The Wayward Heart
Page 35
She collapsed against Jim in a fit of laughter.
“And I believe they’ll suit each other admirably—most admirably. Almost as well as Annie and Buck, for that matter!” She stroked his wide chest soothingly. “And no, my love, I do not wish to visit them in San Francisco, though I would like to get in touch with Dr. Brady and the Scotts, you know, since they were so kind to me when we traveled together.”
“Bryony!” Jim tugged her close so that she faced him. “I’m not going to spend my whole damn honeymoon socializing with a crowd of people.”
“No, my darling.” She kissed him sweetly on the lips, the glow of passion once more lighting her eyes. “Not the entire honeymoon. Most of it will be spent exactly like this.”
And she leaned close against him, her lips warm and sweet on his, her body pressed invitingly against his as they fell back together upon the rumpled sheets. Their bodies thrilled with desire, and their voices whispered of love and dreams of the future as outside the window, an amber dawn rose softly over the black mountains.
Together, Bryony and Jim celebrated the new day.
The End
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Thank you!
Jill Gregory
Read an Excerpt from
NEVER LOVE A COWBOY
Another novel in the Cowboy Heroes Western Series
NEVER LOVE A COWBOY
“We’re not kids anymore,” Tucker said in a dangerously quiet voice. “You’re a woman and I’m a man, and you know damn well what’s between us. It’s time to settle this, once and for all.”
“If only we could!” Emma said desperately, looking into his steel-blue eyes. “How? Just tell me how we can forget about this!”
“We’ll let ourselves go all the way, as far as we want. Right here on this cot. And then it will be over. Over forever,” he repeated, as if reassuring himself, as he tore his gaze from her lips.
He didn’t want any misunderstandings.
“Listen, Malloy, there’s something you need to understand. I’m not looking to saddle myself with a wife. And Lord knows you’d be the last one I’d pick if I were—”
“I’d sooner marry a skunk as marry you!” she cried indignantly.
“Good, Malloy, that’s real good. So we’re safe. I’m not the marrying kind anyway—never have been and don’t ever expect to be.” He shrugged. “But sometimes a woman gets in your blood...”
His voice trailed off. It had never happened before, not to him, not with the fevered potency with which this woman was in his blood. But in the past there’d been a time or two when only by bedding a woman he’d taken a fancy to had he been able to forget about her. He reckoned this would turn out the same—it would have to. And then he could move on.
“So if we agree to get this all over with, right here and now, we’ll both be better off.”
Eagerly she grabbed him by the shoulders, her slim fingers burning into his flesh. “I want that. I can’t bear to keep thinking about you, imagining—”
So she’d been doing that, too. Tucker felt a surge of desire so powerful he nearly groaned. It took all of his self-control to fight it back. He was sore as hell all over but wanting her hurt far worse than anything Slade and the others had done to him. Yet he held back.
Not yet. When we have everything plain and settled between us.
“Well, this should take care of it,” he assured her. Then he added in a low tone, “I think.”
“You think?” Uneasily, Emma sought to understand what he meant. Doubt flickered across her face.
“I’m almost sure.” Tucker’s voice roughened. “It’s never been this bad before.”
Then he could have kicked himself. Damn, why had he admitted that? Her eyes flashed with something, and he could have bitten off his tongue for possibly giving her hopes of—of what? Snagging him?
“This one time... we’ll let things go,” he said again firmly. “Then... that’s it. It’s finished. Over. No matter what. You got that, Malloy?”
“No matter what,” she repeated, nodding her head, but her eyes were fixed once more on his mouth. Longing consumed her.
She ached. Being this close to him made her ache.
“Garrettson...”
“What, Malloy?”
“Will you please kiss me now?”
Titles by Jill Gregory
Now Available As Ebooks
THE COWBOY HEROES WESTERN SERIES
The Wayward Heart
Always You
Never Love A Cowboy
Cold Night, Warm Stranger
Daisies in the Wind
Cherished
When the Heart Beckons
And Then There Was You (a novella)
THE STOLEN HEARTS REGENCY SERIES
Forever After
Moonlit Obsession
Just This Once
Praise for Jill Gregory
and Her Bestselling Novels
Now available as Ebooks
The Wayward Heart
“For tales of romance and adventure that keep you reading into the night, look no further than Jill Gregory.”
— Nora Roberts, best-selling author
“For me, a Jill Gregory book is always a ‘must buy,’ as appealing as a box of superb chocolates and just as satisfying.”
— Catherine Anderson, best-selling author
Cherished
“WOW! What a wonderful heartwarming story. I love the characters and the storyline. I could feel the emotions of the hero and heroine—don’t miss this one!”
— Rendezvous
“A good Western story with lots of action!”
— Heartland Critique
“This is as good as they get. Ms. Gregory is great at what she does. Cherished is a fine tale of the old West.”
— Affaire de Coeur
When the Heart Beckons
“Jill Gregory combines all the drama of a gritty western with the aura of a homespun romance in this beautifully rendered tale. The wonderful characters are sure to win readers’ hearts.”
— Romantic Times
“A wonderfully exciting romance from the Old West.... It’s great from start to finish.”
— Rendezvous
Cold Night, Warm Stranger
“Jill Gregory’s western romances always pack a wallop. Cold Night, Warm Stranger is true to form. Strong characters that engage reader’s emotions and an action-packed story with a powerful plot makes this a not-to-be-missed western.”
— Romantic Times
Just This Once
“Refreshing characters, witty dialogue and adventure... Just This Once enthralls, delights, and captivates, winning readers’ hearts along the way.”
— Romantic Times
“Here is another unforgettable story that will keep you captivated. She has combined the Old West and the elegance of England into this brilliantly glorious tale. The characters are undeniably wonderful. Their pains and joys will reach through the pages and touch your heart.”
— Rendezvous
Daisies in the Wind
“Jill Gregory paints a true portrait of a small-town America through her carefully crafted characterizations, wonderful descriptions, and snappy dialogue...There might just be a tear or two in your eyes by the end.”
— Romantic Times
“A fast-paced Western romance novel that will keep readers’ attention throughout. Both the hero and heroine are charming characters.”
— Affaire de Coeur
Forever After
“A charming tale of dreams come true. It combines a heartwarming love story with an intriguing mystery.”
— Gothic Journal
“Sparkling... Lovingly crafted.”
— Romantic Times
“A colorful, exciting story... The characters are realistic and interesting. Spectacular writing makes this book a must on your reading list.”
&nbs
p; — Rendezvous
Always You
“Compelling... definitely a winner!”
— Affaire de Coeur
“A sure-fire winner... remarkable... A delightful romance with both tenderness and tough western grit.”
— Romantic Times
About the Author
Jill Gregory is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of more than thirty five historical and contemporary novels.
She has received the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as back-to-back Reviewer’s Choice awards for Best Western Historical Romance. Her books have been published in more than twenty-four countries.
Jill’s contemporary suspense novel SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE, co-written with Karen Tintori, was adapted into a CBS TV movie of the week and was excerpted in Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Jill’s most recent series is her contemporary LONESOME WAY book series (SAGE CREEK, LARKSPUR ROAD, BLACKBIRD LAKE and SUNFLOWER LANE), set in Montana and published by Berkley Sensation.
Jill grew up in Chicago and received her bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Illinois. An animal lover, Jill loves long walks, reading, hot tea on a winter’s day, and the company of friends. She lives in Michigan with her husband, and enjoys her home overlooking the woods where the deer, rabbits, squirrels, and an occasional owl or hawk come out to play.
For more information, visit Jill’s website.
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