“I had Rory’s well-being in mind, of course. But I was also playing one gigantic hand of poker.”
Wendy shook her head in disbelief. “Well, you bluff a little too well. Next time you try to seduce me, Mack, could you be just a bit more upfront about it?”
For a few seconds, he simply looked at her. Then he grinned. “All right. If that’s what you want.” He let her go abruptly, stripped off his jacket and tossed it on the floor, unfastened his cuff links and rolled up his sleeves, then scooped Wendy up in his arms and sat down in the rocking chair – the one remaining piece of furniture in her living room – with her on his lap. “How’s this for starters?”
He didn’t wait for an answer; he kissed her long and hard instead, and by the time he was finished Wendy was too breathless to speak. So she snuggled close to him, secure in the warm safety of his arms, and pressed tiny kisses on the firm line of his jaw now and then as he told her all the things she’d dreamed of hearing – things that he said he’d wanted to share the night before, and through the last few weeks. All the things he had wanted to put in the note he’d written her that morning.
She sat up at that news. “I didn’t find any note.”
“Before I finished composing it, I saw that letter offering you a job. I thought it was why you were so upset last night, and after that, I couldn’t exactly leave you a perky little message. Not that it was anything so wonderful, anyway. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find the right words when you want to say I love you but you can’t?”
“Stupid question, Mack. As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Makes me feel a bit better to know you were suffering with me.”
She smiled and relaxed against him once more, luxuriating in the sudden confidence that now she could say anything she liked to him. Of course, at the moment, she wasn’t inclined to use words; there didn’t seem to be any need.
After a while, Mack said, “Do you really think I couldn’t have convinced my parents to make you Rory’s guardian?”
Wendy was too absorbed in the luscious sensations he was rousing to be listening. “Hmm?”
“What do you suppose my mother was saying, anyway, when you thought she was giving me orders?”
Color crept into Wendy’s cheeks. “I never doubted that you had a mind of your own, Mack. It was just…”
“That’s beside the point. She was saying, ‘Rory already has a mother, Mack.’”
“That’s when you told her you were working on it?”
“Yes. And I wasn’t angry, I was frustrated because nothing was going the way I thought it should. I actually thought for a while you were eager to hand Rory over and get rid of her.”
“What?”
“Well, you plopped her in my father’s arms readily enough that first night.”
“I was doing my best not to make things tougher on everyone.”
“I figured that out soon enough, but then I was left with the conviction that you couldn’t stand me – because if you’d found me attractive in the least, surely the only solution to the problem would have occurred to you. It did to everyone else – Mother, Tessa, even Mitch.”
“Wait a minute. The only solution? You just said you could have arranged for me to be Rory’s guardian.”
Mack smiled a little. “The only perfect solution, I meant. It’s far better for Rory to have two parents, don’t you think?”
Wendy slanted a look up at him through her eyelashes.
“All right,” Mack admitted. “It was a whole lot better deal for me, too. Now are you satisfied?”
“Very.” She buried her face in his shoulder. “If it hadn’t been for Rory…”
“Terrifying, isn’t it, to think how much we owe to a baby who can’t even talk yet?”
Wendy nodded. “Let’s go home to our little girl, Mack.”
“Do you mean right now? Or maybe a little later?” he said lazily, and kissed her once more.
“Much later, I think,” Wendy said, when she could finally breathe again. “And in the meantime, if you want to work on that seduction technique of yours, I’ve got some ideas for you to consider….”
Thank you for purchasing this book!
Leigh Michaels is the author of 100 books, including contemporary romance novels, historical romance novels, and non-fiction books including On Writing Romance. Six of her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest for best traditional romance of the year, and she has won two Reviewers’ Choice awards from Romantic Times (RT Book Review) magazine. More than 35 million copies of her books have been published in 25 languages and 120 countries around the world. She teaches romance writing at Gotham Writers Workshop: www.writingclasses.com
Website: http://www.leighmichaels.com
Twitter: @leighmichaels
Facebook: Leigh Michaels
Blog : Reading, Writing and Regency: http://leighmichaels.blogspot.com
This book is copyrighted by the author and may not be reproduced or resold.
Other books by Leigh Michaels
Regency-period historical romance
The Birthday Scandal
The wealthy Duke of Weybridge knows that everyone loves a good surprise…and a good scandal. He has bounteous amounts of both for the guests—particularly for his nieces and nephew, Emily, Isabel, and Lucien—at his extravagant seventieth birthday ball. They think his promise to improve their lives means a generous stipend. But he’s got different gifts in mind: finding them the perfect matches. His task won’t be easy, because the Arden siblings have given up on love.
