Savage Hunger: Savage, Book 1 (38 page)

“It’s iron tight.”

“It’s incredible she even knows about shifters. How is this possible? And what does she have against them?”

“I believe the government has allowed her access, or we would have wiped her memory long ago. As to what she has against us…” Warrick shrugged. “That’s anybody’s guess.”

Sienna swallowed hard. “I hate that she gets to walk from this.”

“She does this time. But we’re watching her. And she
will
fuck up at some point, and when she does…” He trailed off as he stepped forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Enough dismal talk though. You look beautiful.”

“I’m at a memorial wearing black. No makeup.”

“You could be wearing a burlap sack and I’d still find you sexy as hell.”

Her lips twisted even as her pulse skipped a beat. When he looked at her like that, everything inside her melted a bit. God, she loved this man.

“But you would look amazing in white too.” He caught her wrist, his long fingers teasing the moon charm on the bracelet he’d given her years ago. “Come on, Sienna. Why won’t you agree to a big, huge wedding and a fluffy-ass wedding dress?”

“Fluffy-ass?” She arched a brow and laughed. “Thank you, but no. I already told you, Warrick, I don’t really want a big wedding. I want something small.”

“Mmm? Like on a beach in Hawaii type of thing?” Warrick murmured.

Her breath caught at the image and she let out a wistful sigh. “Hawaii would be lovely.”

“With your father there? Maybe your brother?”

“Daniel could probably never get leave. And I’m not sure Dad would be comfortable with such a long flight.”

Warrick leaned down, so his lips hovered just above hers. “They’re already there.”

What?
Sienna blinked in dismay.

“I pulled some strings, made arrangements. We fly out tonight, and have a small ceremony on the beach on Tuesday.”

Her eyes filled with tears and her throat tightened. “How on earth…?”

Warrick released her hand and reached into his pocket, pulling out a sparkling diamond ring and sliding it on her finger. “All you need to do is say yes. Marry me, Sienna.”

They’d talked about making it official, but having Warrick slide a ring on her finger, seeing the love in his eyes…and he’d already planned everything, including making sure her family was there.

“Sienna?” he prodded gently, lifting her hand and brushing the inside of her wrist with his lips.

“Oh, God, Warrick—” she choked out through her tears, and couldn’t resist teasing, “—it’s Hawaii.”

Warrick laughed softly, his gaze softening and his hand tightening around hers. “And it’s me, right?”

“Well, you’re a pretty big part of the enticement as well,” she murmured. “I love you so much, Warrick.”

“I love you too, baby.” He lowered his head, brushing a kiss across her lips that never failed to make her knees weak.

When he lifted his head, his eyes glittered with tenderness and love. “So then…that wedding-on-the-beach plan is a yes?”

Sienna’s heart swelled with love and she nodded. “Let me just say, sand between my toes has never sounded so good.”

“Mmm. With all those beaches, and being that our wedding and honeymoon will be combined, we might need to be careful. Or, you know, we could end up with some sand in other places,” he murmured slyly.

“Well, let me just say I’m looking forward to it.” She smiled and pulled his mouth back down to hers.

About the Author

Shelli is a New York Times Bestselling Author who read her first romance novel when she snatched it off her mother’s bookshelf at the age of eleven. One taste and she was forever hooked. It wasn’t until many years later that she decided to pursue writing stories of her own. By then she’d acknowledged the voices in her head didn’t make her crazy, they made her a writer.

Shelli currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her daughter. She writes various genres of romance, is a compulsive volunteer, and has been known to spontaneously burst into song. You can visit her at
www.shellistevens.com
and join her newsletter at
www.shellistevens.com/contact/

Look for these titles by Shelli Stevens

Now Available:

Trust and Dare

Theirs to Capture

Four Play

Foreign Affair

Savage

Savage Betrayal

Seattle Steam

Dangerous Grounds

Tempting Adam

Seducing Allie

Chances Are

Anybody but Justin

Luck be Delanie

Protecting Phoebe

Holding out for a Hero

Going Down

Command and Control

He’s going to show this wedding crasher just how dirty the outdoors can be.

Seducing Allie

© 2011 Shelli Stevens

Seattle Steam, Book 3

Allison Siegel is out to stop a wedding. With one of her best childhood friends about to marry a gold-digger, who wouldn’t at least try to stage an intervention? Apparently, her
other
childhood bestie, Clint.

The minute Allie grew out of her sneakers and into her curves, Clint’s hormones went ballistic. But she had eyes only for Ken, so Clint made himself scarce, even after the relationship fizzled. Now she’s back, looking better than ever—and hell-bent on sabotaging Ken’s wedding. So Clint knows he needs to do whatever it takes to head her off at the pass.

Kidnapped! Allison can't believe it. Now she’s stuck in the Montana backwoods fending off nature’s friends, and fighting a losing battle to resist Clint—the sexiest forest ranger on the planet.

Clint has big plans for Allie. Not only will he convince a city girl that she needs to embrace her inner nature freak, but he's going to prove there's sparks flying in more places than just the campfire.

Warning: This book contains a city girl out of her element, a forest ranger determined to keep her there, and a campfire seduction hot enough to melt more than just marshmallows.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Seducing Allie:

Allison climbed out of her car and faced the front of Burnham’s Seafood restaurant, her pulse quickening. Maybe she shouldn’t be here…should’ve taken the hint when she’d tried to call Kenneth and his number had been changed.

