John held up his hand. “Guilty.”
Sapphire glanced up at Jake, but he simply scowled. “We can’t leave for another hour.” She knew then that he was staying for her. If he had it his way they’d already be on their way to the hotel to spend their wedding night. She loved him even more for wanting to do what he thought she wanted.
“One more dance and then we can say goodbye to everyone,” she promised.
“Really? You don’t want to stay longer?” She could see the growing hope in his eyes.
She shook her head. “One more dance and I promise we’ll leave.”
Jake grabbed her hand and started dragging her toward the opening in the tent. “Hurry up, woman.” She ran to keep up with his long strides, laughing as she went. She glanced back to find Emerald holding her sides and laughing while Topaz simply shook her head at them like they were unruly children. Then John grabbed her sister’s hand and started pulling her behind him. Seemed he was following Jake’s lead.
Then they were on the dance floor, whirling in a circle as the strains of a waltz wafted around them. As Jake spun her around, she saw all her family and close friends smiling at them. She smiled up at her husband and knew she’d made the right decision.
“I love you, Jake.”
His gaze turned tender and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I love you too. Now let’s get out of here.”
About N.J. Walters
N.J. Walters worked at a bookstore for several years and one day had the idea that she would like to quit her job, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the same bookstore and settled in for another seven years.
Although she was still fairly young, that was when the midlife crisis set in. Happily married to the love of her life, with his encouragement (more like, “For God’s sake, quit the job and just write!”), she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel, Annabelle Lee, and life would never be the same.
N.J. has always been a voracious reader of romance novels, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks all vie for her attention. And she doesn’t mind a bit. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
N.J. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).
Also by N.J. Walters
Amethyst Dreams
Amethyst Moon
Anastasia’s Style
Awakening Desires 1: Katie’s Art of Seduction
Awakening Desires 2: Erin’s Fancy
Awakening Desires 3: Capturing Carly
Awakening Desires 4: Craving Candy
Awakening Desires 5: Jackson’s Jewel
Awakening Desires 6: MacNamara’s Lady
Awakening Desires 7: Touch of Topaz
Beyond Shadows
Dalakis Passion 1: Harker’s Journey
Dalakis Passion 2: Lucian’s Delight
Dalakis Passion 3: Stefan’s Salvation
Dalakis Passion 4: Eternal Brothers
Dalakis Passion 5: Endless Chase
Drakon’s Treasure
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III anthology
Hearts of Fire 3: Seeking Charlotte
Hearts of Fire 5: Entwined Hearts with Nicole Austin, TJ Michaels & Ciana Stone
Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift
Lady’s Minstrel
Lassoing Lara
Out of Shadows
Project Alpha 1: Embracing Silence
Project Alpha 2: Have Mercy
Project Alpha 3: Sweet Charity
Summersville Secrets 1: Annabelle Lee
Summersville Secrets 2: Heat Wave
Summersville Secrets 3: Lily Blossoms
Tapestries 1: Christina’s Tapestry
Tapestries 2: Bakra Bride
Tapestries 3: Woven Dreams
Tapestries 4: Threads of Destiny
Tapestries 5: Embroidered Fantasies
Tapestries 6: Fabric of Fate
Tempting Tori
Three Swords, One Heart
Tracking Talia
Unmasking Kelly
Print books by N.J. Walters
Awakening Desires 1: Katie’s Art of Seduction
Awakening Desires 2: Erin’s Fancy
Awakening Desires 3 & 4: Enticements
Awakening Desires 5: Jackson’s Jewel
Candy Caresses anthology
Dalakis Passion 1 & 2: Dalakis Embrace
Dalakis Passion 3: Stefan’s Salvation
Dalakis Passion 4: Eternal Brothers
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III anthology
Feral Fixation anthology
Summersville Secrets 1 & 2: Summersville Heat
Tapestries 1 & 2: Tapestry Dreams
Tapestries 3: Woven Dreams
Tapestries 4: Threads of Destiny
Three Swords, One Heart
White Hot Holidays Volume 3 anthology
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Stroke of Sapphire
ISBN 9781419944246
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Stroke of Sapphire Copyright © 2013 N.J. Walters
Edited by Shannon Combs
Cover design by Syneca
Photo: MarishaSha/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication January 2013
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