise that this one apparently slept with a gun. Given his wild and reckless reputation, it would perhaps be more surprising if he did not.
He snorted inelegantly from the bed, which amused Julianna in spite of the dangerous situation she was in. In that moment he didn’t sound at all like the Honorable Mr. Alasdair Sharp to whom she’d recently been introduced, but very much like an annoyed schoolmaster.
“Stand up, for God’s sake,” Mr. Sharp ordered from the bed. “You look like a caricature of a thief, hunched over and creeping along the wall.”
Julianna started to straighten and she heard another rustle from the bed.
“Slowly,” Mr. Sharp admonished, and she froze again for a moment before straightening very, very slowly.
“And now you must tell me what you found so irresistible in my bedroom in the middle of the night.”
Julianna heard the amusement in his voice and it irritated her. So he found her amusing, did he?
The slight weight in the secret pocket of her shirt burned into her side like a brand as she faced him. “Let me reassure you that it was the Stewart Pearl I found irresistible,” she retorted, “and nothing else.”
As soon as she spoke she could have bitten off her tongue. Why, oh why did she always open her mouth before thinking things through? Surely he would recognize her now.
“You’re a woman,” Mr. Sharp exclaimed in shock.
Julianna closed her eyes in despair at her own foolishness. If she had kept her mouth shut, he wouldn’t have figured that out so quickly, maybe not at all. She was dressed in dark trousers and a dark shirt, her hair pinned up. In the dark she was certain she could pass for a man. The waning crescent moon outside barely gave enough light for him to see her. Even though her outburst had given away her sex, she refused to confirm it by answering him. She was light-headed with relief that he had not recognized her voice.
“I thought you looked a little short for a man,” he mused, “but I imagined that you were an apprentice thief or some such thing. It never entered my head that you might be a woman.”
Julianna had to press her lips together not to make a disparaging comment about the contents of his head, since it was clear he had no idea who she was. It wouldn’t be wise in this situation, although it was her natural inclination.
“Cat got your tongue, Miss Thief?” he asked, and Julianna shivered. She was not afraid of him—rather, she was afraid that she was losing control of the situation and of herself.
He shoved the covers aside and rose from the bed, and Julianna almost squeaked in alarm. He was naked. The pale moonlight flowing through the open window fell across the floor at an angle, and as he stood next to the bed, the light shone on his very naked body, illuminating him from his flat stomach to his bare feet.
His face was still covered in s
hadow, but Julianna remembered it from the many times she had seen him leaving his house and walking down the street, not to mention the party she had attended the other night. Mr. Sharp was a descendent of the Stewarts, all right: tall, handsome, with a high forehead and spectacular blue eyes. He looked just as the eyewitness accounts had described Bonnie Prince Charlie. She should have known from his firm, pointed chin that he wouldn’t be an easy mark. But she’d been distracted by his silky blond curls and those eyes, not to mention the width of his shoulders. Oh, yes, and, more important, the Stewart Pearl. At the party she had barely been able to take her eyes off the famous pearl, which sat in solitary splendor in a glass case surrounded by candelabra—gleaming, pale, and round and begging to be stolen.
“So you want my pearl, do you?” he asked, his voice smooth and suggestive.
Julianna’s gaze darted up to his shadowed face, but she could see nothing. The anger and amusement in his voice, however, had been replaced by something else. Something that made her distinctly nervous, considering that he was naked and she was caught.
He slowly moved toward her. As he approached, she saw that he was indeed holding a pistol. She wasn’t all that knowledgeable about guns, but at that moment her primary concern was that the gun might contain a bullet, and she really did not care to be shot this evening. When he stopped in front of her, Julianna couldn’t take her eyes away from the gun.
She was so intent on the pistol, she was startled when she felt his finger under her chin, urging her gaze upward. She met his eyes and a measure of her fear must have shown on her face.
“I don’t need this, do I?” he murmured, lowering the pistol. Julianna vehemently shook her head. He smiled at her response, and then released the trigger gently. He leaned over and set the gun down on a nearby table. Julianna was so relieved, she leaned back against the wall, her knees weak.
“Why do you want my pearl?” he asked quietly. He reached out and gently brushed a fallen lock of hair off her cheek, his finger trailing along from her forehead to her jaw.
Illegal Motion: A Loveswept Classic Romance Page 15