Or maybe the fact you weren’t even invited to his wedding.

But damn it this was
wrong
. They were friends. What was going on with Kenneth?

She lifted her chin and hurried up the steps, holding her head high as the doorman opened the door for her.

“Thank you,” she murmured and stepped past him into the air-conditioned building, smoothing the skirt of her red dress down.

The interior of the upscale dining spot was dark with hardwood floors and mahogany tables spread about. She scanned the room until she found what she was looking for. The private room in the back.

Fortunately there were windows, and she could see the small party gathered inside. Fifteen, maybe twenty people. Most likely just friends and family of the Williams.

“Excuse me, ma’am, do you have a reservation?”

Allison jerked her gaze back to the waif-like-model in front of her. Hmm. Maybe it would be good to get a table first, then find the perfect moment to launch the meeting.

“Actually, I don’t. My fiancé suggested meeting here for dinner tonight,” she lied, tilting her head to give a hesitant smile. “You wouldn’t happen to have a table available, would you?”

“Hmm.” The hostess glanced down at the podium in front of her. “I think we can accommodate that. A table for two?”

“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

“Did you want to wait for your fiancé, or—?”

“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait at the table. He’s notorious for being late.”

“All right,” the hostess nodded and stepped away from the podium. “Follow me.”

The hostess led her to a small table where a floating candle lay flickering in the middle. Allison sat down and took the menu she was handed.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Your waiter will be with you shortly.”

Once the hostess disappeared, Allison raised the menu in front of her just high enough to cover all of her face except her eyes.

Peering over the leather folder, she scanned the room only feet away from her now. They were all there. The Williams family and a few of Kenneth’s close friends she recognized.

Shrill, high-pitched laughter drifted through the glass window just as a flash of bright red hair appeared from the corner of the room. All eyes were on the bride-to-be, who wore a floral sundress with a crown on her head.

Allison narrowed her gaze and made an inaudible harrumph. A crown? Really? And Kenneth’s parents were beaming like he actually
was
marrying royalty. Maybe they were just happy he was settling down.

She shook her head. Had she stepped into the Twilight Zone? This was all just too weird.

“Hello there.”

With a startled gasp, she turned her head and looked up at a male server who’d appeared next to the table.

“I’m Jordan, and I’ll be your server today. Can I get you something to drink while you wait for the other half of your party?”

“Mmm. I think just water for now.”

The server gave a brief nod, and she didn’t miss the male appreciation in his gaze as he gave her a brief smile.

“Very good. I’ll return shortly.”

Generally she would have been flattered by his attention—she’d grown used to male interest over the years. Ever since the day she’d decided to drop the tomboy image and embrace all things girly. Makeup, dresses, manicures. Since she’d gone from being invisible, to being somewhat sexy by today’s standards.

The server disappeared and she jerked her gaze back to the room, watching the people inside like they were some kind of exhibit in a zoo.

Kenneth, Kenneth, Kenneth. Where was the guy? She skimmed the room. Lord, look at all the pretty men. It looked like a freaking Ralph Lauren convention. Maybe he’d—
there
.

She narrowed her eyes as he appeared from behind a group of people and slipped his arms around Ashley, who giggled even louder.

“How did you do it, Ashley?” she muttered.

“Your water.”

Allison resurrected her smile and took the glass of water from the server, wondering if he’d heard her comment.

“Would you like to order something to start with? Our calamari is a very popular choice. Or we have—”

“I’m fine.” She winced at the edge in her voice.
Easy girl
. She glanced up at the server through her lashes and murmured in her best husky voice, “Thank you, Jordan. I’ll signal you if I need anything else.”

A flush stole up his neck and he gave a brisk nod before scurrying away.

Good. Hopefully he’d let her be for a bit. She turned her gaze back to the room, just in time to see the bride-to-be plant a wet kiss on Kenneth’s mouth. And he
allowed
that? Kenneth hated PDAs.

Allison scowled, but her frown died as Kenneth stood to leave the room.
This
was her chance for an intervention.

Lowering her menu, she waited until he’d passed by her on the way to the bathroom, then stood to follow after him.

Before she’d taken two steps, strong fingers wrapped around her arm, halting her progress.

“Long time no see,” Clint murmured.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t protest as her old friend tugged her through the restaurant.

In an empty hallway, out of view of the diners, he came to an abrupt halt and she bumped into him.

“Clint?” His name fell from her lips in dismay. She still couldn’t quite believe he was here, but then why wouldn’t he be? He’d been Kenneth’s best friend when they were kids.

Just seeing Clint again robbed her of the ability to speak. It had to have been at least a year since they’d seen each other.

She ran her gaze over him. Black hair just a bit too long, piercing blue eyes, and a tall—at least several inches over six feet—muscled body. Apparently being a forest ranger agreed with him. He hadn’t looked this good last time, had he? Or maybe he had and she just hadn’t been looking?

The realization that he still held her arm blinked her back to reality and her thoughts dissipated into annoyance. Why had he dragged her across the restaurant like she’d been ready to shoot it up?

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He arched a brow and smiled, but the gesture didn’t seem to hold much humor. “I was just going to ask you the same thing, Allie. Last I checked you weren’t invited to this dinner.”