Siege of the Heart (Southern Romance Series, #2) (15 page)

“Oh, my goodness!” Her mouth was open in horror as she saw his bruises. “Jasper, what did they—”

“Nothing important.” He crushed her into his arms, feeling her warmth against him. She was laughing against his mouth, and yet crying.

“I thought you were never coming home.”

“I’ll always come home to you.” He held her close, whispering into her hair. “Nothing can keep us apart, Clara. Nothing.”

“What did they do to you?” she whispered back.

“Does it matter?”

“I...no.” She looked up at him, blue eyes filled with tears. “I thought I would never see any of you again. I should never have let Solomon go alone.”

“Were you going to creep up on our attackers and brain them with a branch?” Jasper asked her, laughing, and the tears spilled down her cheeks as she laughed as well.

“I thought... Oh, Jasper.”

“Marry me,” he said suddenly, and she quieted at once.

“We’re already engaged,” she said hesitantly.

“Marry me,” he repeated. “Today. Right now.”

“My wedding gown isn’t ready.” She was laughing now, the tears gone and her smile wide.

“It doesn’t matter what we wear. Clara, I swear I can’t live another day without knowing you are my wife. I’ve been thinking...” He turned, lifting her and spinning her in his arms until they faced the hill, and he pointed past the others, approaching more slowly. “I want to build us a house. Our own house. A cottage up in the trees. Well, not in the trees, but amongst them.”

She laughed at his mistake. “I would love that,” she said softly. “I will marry you. Today, tomorrow, any day you name. We can go into town now if you wish. I—” She broke off, her eyes on Violet. “Who’s that?”

“Oh, that’s—”

“Clara!” Cecelia broke into a run at last, and Clara picked up her skirts and ran to meet her. They tumbled together, all three siblings, Violet tilting her head to watch the tangle of brown and gold heads. Her eyes were marking the noses, the stubborn chins, the high cheekbones.

“Clara,” Solomon said at last. “This is Violet Stuart.”

Clara looked over at Jasper, who only smiled, and then curtsied hesitantly.

“I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“Violet saved our lives,” Cecelia broke in excitedly. “She can shoot a gun better than Solomon, Clara!”

“She can’t shoot better than I can!” Solomon said indignantly.

“Yes, I can,” Violet said, grinning. She offered a bow. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. I’ve heard quite a lot about you.”

“I...see.” Clara looked around at the others, and then back to the house. “You should all go say hello to Mother, she’s been worried sick. Go on, Cee.”

They ran, their footsteps pounding over the fields, and Clara reached out to take Jasper’s hand. Her eyes were shining.

“Don’t ever leave again,” she whispered. “Promise me you won’t ever let them take you away again.”

“Not hell or high water could take me from here,” Jasper promised. He squeezed her fingers and drew her towards the farm. His eyes moved over the trees, the fields, and the stable. “I had forgotten how beautiful it was here.”

“And you want to stay here?” Clara whispered. “Because if you don’t, Jasper, if you want to go...if you want to go home, I’ll go with you.”

“No. I thought, before all of this, that I might belong in the south more than I belonged here. I was afraid that I could never be the husband you needed. That I could not make you happy, and everything we had would turn to ashes if I stayed. I was homesick.”

“What changed?”

“I realized, when I thought I might never see you again, that the most important thing was that I be at your side. Wherever you go, Clara Dalton, I’ll go with you. That is my home.”

“Clara Perry, if you please,” she said cheekily, and she kissed him. “I’m Clara Perry now.”

~ The End ~

Freedom Forever

Coming September 2015

Book 3

W
ith Jasper and Cecelia returned, and Solomon cleared of treason for his actions during the war, life at Dalton Farm has almost returned to normal. Of course, there’s the small matter of Cecelia’s pregnancy, and her engagement to Abraham Thompson, the reverend’s son. In Solomon’s eyes, all is as it should be, and the pair will be married quickly to avoid any gossip. But Clara, who has endured her own unhappy engagement, sees sadness in Cecelia’s eyes...

On the night of her wedding to Jasper, seeing Cecelia and Abraham bicker, Clara begs for the truth. She promises her sister that no matter what comes, she will protect her sister—and she speaks, as only she can, of the importance of being true to one’s heart.

But Cecelia is hiding more than Clara knows. Should she break the engagement and tell the truth, the reputation of the entire family is at stake, and no matter the cost to herself, Cecelia is determined to protect her family...

The Saving Forever Series

Part 1 is FREE!

C
harity Thompson wants to the save world, one hospital at a time. Instead of finishing med school to become a doctor, she chooses a different path and raises money for hospitals – new wings, equipment or whatever they need. Except there is one hospital she would be happy to never set foot in again, her fathers. He hires her to create a gala for his sixty-fifth birthday. Charity can’t say no.

Now she is working in the one place she doesn’t want to be, attracted to Dr. Elijah Bennet, the handsome playboy chief, and trying to prove to her doctor father that’s she’s so much more than a med school dropout.

Why would she try to put together so many things that are clearly broken? Or will she realize in time that they just need to be fixed?

The University of Gatica Series

The Recruiting Trip

Book 1 if FREE!

––––––––

Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FdSZUaJ2q0

Aspiring college athlete Aileen Nessa is finding the recruiting process beyond daunting. Being ranked #10 in the world for the 100m hurdles at the age of eighteen is not a fluke, even though she believes that one race, where everything clinked magically together, might be. American universities don’t seem to think so. Letters are pouring in from all over the country.

As she faces the challenge of differentiating between a college’s genuine commitment to her or just empty promises from talent-seeking coaches, Aileen heads to Gatica State University, a Division One school, on a recruiting trip.

The university’s athletic program boasts one of the top sprint coaches in the country. The beautiful old buildings on campus and Ivy League smarts seems so above her little Ohio town upbringing. All Aileen needs to convince her to sign her letter of intent is a recruiting trip that takes her breath away.

Tyler Jensen is the school’s NCAA champion in the hurdles and Jim Thorpe recipient for top defensive back in football. His incredible ocean blue eyes and confident smile make Aileen stutter and forget why she is visiting GSU. His offer to take her under his wing, should she choose to come to Gatica, is a temping proposition that has her wondering if she might be making a deal with an angel or the devil himself.

* This is NOT erotica* It is a new adult & college sport romance.

For mature readers only. There are sexual situations, but no graphic sex.

Heart of the Battle Series

Celtic Viking

Book 1 is FREE

Celtic Rune

Book 2

Celtic Mann

B
ook 3

Jamie Connors has given up on finding a man. Despite being smart, pretty, and just slightly overweight, she's a magnet for the kind of guys that don't stay around.

Her sister's wedding is at the foreground of the family's attention. Jamie would be find with it if her sister wasn't pressuring her to lose weight so she'll fit in the maid of honor dress, her mother would get off her case and her ex-boyfriend wasn't about to become her brother-in-law.

Determined to step out on her own, she accepts a PA position from billionaire Alex Reid. The job includes an apartment on his property and gets her out of living in her parent's basement.

Jamie has to balance her life and somehow figure out how to manage her billionaire boss, without falling in love with him.

** The Boss is book 1 in the Managing the Bosses series. All your questions won't be answered in the first book. It may end on a cliff hanger.

For mature audiences only. There are adult situations, but this is a love story, NOT erotica.