Bachelor Lucien spends more time merrymaking than looking for a proper wife. His sister Emily, broken-hearted when her betrothal ended in disgrace, committed herself to an early spinsterhood. And Isabel’s marriage has been troubled from the moment it began—with a terrible betrayal on her wedding night.
Though witty and strong-willed, the siblings are no match for their uncle’s wily machinations. And as the celebration approaches, his romantic scheming ignites illicit liaisons and irresistible temptations, sparking enough rumors to keep the ton abuzz until his next birthday.
The Wedding Affair
The Duke of Somervale’s sister is getting married in the wedding of the year – but the wedding guests are in the mood for affairs, not vows!
The Duke needs the help of beautiful, stubborn Olivia Reyne to fight off the debutantes who have taken over his country estate. Olivia’s willing to help – at a price which will secure the future for her small daughter.
Penny Townsend sees the wedding as her last chance to salvage her arranged marriage and turn it into something more than a matter of convenience.
And vicar’s daughter Kate Blakely needs a job – and fast – before she gives in to the tempting presence of her first love!
Just One Season in London
Meet the Ryecrofts...the family that courts together.
RYE – Viscount Ryecroft is a young man with a problem. Make that two problems: He has a beautiful sister to marry off – but no money to fund a London Season for her. Perhaps he needs to find an heiress for himself first?
SOPHIE – Miss Sophie Ryecroft is willing to marry for the good of the family – but since she can’t meet the sort of man Rye has in mind for her except in London, she’s looking for alternatives.
MIRANDA – Rye and Sophie’s mother, the dowager (but still young) Lady Ryecroft, will do anything for the sake of her children – even taking up again with a man she knew long ago, and offering to be his mistress.
Only in London can the Ryecrofts find their destinies…
The Mistress’ House
Number Five, Upper Seymour Street is the perfect love nest.
Tucked away in a discreet corner of London, it would be an ideal site to conduct affairs… except this elegant townhouse has a way of making its residents fall in love instead.
Anne – the perfect mistress for the rakish Earl of Hawthorne;
Felicity – the perfe
ct challenge for Richard, Lord Colford;
and Georgiana – the perfect nightmare for Major Julian Hampton...
the residents of Number Five, Upper Seymour Street.
Contemporary romance
The Lake Effect
When high-powered attorney Kane Forrestal abandons his career and takes up beach combing, his firm reacts by sending Alexandra Jacobi to talk him into coming back. Trouble is, who’s going to end up persuading whom?
The Lake Effect was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest for best sweet traditional romance of the year.
The Best-Made Plans
Penn Caldwell was the love of Kaitlyn Ross’s youth, but he left town rather than make a commitment. So now that he’s back, why is she having second thoughts about her engagement to another man?
The Daddy Trap
Lindsay wanted a baby, Gibb didn’t – and their marriage broke up over the disagreement. Now Gibb’s back in town, and their attraction is just as strong. But Gibb still doesn’t want a child – and Lindsay now has an eight-year-old son.
The Daddy Trap was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest for best sweet traditional romance of the year.
Traveling Man
When the host of the Kansas City Morning TV show has a heart attack, the station manager brings in traveling feature reporter Quinn Randolph to “help” the co‑host, Emily Lambert. But Quinn isn’t exactly helping matters... he’s flirting with Emily and taking over the show, and soon Emily’s life feels like a disaster zone.
Traveling Man was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest for best sweet traditional romance of the year.
Non-fiction
On Writing Romance
Award-winning romance novelist Leigh Michaels talks you through each stage of the writing and publishing process. From the origins and evolution of the romance novel to establishing a vital story framework to writing that last line to seeking out appropriate publishers, everything you ever wanted to know about writing a romance novel is here in “the definitive guide to writing the romance novel.”
For the Love of Tea
Whether it’s a cup with a friend or an elegant afternoon affair, tea is a fun and flexible way to entertain. Leigh shares her favorite tea parties – including formal tea receptions, Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties, picnic teas, happy hour teas, and more – complete with menus and recipes.
This book is copyrighted by the author and may not be reproduced, resold, or given away without written permission.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
About the author
Other books by Leigh Michaels
The Only Solution Page 18
