Baby, It's You (27 page)

Luke snapped out of his trance. “She lives here now?”

“She took over for me at the shelter two years ago.”

Luke couldn’t believe it. He’d thought surely she lived hundreds of miles away, taking advantage of all the opportunities she’d had that he could never have hoped for. Yet here she was having lunch at Rosie’s as if time had stood still.

“She went to the University of Texas,” Rita said. “Got her accounting degree and moved to Houston. I stole her away from a public accounting firm. Their loss.”

So Shannon had done everything she said she was going to do—college, professional degree, high-powered job, only to move back to Rainbow Valley. Her life in Houston had to have been a good one, way better than what this dinky little town could offer. So why in the world would she want to come back here?

A possible answer came with his next heartbeat. For a man, maybe?

“And no, she’s not married,” Rita said, as if she’d read his mind.

Just then Shannon closed her menu and turned toward the door, and Luke knew the exact moment she saw him. Her eyes widened, recognition lighting her face. For a split second, he imagined her smiling. Waving. Something. But just as quickly, she turned her attention back to her menu, studying it as if she didn’t already have it memorized.

So many times during the past several years, Luke wondered what it would be like if he ever saw Shannon again. In his heart, though, he knew. She would ignore him as if she hadn’t even seen him. Still, her instantaneous dismissal felt like a knife right to his heart, and for a moment the pain was as sharp as it had been all those years ago.

He brushed it aside, telling himself he’d put this place behind him. Put
her
behind him. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t tempted to walk right across this café and slide into the booth beside her, just so he could watch her flustered face as she tried to reconcile her eleven-year-old memory with the flesh-and-blood man sitting beside her.

“Why don’t you join us for lunch?” Mrs. Kaufman said.

Luke nearly choked. Was she serious? “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“I’m pretty good at reading body language,” he said, nodding in Shannon’s direction. “She’s hoping I’ll turn around and walk right out of here.”

“Oh, no. I don’t think—”

“Oh, yes, ma’am. And as much as I appreciate the invitation, I’m going to do just that.”

“I should have told you earlier,” Mrs. Kaufman said. “She sends her condolences.”

“Oh, yeah? So why didn’t she deliver them in person?”

Mrs. Kaufman paused. “It’s not my place to answer that. I’m just passing on the message.”

“Then you can consider it passed on,” Luke said. “Good-bye, Mrs. Kaufman. And thanks again. For everything.”

Before she could say another word, he left the café. The rain was letting up, but it still dripped from the brim of his hat as he hurried to his truck. He had one last stop to make before leaving town—the real estate office. It was time to find out what he needed to do to get his father’s property sold so once he left this place again, he’d never have to come back. But as he started to get into his truck, compulsion drove him to turn back and look through the window into the café.

Shannon was watching him.

After a moment, she tilted her head and he saw her lips move, forming words he’d never expected to see.

I’m sorry.

For several seconds, Luke couldn’t tear his gaze away. Maybe the rain drizzling down the glass had made him see things that weren’t really there. But if she had said those words, exactly what did they mean? Was she sympathizing?

Or apologizing?

He didn’t care. If it was sympathy, he didn’t need it, and if it was an apology, it was about eleven years too late.

He got into his truck, refusing to look back again as he drove away. Shannon belonged only in his memories, distant ones that were going to stay buried, now and forever.

Hot Wheels and High Heels

Tall Tales and Wedding Veils

Black Ties and Lullabies

Heartstrings and Diamond Rings

Cowboy Take Me Away

 “4½ stars! A truly heartwarming romance…This is definitely a story for animal lovers, set in a delightful fictional town readers will wish they could visit. Anyone who has ever worked with animals will empathize with the heroine.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“Graves, a nine-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, writes captivating, emotion-filled stories that sparkle with delightfully humorous moments…[A] charming tale.”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

“Absolutely blew me away…While there is the author’s trademark humor, with quirky characters that populate the town, the author has ascended to a whole new level with this book. This is a deeply emotional book, and I feel she has soared to the Grand Dame level, on par with Nora Roberts. I can’t wait to read the next in the Rainbow Valley series.

—Romancing-the-Book.com

“An engaging tale that focuses on love’s healing power…Readers will enjoy visiting Rainbow Valley for this wonderful second chance at love.”

—GenreGoRoundReviews.blogspot.com

“There are so many things I love about this book… Bottom line:
Heartstrings and Diamond Rings
is one of those rare books in which the author manages to align all the stars: likable, appealing characters; a creative twist (the hero’s a matchmaker); lots of laughs; fantastic writing.”

