by Julie Rowe
John shook his head, sending her heart tumbling. “That won’t be possible. I’ve requested immediate permission to assist in the training of my new partner. She will need close supervision.”
Maria frowned. “She?”
He smiled. “You.”
“But—”
His arms wrapped around her, his kiss making it impossible to think, only feel.
She clutched him to her, wanting nothing more than to touch him.
“God, you taste good,” he whispered as he nibbled his way down her neck. He sighed and looked at her, one hand cradling her face. “You’re not angry?”
Dazed, she tried to focus on what he said. “Angry?”
“I told my superiors about you, about Rose. I only wanted everyone to know how proud I was of what you’ve done, what you did to get me to safety. They saw it as an opportunity.”
He wasn’t making any sense. “An opportunity to do what?”
“Help Rose, our men and gain information about German army movements in Belgium.”
“There’s a way to help Rose?”
John nodded. “We can do a great deal. Meet those she sends to the border, get supplies back to her and certainly exchange information. Perhaps even more than that.” He kissed her again, his lips lingering, teasing.
“We?” she asked, refusing to be distracted yet again.
“Everyone is impressed with your courage and ingenuity. Major Davenport and Captain Lawrence believe, as I do, that your presence and your skills would be an advantage.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It turns out that there has been a steady stream of wounded soldiers and civilians flowing into Belgium. We’re to set up a medical aid station where you and a few other nurses can treat them. Captain Lawrence and I are going to collect information and interview escaping British or allied soldiers.” He kissed her. “You and I won’t have to be apart.”
She bit her bottom lip. Was it truly possible? “You’re sure? They don’t object?”
“Actually, it’s to our advantage. To outside eyes we’ll look like a married couple simply helping their neighbours and anyone else that happens by, complete with cows, goats and chickens.”
He released her to pat his pockets. “Speaking of which… Ah, here it is.” He pulled out a small box, got down on one knee and revealed a sapphire-and-diamond ring. He took her left hand in his and gazed at her as he slid the ring on her finger. “Maria, my love, I pledge myself to you forever.”
Laughter bubbled out of her. “John, my darling, I accept your pledge and make the same to you.”
He took her in his arms again, where she wanted to be. And as she lifted her face to kiss him, he whispered, “Now our adventure begins.”
* * * * *
If you loved Saving the Rifleman, don’t miss these moving stories, also by Julie Rowe.
Available now.
North of Heartbreak
Since her divorce, Willa Hayes has thrown herself into her work as a nurse in the remote town of Stony Creek, Alaska. Her heart is almost healed—until her newfound peace is shaken by the arrival of sexy flyboy Liam Reynolds. Liam has his own reasons for fleeing to the isolation of the north, and a relationship is the last thing he wants. He wasn’t counting on being drawn to the pretty nurse who accompanies patients on his flights. The desire to avoid anything serious is mutual—but when things heat up on a cold Alaskan night, the rules of the game change…
Icebound
Driven to finish her late husband’s research, Dr. Emilie Saunderson travels to Antarctica, where she hopes to find a measure of peace. Damaged by his dark past, Tom Wolinski works at the bottom of the world and he’s vowed never to get close to anyone. But as Emilie and Tom work together to survive in the harshest of climates, they turn to one another for comfort. Is the heat between them enough to melt the ice around their hearts?
“In ICEBOUND, Julie Rowe blends the perfect cocktail of action and romance. Get ready for a rip-roarin’ read!”
—Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author
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About the Author
Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!”
A double Golden Heart Award finalist in 2006, Julie’s writing has also appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada) and Canadian Living. She currently facilitates communications workshops for her local city college. You can reach her at www.julieroweauthor.com or on Twitter @julieroweauthor.
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ISBN: 978-14268-9446-6
Copyright © 2012 by Julie Rowe
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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