The Rogue's Proposal

by Jennifer Haymore

He could leave her here.

  But she knew too much. Just from the short conversation he’d had with Dunthorpe, she would have learned enough to put everything at risk.

  That left the only other option, one that was almost as unpalatable as the other two. He had to bring her with him.

  “Get up,” he repeated. His voice sounded harsh even to his own ears.

  “I…don’t…please, I…” she moaned, appearing to make a valiant effort to follow his command but failing, her limbs trembling too violently to support her.

  He jammed his pistol back into his coat and crouched down beside her, aware that his time was already up. They needed to leave this place. Now.

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” he told her, and he prayed that it was true. “But I need you to come with me.”

  She made a little moaning sound of despair. With a sigh, Sam scooped her into his arms and rose. God, she was a little thing. Light as a feather. But she was stiff in his arms.

  “I won’t hurt you,” he said again. Although he didn’t blame her for not believing him. How could he? She’d just witnessed him kill her husband in cold blood.

  He turned to the door, to the only escape from this room, and froze, clutching Lady Dunthorpe’s rigid, shaking body tightly against him.

  Running footsteps resounded on the wooden floor of the outside corridor, and then the door flew open.

  Damn it. He’d run out of time.

  THE DISH

  Where Authors Give You the Inside Scoop

  From the desk of Jennifer Haymore

  Dear Reader,

  When Mrs. Emma Curtis, the heroine of THE ROGUE’S PROPOSAL, came to see me, I’d just finished writing The Duchess Hunt, the story of the Duke of Trent and his new wife, Sarah, who’d crossed the deep chasm from maid to duchess, and I was feeling very satisfied in their happily ever after.

  Mrs. Curtis, however, had no interest in romance.

  “I need you to write my story,” she told me. “It’s urgent.”

  I encouraged her to sit down and tell me more.

  “I’m on a mission of vengeance,” she began. “You see, I need to find my husband’s murderer—”

  I lifted my hand right away to stop her. “Mrs. Curtis, I don’t think this is going to work out. You see, I don’t write thrillers or mysteries. I am a romance writer.”

  “I know, but I think you can help me. I really do.”

  “How’s that?”

  “You’ve met the Duke of Trent, haven’t you? And his brother, Lord Lukas?” She leaned forward, dark eyes serious and intent. “You see, I’m searching for the same man they are.”

  My brows rose. “Really? You’re looking for Roger Morton?”

  “Yes! Roger Morton is the man who murdered my husband. Please—Lord Lukas is here in Bristol. If you could only arrange an introduction … I know his lordship could help me to find him.”

  She was right—I did know Lord Lukas. In fact…

  I looked over the dark-haired woman sitting in front of me. Mrs. Curtis was a young, beautiful widow. She seemed intelligent and focused.

  My mind started working furiously.

  Mrs. Curtis and Lord Luke? Could it work?

  Maybe …

  Luke would require a lot of effort. He was a rake of the first order, brash, undisciplined, prone to all manner of excess. But something told me that maybe, just maybe, Mrs. Curtis would be a good influence on him … If I could join them on the mission to find Roger Morton, it just might work out.

  (I am a romance writer, after all.)

  “Are you sure you want to meet Lord Lukas?” I asked her. “Have you heard the rumors about him?”

  Her lips firmed. “I have heard he is a rake.” Her eyes met mine, steady and serious. “I can manage rakes.”

  There was a steel behind her voice. A steel I approved of.

  Yes. This could work.

  My lips curved into a smile. “All right, Mrs. Curtis. I might be able to manage an introduction …”

  And that was how I arranged the first meeting between Emma Curtis and Lord Lukas Hawkins, the second brother of the House of Trent. Their relationship proved to be a rocky one—I wasn’t joking when I said Luke was a rake, and in fact, “rake” might be too mild a term. But Emma proved to be a worthy adversary for him, and they ended up traveling a dangerous and emotional but ultimately sweetly satisfying path in THE ROGUE’S PROPOSAL.

