Seeing Danger (A Sinclair & Raven Novel Book 2)

by Wendy Vella

  “I promise,” he whispered. “I love you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  “Are you sure about this? Because I can turn the carriage around and we can make a run for it.”

  “Very amusing, Nicholas,” Lilly said from her position beside him.

  They were traveling up Raven mountain and would shortly arrive at the church where she was finally to wed Devon.

  “There is something off about that family, though.”

  “Off how?” Lilly looked at her handsome brother.

  They had come so far since her abduction, and still had a lot to learn about each other, but she knew now he was a changed man.

  Dressed in a charcoal coat and matching waistcoat, he seemed whole and healthy now. The cynical smile had gone, and he was often found with a genuine one in its place.

  “I spoke with the magistrate after Dev's shooting. He said he was sure the man was dead, but then he appeared in the doorway, walking, although he was supported by his brother.”

  “You know what happened, Nicholas.” Lilly looked out the window. She had never been a good liar and had no wish for her brother to see that.

  A month had passed since that day when she had healed Devon, and every minute spent in his company, her love for the handsome, infuriating man grew.

  “Yes, but there are other things too. Take Eden, for example. She's always hearing things others do not, and Cam seems to sniff the air a lot. Don't tell me you haven't noticed?”

  “Actually, I haven't.”

  “Oh well, perhaps I'm making more of it than need be. I like them, by the way; they just appear a little odd at times.”

  “They are wonderful, as is James and his family.”

  “Yes, it's nice to have them all in our lives.” He smiled at her. “You look stunning, sister.”

  “Thank you, brother.”

  Her dress was cream-embroidered muslin with a small train, and it was simple yet beautiful. Bee had styled her hair in soft ringlets and she wore a small circlet of flowers.

  “We are here.”

  “Oh, I wasn't nervous before, but now I am,” Lilly said, pressing a hand to her stomach, where butterflies seemed to have taken up residence.

  “I love you, you know. Never forget that, sister.”

  “Oh, Nicholas.” Lilly started to cry. “I love you too.”

  “For pity’s sake, don't weep, woman. Sinclair will thrash me if I upset you today of all days.”

  Lilly sniffed and then allowed Nicholas to help her down. Eden and Essie awaited her, along with Dorrie, Somer, and Samantha, who were hopping from foot to foot in their pink dresses. Warwick was looking bored.

  This was it, she thought, this was the moment he became hers, and she and Nicholas officially became part of their family. She could hardly wait.

  Dev was sick of waiting. He wanted his future wife, and he wanted her now.

  “Not long now, Sinclair.”

  “Why must the bride always be late, Raven?”

  James and Cam stood beside him, both appearing calm when he was a seething mass of nerves.

  “It's tradition, I believe.”

  “Made up by the bride to torment the groom,” Cam added.

  Dev looked to the door again, but this time, it was not empty. His little brother and sisters and Samantha were there.

  “I do believe the guests just sighed,” James whispered.

  “They are sweet to be fair,” Cam added.

  Dev said nothing as he watched Eden and Essie appear, both looking beautiful in blue. But it was the woman behind them that caught and held his attention. On the arm of her brother was his Lilly.

  “Brides always look extraordinarily beautiful, don't you think, James?”

  He heard Cam whisper the words but Dev could not draw his eyes from the woman who was soon to be his wife. She was beautiful, but it wasn't just that, it was what lay between them. They shared a bond that he knew could never be broken. She was his life, and he knew he was hers.

  “Inhale, Sinclair. It would not do for you to faint here, in front of so many distinguished guests.”

  Dev did as James suggested, filling his lungs before exhaling slowly as Lilly started the walk to him.

  She would be his soon. He would wake with her in his arms and go to sleep the same way. He would see her at the breakfast table, travel with her in his carriage. He could kiss her sweet mouth if he wanted, right there in the middle of the day. Lord, he could not wait.

  “Sinclair.” Nicholas nodded to Dev when they arrived.

  “Braithwaite.”

  “Hello, Devon,” Lilly whispered.

  He smiled, and then leaned in to kiss her cheek, much to the enjoyment of the guests.

  “Hello, my love.”

  The service began, the children fidgeted, and their vows were made, and when it was done, Dev drew in another deep, steadying breath and turned to kiss his wife.

  “You can't escape me now, Lady Sinclair.”

  “I'm sure it's not the thing to be this happy.” She laughed, the smile lighting her beautiful eyes. “But I don't care.”

  “Neither,” he lowered his head, “do I.”

  The kiss was interrupted by Warwick, who declared that Lilly must travel with him to the castle. The twins and Samantha decided they had no wish to be left out, so Dev found himself in the carriage with his wife pressed to his side while three little girls and one boy chatted incessantly.

  And there was quite honestly no place he would rather be.

  THE END

  THANK YOU!

  Thanks so much for reading Sensing Danger, Book #1 in the Raven/Sinclair series. Book #2 is available for pre-order now! Read the excerpt below.

