Charmed by His Love
Page 1
“Chapman is unmatched and unforgettable.”*
Praise for novels of Janet Chapman
“A romantic, funny, quietly intense story of wounded survivors reluctantly finding love.”
—Publishers Weekly
“If anyone can make me fall in love with a ninth-century warrior who also spent several centuries as a dragon, it’s Janet Chapman. I always love her secondary characters … I love the humor that she injects [in Dragon Warrior].”
—Fallen Angels Review (Five Angel Review)
“The idea of a time-traveling warrior, who was once a dragon, courting a modern woman is steamy fun … As funny and steamy as can be expected from Chapman … Well executed!”
—Fresh Fiction
“Janet Chapman’s Dragon Warrior is head and shoulders above any shape-shifting or paranormal romance … A spectacular and brilliant novel for those who love the juxtaposition of the paranormal and the real world … A PERFECT 10 is a fitting rating for … a novel which is both tender and joyful, but also has beasts looking for peace and a new way of life after centuries of struggle.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Delightful romantic series with a paranormal twist … Chapman brings plenty of warmth and fun to the story by enlivening it with a rich cast of characters. You can’t go wrong with a Chapman story!”
—*RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“From exceptionally moving scenes to delightfully amusing moments, the originality of Dragon Warrior keeps your total attention … Creatively innovative with inventive plots and particularly appealing characters.”
—Single Titles
“Readers will be enchanted with Chapman’s love of Maine in her latest romance, a story filled with wit and tenderness.”
—Booklist
Jove titles by Janet Chapman
HIGHLANDER FOR THE HOLIDAYS
SPELLBOUND FALLS
CHARMED BY HIS LOVE
Charmed by
His Love
Janet Chapman
JOVE BOOKS, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have control over and does not have any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
CHARMED BY HIS LOVE
A Jove Book / published by arrangement with the author
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Jove mass-market edition / June 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Janet Chapman.
Excerpt from Courting Carolina copyright © 2012 by Janet Chapman.
Cover art by Jim Griffin.
Cover handlettering by Ron Zinn.
Cover design by George Long.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or
electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of
copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ISBN: 978-1-101-58545-0
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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is
stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the
author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
ALWAYS LEARNING
PEARSON
Any similarities between Duncan MacKeage and my own driven, never-say-die, magical hero are, of course, purely coincidental. You’re still standing guard at the gate of my dreams, husband, and you still rock my world!
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
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Epilogue
Courting Carolina
Chapter One
Peg Thompson slid open the side door of her minivan and gave the four children inside her well-perfected, I-mean-business scowl. “Okay, you clean and handsome little human beings, your challenge for the day is to stay clean and handsome until after the wedding. And when we come back here for the reception, you will change into your play clothes before you go near any food. Got that?” Peg paused for effect, stifling a smile when every last one of them vigorously nodded. “So that means until we leave for church you will stay away from mud puddles, melting piles of snow, and the lake.” She lost her scowl when her gaze landed on her youngest son. “And nobody goes near the scientific equipment on the beach, or any of the scientists. Charlotte, you’re in charge of Jacob, and Isabel, you’re in charge of Peter.” She held up her hand when both girls started to protest. “This is Miss Olivia’s special day, and as her bridesmaid I have to help her get ready. So could you all please just cooperate with me this morning?”
“But Mommm,” Charlotte protested anyway. “I need to help Sophie. Today’s special for her, too. She’s going to be the maid of honor and she’s getting a new dad.”
“And Henry needs me,” Isabel chimed in, not about to be out-whined. “I have to make sure he looks all handsome because he’s getting a new mom today.”
Peg was fairly certain the last thing Henry wanted was Isabel’s help, considering the girl had blatantly been stalking the poor boy for the last two weeks. “Henry’s grammy and auntie Caro are making sure he’s all handsome. And besides, as the best man he’ll be busy helpi
ng his dad get ready. Now, are there any questions or comments or concerns before I turn you loose on Inglenook?”
Jacob, bless his little heart, actually raised his hand. “Do I come get you if I see that scary man?” he asked, giving a shudder as he shrank back into his booster seat.
“Not today, big man,” Peg said with an encouraging smile. “This morning we need to stay focused on Mac and Olivia’s wedding. But first thing Monday morning, you and I are going to find the man who scolded you, and after you bravely tell him you’re sorry for climbing on his submarine and that you won’t ever do it again, you will see that you don’t have to be afraid of him.”