  Come visit me at my website, www.jenniferhaymore.com, where you can share your thoughts about my books, sign up for some fun freebies and contests, and read more about THE ROGUE’S PROPOSAL and the House of Trent Series. I’d also love to see you on Twitter (@ jenniferhaymore) or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jenniferhaymore-author).

  Sincerely,

  From the desk of Hope Ramsay

  Dear Reader,

  My mother was a prodigious knitter. If she was watching TV or traveling in the car or just relaxing, she would always have a pair of knitting needles in her hand. So, of course, she needed a steady supply of yarn.

  We lived in a medium-sized town on Long Island. It had a downtown area not too far from the train station, and tucked in between an interior design place and a quick lunch stand was a yarn shop.

  I vividly remember that wonderful place. Floor-to-ceiling shelves occupied the wall space. The cubbies were filled with yarn of amazing hues and cardboard boxes of incredibly beautiful buttons. The place had a few cozy chairs and a table strewn with knitting magazines.

  Mom visited that yarn store a lot. She would take her knitting with her sometimes, especially if she was having trouble with a pattern. There was a woman there—I don’t remember her name—but I do remember the half-moon glasses that rode her neck on a chain. She was a yarn whiz, and Mom consulted her often. Women gathered there to knit and talk. And little girls tagged along and learned how to knit on big, plastic needles.

  I went back in my mind to that old yarn store when I created the Knit & Stitch, and I have to say that writing about it was almost like spending a little time with Mom, even though she’s no longer with us. There is something truly wonderful about a circle of women sharing stories while making garments out of luxurious yarn.

  I remember some of the yarn Mom bought at that yarn store, too, especially the brown and baby blue tweed alpaca that became a cable knit cardigan. I wore that sweater all through high school until the elbows became threadbare. Wearing it was like being wrapped up in Mom’s arms.

  There is nothing like the love a knitter puts into a garment. And writing about women who knit proved to be equally joyful for me. I hope you enjoy spending some time with the girls at the Knit & Stitch. They are a great bunch of warm-hearted knitters.

  From the desk of Erin Kern

  Dear Reader,

  So here we are. Back in Trouble, Wyoming, catching up with those crazy McDermotts. In case you didn’t know, these men have a way of sending the ladies of Trouble all into a tizzy by just existing. At the same time there was a collective breaking of hearts when the two older McDermotts, Noah and Chase, surreptitiously removed themselves from the dating scene by getting married.

  But what about the other McDermott brother, you ask? Brody is special in many ways, but no less harrowing on those predictable female hormones. And, even though Brody has sworn off dating for good, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have it coming. The love bug, I mean. And he gets bitten, big time. Sorry, ladies. But this dark-haired heartbreaker with the piercing gray eyes is about to fall hard.

  Happy Reading!

  From the desk of Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

  Dear Reader,

  “If you love her, set her free. If she comes back, she’s yours. If she doesn’t … Christ! Stubborn woman! Hunt her down, and bring her the hell back; she’s still yours according to vampire law.”

  Niccolo DiConti, General of the

  Vampire Queen’s Army

  I always like to believe that the universe has an all-knowing, all-seeing heart filled with the wisdom to g
rant us not what we want, but that which we need most. Does that mean the universe will simply pop that special something into a box and leave it on your doorstep? Hell no. And if you’re Niccolo DiConti, the universe might be planning a very, very long, excruciating obstacle course before handing out any prizes. That is, if he and his over-bloated, vampire ego survive.

  Meet Helena Strauss, the obstacle course. According to the infamous prophet and Goddess of the Underworld, Cimil, Niccolo need only to seduce this mortal into being his willing, eternal bride and Niccolo’s every wish will be granted. Thank the gods he’s the most legendary warrior known to vampire, with equally legendary looks. Seducing a female is hardly a challenge worthy of such greatness.

  Famous last words. Because Helena Strauss has no interest in giving up long, sunny days at the beach or exchanging her happy life to be with this dark, arrogant, deadly male.

