“I do,” he affirmed, then lifted the smaller one between his finger and thumb. “But I don’t want to tuck this box away somewhere, as though they’re just more things to store.” Mitch took a deep breath and Lilith knew whatever he was going to say was important to him. “And I thought that this might be the perfect night to show them to you.”
“Since we’re going to a wedding?” Lilith asked with a smile.
“Exactly.” Mitch returned her smile, then frowned down at the ring he was rolling between his finger and thumb. “I’d like these to be our wedding rings, Lilith,” he said quietly. “I’m not superstitious, but I think it would be good luck.”
Mitch glanced up, his expression somber, a question lurking in his eyes. “Lilith, would you wear my mother’s ring?”
Lilith saw the memory of his parents’ love shining in those golden eyes, as well as that tiny reflection of herself waving back. “Are you sure? They’re quite precious to have. I wouldn’t want them to be damaged.”
Mitch nodded firmly. “They’d be pleased, both that we’ve found each other and that we’re wearing their rings. And they’re already broken in.”
Lilith could only smile. “You sound as though you don’t think your parents know about us.”
Mitch’s gaze flicked to hers, then his lips curved in a slow smile. “Maybe they do,” he conceded, clearly liking that possibility.
Lilith put her hand on his. “I’d be honored to wear your mother’s ring, Mitch. Andrea told me that they had a wonderful marriage.”
“A love for all time,” Mitch said as he slipped the smaller ring onto her finger and Lilith wasn’t sure whether that was an agreement or a pledge.
It suited her either way.
When the ring was at the base of Lilith’s finger, Mitch looked into her eyes. “Perfect fit,” he mused.
Lilith picked up the other ring and slid it onto Mitch’s ring finger. It also fit as though it had been made for him. She stretched up to brush her lips across his.
“Kismet,” she whispered, her heart singing when Mitch kissed her soundly.
Because that was exactly what it was.
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Win A Book!
You could win a book from Deborah or Claire by entering the monthly contest on her blog. There are two contests - and two prizes - each month.
For the Reviewer Contest, you need to post a review of one of her books somewhere online - Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, you name it. It just has to appear on a public site.
For the Reader Contest, all you have to do is enter for a chance to win.
To learn more - and enter! - use the links above to see this month’s contest posts. You can also visit the Alive & Knitting blog, then choose either Reviewer Contest or Reader Contest from the category sidebar.
Good luck!
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About the Author
Deborah Cooke sold her first book in 1992, a medieval romance that was published in 1993 under her pseudonym Claire Delacroix. Since then, she has published more than fifty romance novels and numerous short stories. As Claire Delacroix, she has written historical romance, romance with fantasy elements, fantasy with romantic elements and future-set urban fantasy romance. As Deborah Cooke, she has written paranormal romance and paranormal young adult fiction. She also wrote briefly as Claire Cross - the time travel and paranormal romances originally published under that name have been re-released as Claire Delacroix books, while the contemporary romances have been re-published as Deborah Cooke books. She tends to include fantasy and paranormal elements in her stories and likes to write linked series of books. Her stories include a blend of action, adventure, romance, humor and deep emotion.
THE BEAUTY by Claire Delacroix, part of her successful Bride Quest series, was her first book to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books. She has been nominated for numerous awards (as Claire and as Deborah), including Publisher’s Weekly’s Quill Award, and has won some, including the Booksellers’ Best Award. In 2009, she was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time the library has hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. In 2012, she won the RWA PRO Mentor of the Year Award for her support of aspiring and new writers. Her blog, Alive & Knitting, includes her weekly column on the changing landscape of publishing called Wild West Thursdays and a post each Friday about her knitting.
She makes her home in Canada with her family, too many books and too much yarn.
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Connect Online!
Deborah Cooke’s website
Claire Delacroix’s website
Deborah’s blog Alive & Knitting
Deborah’s Facebook Page
Claire’s Facebook Page
Deborah’s Monthly Newsletter
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Book List
Links will take you to the author’s website
for excerpts, copy and buy links.
Claire Delacroix titles:
Historical Romances
The Rose Series:
THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE
THE SORCERESS
ROARKE’S FOLLY
The Moorish Series:
HONEYED LIES
THE MAGICIAN’S QUEST
The Unicorn Series:
UNICORN BRIDE
PEARL BEYOND PRICE
UNICORN VENGEANCE
The Sayerne Series:
MY LADY’S CHAMPION
ENCHANTED
MY LADY’S DESIRE
The Bride Quest:
THE PRINCESS
THE DAMSEL
THE HEIRESS
The Bride Quest II
(also called The Scottish Bride Quest):
THE COUNTESS
THE BEAUTY
THE TEMPTRESS
The Rogues of Ravensmuir:
THE ROGUE
THE SCOUNDREL
THE WARRIOR
The Jewels of Kinfairlie:
THE BEAUTY BRIDE
THE ROSE RED BRIDE
THE SNOW WHITE BRIDE
The Ballad of Rosamunde
The True Love Brides:
THE RENEGADE’S HEART
THE HIGHLANDER’S CURSE (upcoming)
Time Travel Romances
(Originally published under the name Claire Cross):
ONCE UPON A KISS
THE LAST HIGHLANDER
LOVE POTION #9
THE MOONSTONE
Short Stories and Novellas:
Amor Vincit Omnia
(digital only)
An Elegy for Melusine
(in TO WEAVE A WEB OF MAGIC) The Kiss of the Snow Queen (in THE QUEEN IN WINTER) The Ballad of Rosamunde
Urban Fantasy Romances: The Prometheus Project:
FALLEN
GUARDIAN
REBEL
No Halo Required
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Deborah Cooke Titles
Paranormal Romances:
Dragonfire
KISS OF FIRE
KISS OF FURY
KISS OF FATE
WINTER KISS
Harmonia’s Kiss
WHISPER KISS
DARKFIRE KISS
FLASHFIRE
EMBER’S KISS
The Dragon Legion Novellas (upcoming)
Paranormal Young Adult: The Dragon Diaries:
FLYING BLIND
WINGING IT
BLAZING THE TRAIL
Short Stories:
The Leaves
(digital only)
Coven of Mercy
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Time Travel Romances Boxed Set Page 135