And then I’m going to send you away, Peg silently added, and give the bastard hell for scaring two years off your tender little heart.
“So okay,” she said as she stepped aside and waved them out of their seats. “Be good this morning, and by noon you can all turn back into the noisy, disheveled little heathens that I know and love.”
“I’m not changing out of my party clothes until after the reception,” six-year-old Isabel said as she jumped out of the van and smoothed down the front of her dress. She squinted up at Peg. “And don’t forget to take a picture of me dancing with Henry so I can bring it to school. Rhonda Beekman is telling everyone that I made up my new boyfriend.”
“Trust me,” Peg drawled, “if you get Henry to dance with you, I will definitely take your picture.”
“Mom,” eight-year-old Charlotte said as she helped Peter get his booster seat belt untangled. “Does Sophie have to change her last name to Oceanus, too?”
“Nope. She’ll remain Sophie Baldwin until she gets married, unless she decides to keep her maiden name.”
“I’m going to change my name to Oceanus when I marry Henry,” Isabel said as she fussed with the bow on her dress. She held out her hand. “Come on, Peter. Let’s go sit in the gazebo and see if we can spot any whales.”
Not about to be caught dead holding his sister’s hand, Peter jumped from the van and bolted toward the pine-studded peninsula that jutted out between Whisper Lake and the new Bottomless Sea. “You can watch for whales,” he called over his shoulder. “But I’m watching for sharks!”
Peg pulled Jacob out of his seat to look him in the eye. “Be brave, my big man,” she whispered. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. But you have to help me by not going near the science equipment, okay? You can see everything the scientists are doing from the gazebo. And if you behave for Charlotte, I’ll buy you a book about ocean creatures.”
“Of my very own?” Jacob asked. “I won’t have to share it with Pete?”
Peg gave him a quick hug and swung him out of the van. “It’ll be all yours. Together we’ll write your name on the inside, and if Peter wants to look at it he’ll have to ask your permission. Now go on,” she said, giving him a nudge to follow his siblings. “And you all stay clean!” she called after them.
“Mom, where’s Miss Olivia going with that toilet plunger?” Charlotte asked. “Shouldn’t she be getting ready for her wedding?”
Peg looked at where her eldest daughter was pointing. “Oh, good Lord,” she muttered, gesturing for Charlotte to go after her brothers and sister. “Keep an eye on everyone for me, okay, while I go see what Olivia’s up to.”
Peg headed off knowing exactly what her friend was up to. Why else would Olivia be micromanaging her little kingdom of aging cabins today of all days, if not to keep her mind off the fact that she was about to marry one of the richest, handsomest, scariest men on the planet?
“And just what do you think you’re doing?” Peg asked, cutting her off.
Olivia blinked in surprise, then held up the plunger. “The toilet in cabin three is overflowing and I have to go fix it.”
Peg snatched the plunger out of her hand. “Why isn’t one of your employees saving our mad scientists?”
Olivia brushed at nothing on the front of her old sweatshirt, and Peg couldn’t help but notice her friend’s hands were trembling slightly. “Um, our cook has everyone helping him get ready for the reception.” Olivia grabbed her arm. “My God, Peg, I swear a small army of guests crawled out of the woodwork. How in hell can everyone drop whatever they’re doing to come to a wedding on only a week’s notice?” She leaned closer. “I think several of the people Mac’s father invited are royalty,” she whispered. “And I heard one of them address Titus as ‘Your Royal Highness.’” Her hand on Peg’s arm tightened. “Will you please tell me what in hell I’m doing?”
Peg wrapped an arm around Olivia and started toward the small cottage nestled in the woods a short distance from the main lodge. “What you’re doing is marrying Mac, who I happen to know loves you to pieces.” She gave her friend a squeeze. “This will all be over tonight, Olivia. Your small army of guests will crawl back into the woodwork, and tomorrow morning you’re going to wake up the happiest woman on the planet. All you need to remember is that you’re not marrying Mac’s father or his royal friends; you’re marrying the man of your dreams.”
Olivia stopped walking. “But you know everyone in town is going to think I’m only marrying Mac because he’s rich, especially when word gets out that he purchased most of the timberland surrounding Bottomless. And when they find out we’re building a huge resort that will turn Spellbound Falls into a world-class tourist destination, all hell’s going to break loose.”