  From the desk of Jessica Lemmon

  Dear Reader,

  Imagine you’re heartbroken. Crying. Literally into your drink at a noisy nightclub your best friend has dragged you to. Just as you are lamenting your very bad decision to come out tonight, someone approaches. A tall, handsome someone with a tumble of dark hair, expressive amber eyes, and perfectly contoured lips. Oh, and he’s rich. Not just plain old rich, but rich of the filthy, stinking variety. This is exactly the situation Crickitt Day, the heroine of TEMPTING THE BILLIONAIRE, finds herself in one not-so-fine evening. Oh, to be so lucky!

  I may have given the characters of TEMPTING THE BILLIONAIRE a fairy-tale/fantasy set-up, but I still wanted them rooted and realistic. Particularly my hero. It’s why you’ll find Shane August a bit of a departure from your typical literary billionaire. Shane visits clients personally, does his own dishes, makes his own coffee. And—get ready for it—bakes his own cookies.

  Hero tip: Want to win over a woman? Bake her cookies.

  The recipe for these mysterious and amazing bits of heavenly goodness can be traced back to a cookbook by Erin McKenna, creator of the NYC-based bakery Babycakes. What makes the recipes so special, you ask? They use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil or butter. The result is an amazingly moist, melt-in-your-mouth, can’t-stop-at-just-one chocolate chip cookie you will happily burn your tongue on when the tray comes out of the oven. Bonus: Coconut oil is rumored to help speed up your metabolism. I’m not saying these cookies are healthy … but I’m not not saying it, either.

  Attempting this recipe required a step outside my comfort zone. I tracked down unique ingredients. I diligently measured. I spent time and energy getting it right. That’s when I knew just the hobby for the down-to-earth billionaire who can’t keep himself from showing others how much he cares. And if a hero is going to bake you cookies, what better place to be served said cookies than by a picturesque waterfall? None, I say. (Well, okay, I can think of another location or two, but admit it, a waterfall is a pretty dang good choice.)

  As you can imagine, Crickitt is beyond impressed. And when a rogue smear of chocolate lands on her lips, Shane is every bit the gentleman by—ahem—helping her remove the incriminating splotch. Alas, that’s a story for another day. (Or, for chapter nineteen…)

  I hope you enjoy losing yourself in the very real fantasy world of Shane and Crickitt. It was a world I happily immersed myself in while writing; a world I still imagine myself in whenever a certain rich, nutty, warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie is melting on my tongue.

  Happy Reading!

  www.jessicalemmon.com

  Also by Jennifer Haymore

  A Hint of Wicked

  A Touch of Scandal

  A Season of Seduction

  Confessions of an Improper Bride

  Secrets of an Accidental Duchess

  Pleasures of a Tempted Lady

  Once Upon a Wicked Night (e-original)

  The Duchess Hunt

  The Devil’s Pearl (e-original)

  His for Christmas (e-original)

  Praise for the novels of

  Jennifer Haymore

  THE DUCHESS HUNT

  “4½ stars! Top pick! Haymore’s first House of Trent novel sets the bar for the series. Emotional, sensual, and enchanting, this tale of forbidden love is a romance to savor. Appealing characters, a beautiful, unconventional love story and family dynamics—as well as deft plotting and depth of emotion—make this a keeper.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “One of Ms. Haymore’s best works so far, and I have read them all. She grabs the reader from the first page to the last page and holds them in awe as the multifaceted plot comes together… I can hardly wait to see what the House of Trent has in store next.”

  —MyBookAddictionReviews.com

  “This is such a sweet story that balances perfect descriptions with well-thought-out dialogue …There is also just enough intrigue to keep you guessing!”

  —BookHounds (Maryinhb.blogspot.com)

  “Simon and Sarah make a warm pair. The sexual interaction is pretty steamy…I look forward to more stories to continue with the other siblings. I recommend this story to historical romance fans who especially like a touch of Cinderella happiness.”