—
USA Today
’s Happily Ever After blog

“A fun romance with a hero who discovers hidden talents and what is really important in his life, and a heroine who finds her own self-worth through love and a good relationship with her dad.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“This is a contemporary romance not to be missed! It is a book that you will want to pick up again and again.”

—ARomanceReview.com

“An irresistible book with something for everyone! Jane Graves writes with charm, wit and heart!”

—Carly Phillips,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Filled with humor, wit, and sizzle… This book starts out fast, the author’s descriptions draw you in completely…and [keep] you turning the page to see what will happen next!”

—GoodReads.com

“Jane Graves definitely tugs on the heartstrings with this book… a believable romance.”

—ARomanceReview.com

“I can’t recommend
Tall Tales
highly enough… funny and touching with wonderful characters and great love scenes.”

—LikesBooks.com

“4½ Stars! A breath of pure romance, this book is a real charmer. You will laugh, cringe, and cheer… I sure did.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“You can’t help but root for these two mismatched people and hope they discover what a great couple they could be.”

—FreshFiction.com

“A delightful, funny read with a unique twist as a former trophy wife discovers herself, and true love, in the most unexpected place. A total winner!”

—Susan Mallery,
New York Times
bestselling author

“
Hot Wheels and High Heels
draws you in, then blasts off! Fasten your seat belt for a fun, rollicking ride!”

—Stephanie Bond, author of the Body Movers series

“Funny as can be and I had a blast reading it.”

—LikesBooks.com

Dear Reader,

When Lady Dunthorpe, the heroine of THE SCOUNDREL’S SEDUCTION, came to my office, she filled the tiny room with her presence, making me look up from my computer the moment she walked in. The first thing I noticed was that she was gorgeous. Very petite, with lovely features perfectly arranged on her face. She could probably be a movie star.

“How can I help—?” I began, but she interrupted me.

“I
need
you,” she declared. I could hear the smooth cadence of a French accent in her voice. “My husband has been murdered, and I’ve been kidnapped by a very bad blackguard… a… a
scoundrel
.”

I straightened in my chair. “What? How… why?” I had about a million questions, but I couldn’t seem to get them all out. “Please, my lady, sit down.”

She slid into the chair opposite me.

“Now,” I said, “please tell me what exactly is going on and how I can help you.”

She leaned forward, her blue eyes luminous and large. “My husband—Lord Dunthorpe. He was killed. And his murderer… his murderer has captured me. I don’t know what he’s going to do…” She swallowed hard, looking terrified.

“Do you know who the murderer is?

She shook her head. “
Non
. But his friends call him ‘Hawk.’ ”

Every muscle in my body went rigid. I knew only one man called Hawk. His real name was Samson Hawkins, he was the oldest brother of the House of Trent, and I’d just finished writing books about two of his brothers.

Yet maybe she wasn’t talking about “my” Hawk. Sam was a hero, not a murderer. Still, I had to know.

“Is he tall and broad?” I asked her. “Very muscular?”

“
Oui
… yes.”

“Handsome features?”

“Very.”

“Dark eyes and dark hair that curls at his shoulders?”

“Yes.”

“Does he have a certain…
intensity
about him?”

“Oh, yes, very much.”

Yep, she was definitely talking about Sam Hawkins.

I sat back in my chair, stunned, mulling over all she had told me. Sam had killed her husband. He’d kidnapped her… and was holding her hostage…
Wow
.

“I need your help,” she whispered urgently. “I need to be free…”

“Of course,” I soothed.

Her desire to be free sparked an idea in my mind. Because if she truly knew Sam—knew the man inside that hard shell—perhaps she
wouldn’t
want to be free of him. She was beautiful and vivacious—she’d lit up my little office when she’d walked inside. Sam had certainly already noticed this about her. Now… all I had to do was work a little magic—okay, I admitted to myself, a
lot
of magic, considering the fact that Sam had killed her husband—and I could bring these two together.

Sam hadn’t lived a very easy life. He
so
deserved his very own happily ever after.

This would be a love match born in adversity.
Very
tricky. But if I could make it work—if I could give Lady Dunthorpe to Sam as his heroine—it would probably be the most fulfilling love story I’d ever written.

With determination to make it work, I turned my computer screen toward me and started typing away. “Tell me what happened,” I told Lady Dunthorpe, “from the beginning…”

And that was how I began the story of THE SCOUNDREL’S SEDUCTION—and now that I’ve finished it, I’m so excited to share it with readers, because I definitely believe it’s my most romantic story yet.

Please come visit me at my website, www.jenniferhaymore.com, where you can share your thoughts about my books and read more about THE SCOUNDREL’S SEDUCTION 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,