Zach's family, his entire meaning, lay snuggled beneath those covers, breathing in raspy, little-boy breaths, probably dribbling spittle on the blue pillowcase, his fist clenched around a tattered rag doll.
Savannah couldn't know that Zach had cried as much at his wife's funeral because his family would never grow any larger, than he did because his wife and unborn child lay in the nicest pine box he could find on short notice in the dead of winter.
He had loved Hannah.
Of course, he had been the worst sort of husband for her: too full of passion and eagerness and dreams. But he'd loved her, soul-deep. And he had tried the best he knew how to care for her, to shelter her. Just as he had tried to do the best by his brothers after his mother's death.
By blind chance, he had come home that month, a pilot who could navigate every inlet and shoal in the Banks with his eyes closed, a young man seeking to grab the world by the short hairs, as cocky and irresponsible and fun-loving as any young man of twenty had a right to be.
Yes, he'd come home to a dying mother and two adolescent boys in need of he didn't know what. One with a temper Zach couldn't control, the other with a mind Zach didn't understand.
That had ended his cocky irresponsibility quicker than a fist against a brick wall.
He hadn't missed the rowdy life. Living in the rank galley of a boat, eating high on the hog right out of port, then watching the supplies dwindle until he'd kill for a cracker that wasn't covered with mold. Working all hours, until his back ached and his knees locked, staring at the damned horizon so long his eyes crossed.
So he had settled in Pilot Isle for good. Married Hannah, and then along came Rory. And his life was no longer his at all. Even if he loved them with everything he had to give, and he did, Rory, Hannah, Noah, and Caleb had exacted a price. A price he was willing to pay until the day he kicked.
Still, a price.
Then, today, surprise of all surprises, Savannah Connor—bold and brash and maybe a touch crazy—had offered him a mirror.
When he'd looked into it, he'd seen that fun-loving young man staring back.
The temptation to take what she offered seemed more than he could refuse. Touching her had been like standing inside one of Edison's bulbs: the glow had dazzled, warmed, and enchanted. He had been Zach Garrett and nothing more, kissing a woman for the unadulterated joy of it, feeling her nails lightly scratching his neck, her firm breasts flattening against his chest, her sweet breath stealing into his throat.
He had forgotten the pleasure of a woman's touch.
Zach breathed deeply of little boy, paint and dog, wondering if Savannah understood the road she had started down. It was a treacherous road, a ruinous road for an unmarried woman. He was a bit older, and wiser by far, even though she was from New York City.
The good deed would be to turn her away.
Right now. Tomorrow.
Only, the wicked side of him, a side no one in Pilot Isle would have guessed existed, was hard at work building a wall around good intention. He had not been lonely those piloting years; he learned things he had never considered bringing into his marital bed. Hannah had been too fragile, too sweet and innocent.
Savannah Connor was another case altogether.
Untried, he had no doubt. Gullible in her own way, he reckoned, but fearless.
A fearless pain in his ass.
He laughed as he thought it: just as he'd once been.
Was it insane to imagine he could find that young man with her, not for love's sake but simply for life's sake? For his sake and his alone?
Noah and Caleb told him, sometimes daily, that he had to move on, remarry and have more children.
He didn't want that.
He couldn't love that deeply or give of himself in that way again. Yet, he was tired, dog tired, of apologizing for wanting to live.
Smiling softly, he closed his eyes, imagining what it was going to be like negotiating with that hellion.
And since he'd decided to take her up on her life-and-choices challenge, imagining if she'd let him negotiate her right out of her fancy clothes.
Meet Tracy Sumner
Tracy's story telling career began when she picked up a copy of LaVyrle Spencer's Vows on a college beach trip. A journalism degree and a thousand romance novels later, she decided to try her hand at writing a southern version of the perfect love story. With a great deal of luck and more than a bit of perseverance, she sold her first novel to Kensington Publishing.
When not writing sensual stories featuring complex characters and lush settings, Tracy can be found reading romance, snowboarding, watching college football and figuring out how she can get to 100 countries before she kicks (which is a more difficult endeavor than it used to be with her four-year-old son in tow). She lives in Charlotte, NC, but after spending a few years in "the city", considers herself a New Yorker at heart.
Tracy has been awarded the National Reader's Choice, the Write Touch and the Beacon—with finalist nominations in the HOLT Medallion, Heart of Romance, Rising Stars and Reader's Choice. Her books have been translated into German, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. She loves hearing from readers about why she tends to pit her hero and heroine against each other from the very first page or that great romance she simply must order in five seconds on her Kindle.
Ciao!
Also by Tracy Sumner
Tides of Passion
To Seduce a Rogue
To Desire a Scoundrel: A Christmas Seduction
Praise for
TIDES OF PASSION
Reader's Choice for Best Long Historical
Beacon for Best Historical
"A fresh voice in romantic fiction!"
~Affaire de Coeur
*
"Terrific dialogue... and hot loves scenes. If you haven't read Tracy Sumner before, Tides of Passion is a good place to start."
~All About Romance
*
"Delicious and amusing... witty dialogue, sparkling humor
and a snappy narrative. A must read!"
~thebestreviews.com
*
"This novel realizes with a great and witty gusto that independence isn't so much about being on your own
as it is about choosing to be together."
~Romantic Times
*
Praise for
TIDES OF LOVE
"I picked up Tides of Love... just to give the book a quick peak. That quick peak turned into four hours of reading that didn't stop until I finished the book!"
~The Romance Reader
*
"Descriptive flair... give this one a try!"
~All About Romance
*
"A powerful relationship novel that explores
the heartache and triumph of love."
~Romantic Times
*
"A beautifully written romance! Sizzling love scenes."
~Reviewer Carol Carter
*
Praise for
TO DESIRE A SCOUNDREL
A CHRISTMAS SEDUCTION
"A sexy tale filled with great verbal repartee."
~Romantic Times
*
"This story packs a lot of heat."
~Reviewer Jill Nicholson
*
"Sassy dialogue! A charming story."
~Readertoreader.com
*
"A bad boy... and a lively, independent woman.
An excellent sequel!"
~All Romance Bookstore Reviews
*
Praise for
TO SEDUCE A ROGUE
Reader's Choice Finalist for Best Historical
Rising Stars Finalist for Best First Book
"The battle of the sexes heats up the pages of this fun and fresh romance by talented new writer Tracy Sumner."
~New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs
*
"Well-written, funny and very engaging."
~USA Today bestselling autho
r Pamela Morsi
*
"Tracy Sumner has created endearing people and a
story to match. Engaging, warm and wonderful."
~Romantic Times
*
"As I began reading this book, I fell in love."
~Affaire de Coeur
Table of Contents
Cover
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Author's Note
Excerpt from TIDES OF PASSION by Tracy Sumner
Meet the Author
Titles by Tracy Sumner
Praise for Tracy Sumner and her books
Tides of Love (Seaswept Seduction Series) Page 32