Lancelot's Lady
Page 23
"For thinking you were sent to spy on me." His thumb caressed her hand. "For not believing you."
"Water under the bridge."
"Is it?" His gaze intensified. "I've been a complete dolt. A real idiot."
"Go on," she said, smirking.
He entwined her fingers with his and stared at their hands. "I can't imagine going back to Angelina's Isle without you."
Her breath caught in the back of her throat.
"It won't be the same there without you," he added. "And Misty really needs you."
"Misty?"
He pulled her close. "I need you, Rhianna."
"For how long?" she asked, gazing into his deep blue eyes. "Summer fling time is over."
"I don't want a fling." He kissed her palm. "I want forever."
Rhianna could feel her pulse beating rapidly.
Is he saying what I think he's saying?
"What's that mean, 'forever'?" she asked.
"Don't you know?" He leaned forward and kissed her. "I love you, Rhianna McLeod."
"Really?"
He chuckled. "Do I have to prove it?"
"Yes, please."
When his lips met hers, Rhianna no longer felt lost. Her knight had found her and rescued her, and soon he would sweep her away to his island castle.
She could think of nothing she wanted more.
Epilogue
Three days later, Rhianna and Jonathan were married in the backyard of Lance Manor. Misty, the flower girl, sprinkled pink hibiscus and rose petals on the grass. Behind her, JT escorted Rhianna down the floral aisle and stood next to his son as the best man. Mrs. Atkinson was Rhianna's Matron of Honor, while Marvin, Higginson, Roland and Denny watched on and exchanged hoots, nudges and proud grins. Rhianna couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding.
"I have one request," JT told her just minutes before they walked down the aisle.
"Anything, JT."
"I want to see Angelina's Isle. I think I'd like to spend my last days there. With you, Jon and…Sirena."
"Misty," she corrected, kissing the old man's cheek.
"Yes…Misty." He gave her a confused look. "Isn't that what I said?"
She smiled. "Of course it was."
When the music started, JT said, "I think there's a party going on in there."
She took his arm. "Let's go see, shall we?"
~ * ~
They left for Angelina's Isle the next day.
That first night back on the island, Rhianna stood on the dock and watched the setting sun. Seated in a wooden chair beside her, JT stared out at the ocean, a soft smile on his grizzled face. It was wonderful to see him smiling. He'd been experiencing excruciating headaches that day.
"It's beautiful here," JT said, almost to himself. "The air is so fresh and fragrant."
"That was my first impression," she said.
A rustling of leaves made her glance over her shoulder.
Jonathan stood on the beach, waiting for her. In his arms was a large canvas.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," she said, patting JT's shoulder.
"Take your time, dear. I'm not going anywhere tonight."
Rhianna strolled along the dock, her heart filled with love and happiness. "What have you got, Jonathan?"
"A new painting. I couldn't wait to show it to you."
He turned the canvas toward her and she let out an audible gasp. In the painting, a woman reclined on a chaise lounge, with a wisp of silk draped across her naked body and long, auburn hair flowing down over her breasts. Around her neck, she wore a single string of pearls. Her expression was dreamy, as though she were waiting for her lover.
The woman had Rhianna's face.
"You can't sell that," she said, horrified.
Jonathan grinned. "I wasn't planning to."
"Why'd you paint it then?"
"To remind me that you're mine."
Rhianna wound her arms around his neck. "You need reminding, Sir Lancelot?"
"Each and every day, milady," he whispered, his lips capturing hers.
~ * ~
If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a short review and posting it on ebook retailer websites, especially the one you bought this ebook from. Reviews are very helpful to other readers and are greatly appreciated by authors. When you post a review, drop me an email and let me know, and I may feature part of it on my blog/site. Thank you. ~ Cheryl
cherylktardif@shaw.ca
DIVINE INTERVENTION
Book 1 in the Divine series by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Cheryl Kaye Tardif's International bestselling novel
CFBI agent Jasmine McLellan is assigned a hot case—one that requires the psychic abilities of the PSI Division, a secret government agency located in the secluded town of Divine, BC.
Jasi leads a psychically gifted team in the hunt for a serial arsonist―a murderer who has already taken the lives of three innocent people. Unleashing her gift as a Pyro-Psychic, Jasi is compelled toward smoldering ashes and enters the killer's mind. A mind bent on destruction and revenge.
Jasi's team, consisting of Psychometric Empath and profiler, Ben Roberts, and Victim Empath, Natassia Prushenko, is led down a twisting path of dark, painful secrets. Brandon Walsh, the handsome, smooth-talking Chief of Arson Investigations joins them in a manhunt that takes them across British Columbia―from Vancouver to Kelowna, Penticton and Victoria.