  • Would you like to know when my next book is available? Sign up for my new release mailing list at http://www.wendyvella.com/ or visit me on Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorWendyVella.

  • Reviews help other readers find books. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

  • Here's a sneak unedited peek of book three in the Raven/Sinclair series, Touched By Danger. Essie and Max’s story.

  TOUCHED BY DANGER excerpt

  Essie opened her eyes to darkness. Stretching, she knew instantly where she was, as she had spent many nights sleeping in this chair. Getting to her feet she made her way to the fire to stoke it to life, and then went to check on her patient.

  Placing a hand on his forehead she cursed softly.

  Tremors wracked his large body. The fever had taken hold. Checking the wound she found it inflamed. His pulse was rapid, and he was rolling his head from side to side. Tucking the blankets around his body, Essie then hurried to heat two bricks. Running into her surgery she gathered more herbs to bring down the fever.

  She spent the next few hours forcing herbal infusions down his throat, and placing bricks around his body but nothing seemed to be warming him up. She feared for his heart if he did not stop shaking but could think of nothing else to do.

  Moments like this made her realize how important her family was to her. The connection they shared would make her stronger, and give her the strength she needed to heal this man. She tasted fear, it washed threw her mouth like acid. Would she be forced to watch him die this night?

  “H-help m-me.”

  These were the first words he had spoken. Not giving herself time to think, Essie stripped of her dress, shoes and stockings. Clad only in a thin chemise she then lifted the blankets, and climbed beneath. Careful to avoid his bullet wound, she lowered herself gently on top of him. Slipping her fingers through his, palm to palm, she gripped his hands tight.

  “Try to calm your breathing,” she whispered resting her head on his chest. “Let me warm you.”

  He was like a block of ice, his shivers shook her but she held on to him and kept talking about nothing and everything. Telling him of her family’s mounting excitement over the upcoming arrival of her first niece or nephew. Finally, the large, muscled body beneath her began to warm. C
losing her eyes she gave thanks for the miracle. Yawning, Essie thought she would wait a few more minutes and then find her own bed.

  The breath hissed in Max’s throat as he moved. Fire burned down his left side, from the bullet he had taken yesterday. At least he was warm now, in fact whatever was pressed along his right side was keeping him that way.

  Opening his eyes, he saw curls the color of midnight draped across his chest. Essex Sinclair, he remembered then. The beautiful healer had saved his life. Visions of her climbing onto the bed and laying full length on top of him flashed through his head. She had warmed him with her body and soothed him with her gentle words. Telling him stories of her family, and the hopes and dreams she had for her little home he lay in. Max had focused on her voice as her body drove the ice from his veins.

  She slept now. One leg draped over his thighs, and a hand on his chest. Something softened inside him as he studied the long elegant fingers tipped with short clean nails. Such strength flowed from those fingers, and she had used them to heal him, it was a humbling thought. The woman had never met him before yesterday, and yet she had taken him into her home and cared for him with her body and her mind.

  Max had vague memories of her forcing vile concoctions down his throat until finally he had begged her to help him rid his body of the chill that consumed him. Seconds later he had felt the blessed heat of her lying on top of him.

  Taking care not to wake her he pushed the hair from her face. She slumbered deeply,

  and he could see the exhaustion in the dark smudges beneath her eyes. Her skin was tinged with gold no doubt from many hours spent outside tending the herb patch he had fallen in. He traced the sweet tilt of her nose and full lips. She was a beautiful woman this Essex Sinclair. His eyes studied the delicate curve of one ear then continued down to the tip of her chin and below. One of her breasts was pushed high, the creamy swell rising above the edge of her chemise, and Max’s fingers itched to touch the flesh. His body was suddenly very aware of the fact that he had a near naked woman in his arms. He fought the urge.

  She woke slowly like a petal unfurling to the sun’s rays. Her lashes fluttered, her fingers curled into his chest, and then she stretched slowly, inch by delectable inch of her body moved sensually against his, and it was like an erotic form of torture. He realized the exact instant she became aware of her surroundings because all the softness fled her body to be replaced by tension. Tipping her head back she looked up at him.

  He had travelled miles over waters the same color as those eyes. Blue-green and rimmed with darker blue they held his for several seconds. Her mouth opened and before she could speak he had lifted her up his body and kissed her. She was soft and sweet and her lips were made for kissing. Brushing his over hers he urged her to open for him, and when she yielded he deepened the contact. Cupping her head he explored her thoroughly easing back only when he knew that if he continued there would be no stopping.

  They stared at each other for seconds and then she blinked.

  “Dear Lord!” she whispered and then she was scrambling backward. Burrowing through the covers frantically searching for the edge. Max guessed she found it as seconds later there was a thump.

  “Are you all right?” he questioned, edging gingerly across to the side to peer down at her. Her chemise had ridden upward showing him the delicious curve of her thigh, and he looked his fill before she slapped down the hem and quickly climbed to her feet.

  “Please avert your eyes, Sir.”

  “Not if you handed over ten gold pieces.”

  Touched By Danger – coming soon!

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