by Regina Scott
She felt tears threatening. “I’m sorry to have caused you pain, Allister. But part of me is glad you care enough to be pained.”
“Did you doubt that?” He watched her face and saw a pain mirroring his own cross her lovely features. “Yes, I can see you did. Forgive me, Joanna. I should have been more honest with my feelings. I’ve admired you from the first, but in truth, when I offered, I wasn’t in love.”
“I understand,” she said, choking on the last word. “Your work is very important to you, to the nation. I was a fool to think I could compete with that.”
He stepped closer and caught one of the tears that ran down her cheeks. “Yes, you were,” he murmured. “There is no comparison. Nothing, no one, could hold a candle to you, Joanna. I love you with all my heart.”
Her head jerked up, and her eyes searched his face for confirmation. What she saw filled her with joy. With a glad cry, she threw herself into his arms.
Allister kissed her deeply, glorying in the feel of her pressed against him. He could imagine no more finer thing than this – to hold the woman he loved in his embrace. Joanna put all of herself into the kiss, her joy unbounded as she felt her passion returned. His arms tightened around her, and his breath came as quickly as her own. Any doubts she might have had fled into the darkness. She could feel his love in every fiber of her being.
As if from far away, she heard movement among the tombstones. Allister raised his head. She could see the tender light once more shining from his eyes. His smile was just as sweet.
“Brace yourself, my dear,” he murmured. “We have company.” She stiffened as he raised his voice. “Hold your fire. I have the villain well in hand.”
Davis stepped into the moonlight. “I can see that, old fellow,” he quipped. “Interesting technique. I generally don’t think to kiss them into submission.”
Chuckles echoed around them, as if all the gravestones were laughing. Joanna reddened.
“I thought you were alone!” she accused.
His chuckle was for her alone. “I thought you were a villain. I promise never to be untruthful with you again, my love.”
Joanna hugged the words to her heart as Davis joined them.
“So, how effective is that technique?” he teased Allister.
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” Allister replied coolly. “It has a tendency to fail. You see, while I have captured Miss Lindby, she has captured my heart.”
“And what about your villain?” Davis demanded. “I suppose we have to come back another night for him.”
Allister and Joanna exchanged glances. Davis stiffened.
“Do you wish to tell him or shall I?” Allister asked.
In his arms, Joanna knew there was nothing she could not do. “I wrote the note, Mr. Laughton,” she admitted. “I should have thought Allister might ask the rest of you along. I’m sorry for the trouble. You see, at the time, I thought it was necessary.”
“I share the blame,” Allister put in before Davis could answer. “If I had been attending to my marriage instead of my duty, this would never have happened.”
“Then there was no conspiracy?” Davis sounded only the slightest disappointed. “You really will be leaving us?”
“Yes, Mr. Laughton,” Allister replied with no regrets whatsoever. “I’m pleased to say you will no longer have need for my services. I intend to spend the rest of my life keeping Lady Trevithan out of trouble.”
“That’s right,” Joanna agreed, giving him a squeeze. “And you’ll need to start immediately, because we shall be married.”
“In June,” Allister completed.
And they were.
Copyrights © 1999 and 2001 by Regina Lundgren
Originally published by Zebra: "Sweeter Than Candy" in A Match for Mother (0821761854), "A Place by the Fire" in Mistletoe Kittens (0821763032) and "The June Bride Conspiracy" in His Blushing Bride (0821768158)
Electronically published in 2008 by Belgrave House/Regency
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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are
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Table of Contents
Title page
BE MY BRIDE
Three Novellas: Sweeter Than Candy, A Place by the Fire, The June Bride Conspiracy
Regina Scott
________
Sweeter Than Candy
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
_____________
A Place by the Fire
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
________________
The June Bride Conspiracy
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