  —MarthasBookshelf.blogspot.com

  PLEASURES OF

  A TEMPTED LADY

  “4½ stars! Readers have been eagerly awaiting this sequel to Confessions of an Improper Bride, in order to finally uncover the truth about Meg Donovan’s ‘death.’ Haymore creates a highly satisfying answer, drawing the reader in with wonderfully realistic characters, adventure, passion, and unexpected plot twists while crafting another delightful entry in the Donovan series.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Recommended read! An exquisite romance! Passion and the high seas have never looked as good as they do in Pleasures of a Tempted Lady… watching these two do the dance of desire is blissfully exciting… It is impossible not to fall in love with these characters… I could feel the water and see the cannonballs arcing across the water… [An] inspiring and mesmerizing romance. I cannot wait to read the tale of Will and Meg all over again… This couple is fierce, sexy, and extraordinary.”

  —JoyfullyReviewed.com

  “I thoroughly enjoyed Pleasures of a Tempted Lady. The story instantly grabbed my attention, holding it hostage as I tore through the pages. Meg’s story is full of intriguing pieces of a puzzle long overdue for completion… This is quite simply a romance you won’t want to miss reading.”

  —TheSeasonforRomance.com

  SECRETS OF AN

  ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS

  “4½ stars! Haymore’s characters leap off the pages in her latest installment in the Donovan family saga. Written with gentleness and emotional strength, it’s a creative romance readers will not soon forget.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “5 stars! The second book in extremely talented author Jennifer Haymore’s Donovan Sisters series is a witty, exciting historical romance… One of the best books I have read in the past year… I could not turn the pages fast enough… This novel is definitely bound for my keeper shelf.”

  —RomanceJunkiesReviews.com

  “Jennifer Haymore writes intriguing, detail-oriented stories… The scenarios and details that Ms. Haymore creates make every reader feel as if they too are being held captive by the magic that is the blush of true love.”

  —TheReadingReviewer.com

  “[Haymore’s] stories and characters stay with me and make me think… They make me feel… I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.”

  —RomanceNovelNews.com

  CONFESSIONS OF AN

  IMPROPER BRIDE

  “With beautifully rendered characters, lush sensuality, and a riveting story line, this well-told tale puts a refreshing spin on both the hidden-identity and classic reunion plots and gets Haymore’s new series off to a delightful start.”

  —Library Journal

  “4½ stars! Top pick! Haymore carefully crafts an original ‘second chance at love’ romance that showcases her creativity a
nd understanding of what readers want. Her three-dimensional characters and their depth of emotion strengthen an already powerful plot. Those new to Haymore’s work will be enchanted.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “5 stars! Now this is a book worthy of its luscious characters with all their secrets and baggage on board… Jennifer Haymore has given us a wonderful Cinderella story that does have more than its share of pain but also has more than its share of passion. A wonderfully paced story that will take you from London to Gretna Green and back with a lush amount of sass, finesse, and pizzazz to keep you well satisfied like a cat in front of a bowl of milk. Just delicious!”

  —GoodReads.com

  “Gripping… engaging… The writing allows the reader to get deeply involved and the emotional struggles of Serena are palpable… I’m looking forward to reading about the other Donovan sisters… Confessions of an Improper Bride is a great start to this series, and I would recommend it to all romance novel fans.”

  —TheRomanceReader.com

  A SEASON OF SEDUCTION

  “4½ stars! Haymore uses the Christmas season as an enhancing backdrop for a mystery/romance that is both original and fulfilling. Her fresh voice and ability to build sensual tension into lively love stories… make this tale shine.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Sizzling… an engaging historical tale.”

  —RomRevToday.com

  “Each time Ms. Haymore writes a book in this series I think there is no way to top the one I just finished. I started this latest one and realize she has done just that and has proven to me how fresh this series can remain.”

  —The Reading Reviewer

  “Jennifer Haymore strikes a good balance of strength, sensuality, drama, and intrigue in her characters… Becky is an independent, fearless woman except when it comes to opening her heart to another man. And Jack, while strong and passionate, shows great sensitivity under his ‘rogue’ persona.”