“Which is exactly what this forgotten town needs,” Peg said, starting them walking again. “Not only is Mac a genius but his timing’s not bad, either, since that freaky earthquake turned Bottomless into an inland sea. Hell, I actually own oceanfront property now because those shifting mountains cut an honest to God fiord right past my house and flooded my gravel pit.”
“Ohmigod,” Olivia gasped, stopping to grab Peg’s arm again. “Why didn’t you tell me? Was your house damaged?”
“I did tell you. But you’ve been a tad preoccupied lately, what with helping your ex-in-laws pack, dealing with a bunch of mad scientists trying to figure out exactly what went on here last week, and planning a wedding that’s taking place in three hours.” Peg started her moving again. “So you go take a hot bubble bath while I go fix that toilet, and I’ll be back in time to help you dress and put up your hair.”
“But—”
“No buts! You’re getting married today if I have to drag you down the aisle myself. And then you’re going to smile and nod your way through the reception, and tonight you’re going to begin living happily ever after in the arms of your sexy husband.” Peg started walking backward, only to stop and point the plunger at Olivia. “And you stay away from the groom! He can’t see the bride until you’re walking down the aisle looking all radiant and beautiful, so he’ll realize he’s the luckiest man on the planet.”
Olivia took a deep breath, threw back her shoulders, and broke into a radiant smile. “Thank you for reminding me that he’s the lucky one.” She canted her head. “Can you tell me how we’ve lived in the same town for nearly twelve years and only became best friends two weeks ago?”
“That’s easy; you were too busy managing Inglenook for your ex-in-laws, and I was too busy making babies.”
Olivia’s eyes turned pained. “You will find love again, Peg.” She smiled sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders. “Heck, if it can happen to me, it can happen to you, too. You’ve been a widow over three years, so please don’t make the same mistake I did by giving up on love. You just have to start believing in magic again.”
Peg laughed and started walking backward. “I’m afraid it’ll take more than magic to find a man who’d be interested in a woman with four young children.” She shook her head. “And then I’m not sure I’d be interested in anyone crazy enough to date me.” She stopped walking and pointed the plunger again. “Now quit stalling and go turn yourself into a beautiful and deliriously happy bride.”
That said, Peg pivoted and started jogging away before Olivia decided that she should be deliriously happy in love, too—which was the
last thing Peg needed. She was fully resigned to the fact that she would remain a widow until the day she died, considering she’d learned the hard way that her family’s curse was more than just some funky old legend. It was bad enough living with the guilt that she was in some arcane way responsible for Billy’s death; she wasn’t about to kill off a second husband like her mother and aunt had.
And just what was she supposed to tell Charlotte and Isabel when they each came to her and announced they’d found the man of their dreams? Well sure, sweetie, go ahead and marry the poor schmuck, if you don’t mind that he won’t live long enough to see his children graduate from elementary school. Because any man who married any of the women in her family never made it past his thirtieth birthday. And even when Peg’s mom and aunt had waited until they were into their forties to remarry, they’d both lost their second husbands in freak accidents.
Peg often wondered what wicked sin the first black widow had committed to have placed such a horrible curse on five generations of female descendents—even as she continued to wonder what it would take to break it.
Heck, she’d actually thought she had broken the curse the day she’d slid Billy’s thirtieth birthday cake in the oven just hours before the surprise party she’d planned for him. Only the kitchen had filled with smoke as she’d stood staring at Billy’s boss and another coworker, utterly insensate from their news that her husband was dead.
“Mom, wait up!”
Peg turned to see Charlotte and Peter running toward her. She immediately looked at the gazebo, and sighed in relief when she saw Isabel and Jacob sitting quietly watching the beach.
“Can Peter and I go to the barn?” Charlotte asked. “Sophie said most of the horses are leaving tomorrow because Inglenook’s not going to have any campers this summer, and Isabel promised to watch Jacob, and I won’t let Peter go in the stalls. We just want to give them each a pat good-bye.”
Peg looked toward the barn. “I don’t think Sam’s around.” She looked back at her daughter and eldest twin son. “You remember that Olivia told us Sam is her father, so he’s probably busy getting ready to walk her down the aisle.”