While impatiently sifting through the clues that were left behind, Jasi and her team realize that there is more to the third victim than meets the eye. Perhaps not all of the victims were that innocent. The hunt intensifies when they learn that someone they know is next on the arsonist's list.
The case heats to the boiling point as Jasi steps out of the flames…and into the fire. And in the heat of early summer, Agent Jasi McLellan discovers that a murderer lies in wait…much closer than she imagined.
Book 1 in Divine series.
Various e-book formats available at your favorite e-book retailers
Now available at Smashwords. Read a sample now.
DIVINE JUSTICE
CFBI Agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan battles a serious infection that threatens to claim her life. Slipping in and out of consciousness, she remembers the Parliament Murders...
One by one, members of Ontario's Parliament are disappearing, only to be found days later, disoriented and drugged. Or worse―dead. Police are stumped and the CFBI brings in a covert PSI team, agents with special psychic abilities.
Accompanied by Psychometric Empath Ben Roberts and new team member Victim Empath Natassia Prushenko, Jasi heads for Ottawa and uncovers a plot so devious that Canada's national security is at risk. If that isn't enough to deal with, Jasi bumps into old flame, Zane Underhill, who wants to rekindle their relationship that ended three years earlier.
But the investigation takes precedent and Jasi is forced to place her feelings for Zane on hold in order to find a killer who has more than justice in mind for his victims, and in the end she makes a gut-wrenching decision―one that will cost the life of someone close to her.
Book 2 in Divine series.
"Divine Justice is a powerfully-written chill ride that will give you nightmares. Best to keep the lights on with this one." ―Rick Mofina, bestselling author of In Desperation
"This fast-paced thriller should be a runaway best-seller. Divine Justice reminds me of CSI or Medium. If you like J.D. Robb's In Death series, you'll love Cheryl Kaye Tardif's Divine series." ―Midwest Book Review, Betty Dravis, co-author of Dream Reachers series
"One of those 'sitting on the edge of your seats' read as the team unravels the mystery and tries to solve the case. It is a unique blend of action, mystery...This book is highly recommended." ―Margaret Orford, Allbooks Review
Various e-book formats available at your favorite e-book retailers
Now available at Smashwords. Read a sample now.
WHALE SONG
Cheryl Kaye Tardif's International bestsel
ling novel
A timeless story of love, lies, tragedy and transformation
Thirteen years ago, Sarah Richardson's life was shattered when her mother committed suicide. The shocking tragedy left a grief-stricken teen-aged Sarah with partial amnesia.
Some things are easier to forget.
But now a familiar voice from her past sends Sarah, a talented mid-twenties ad exec, back to her past. A past that she had thought was long buried.
Some things are meant to be buried.
Torn by nightmares and visions of a yellow-eyed wolf, yet aided by the creatures of the Earth and by the killer whales that call to her in the night, Sarah must face her fears and uncover the truth―even if it destroys her.
Some things are meant to be remembered―at all cost.
Various eBook formats are available at your favorite eBook retailers
Novels by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Whale Song
Whale Song: School Edition
The River
Children of the Fog
Submerged
Series by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
The Divine Trilogy (in order):
Divine Intervention (Book 1)
Divine Justice (Book 2)
Divine Sanctuary (Book 3)
Short Stories by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Remote Control
Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories
Novels by Cherish D'Angelo (AKA Cheryl Kaye Tardif)
Lancelot's Lady
About the Author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an award-winning, international bestselling Canadian suspense author. Her novels include Divine Sanctuary, Submerged, Divine Justice, Children of the Fog, The River, Divine Intervention, and Whale Song, which New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice calls "a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart...a beautiful, haunting novel."
She is now working on her next thriller.
Cheryl also enjoys writing short stories inspired mainly by her author idol Stephen King, and this has resulted in Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories (eBook) and Remote Control (novelette eBook). Her short stories are featured in various anthologies, including Shadow Masters and What Fears Become.
In 2010 Cheryl detoured into the romance genre with her contemporary romantic suspense debut, Lancelot's Lady, written under the pen name of Cherish D'Angelo.
Booklist raves, "Tardif, already a big hit in Canada…a name to reckon with south of the border."
Cheryl's website: http://www.cherylktardif.com
Official blog: http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630
You can also find Cheryl Kaye Tardif on Goodreads, Shelfari and LibraryThing, plus other social networks.
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