A man and a
woman on opposite sides of the Civil War get a second chance at love after one
final battle returns soldiers to their war-torn homes to rebuild their lives.
He listened to
the soft sound of slippered feet at the door. Then a hesitant knock before he
heard her enter the tiny room. He let his head rest on the back of the tub,
planning the next steps to winning over Elice Weld.
"I have
bath sheets for you." Her voice was unsure and Micha didn't like the
vulnerability he heard.
"Come
in," he said. If you have the
courage to confront the man you love.
The silence
that followed unnerved him. He'd wanted so badly to pick up the pieces from
where they'd left off five long years ago. He'd been a fool to think picking up
the pieces would be remotely possible. A long campaign would only wear her
down. The skirmishes would not make her love him, nor would it regain her trust
in him.
The door
creaked open. The creak was one of a long list of things to do to help Elice
with the upkeep of her home. He'd already set his men repairing fences as well
as the land for spring planting. He'd talked to them for a long time about the
work, and the men he'd brought with him were all willing to help out before
they traveled home. Some said it was a hell of a lot better than fighting.
"I'll put
them on the shelves here. Don't let me bother you." She stared openly at
him for a half-second before flushing crimson and turning her back on him. But
she didn't leave the room.
Do you like what you see? he wanted to ask. "You would never bother me.
You can stay," he told her. "Wash my back."
"When pigs
fly."
He grinned.
That held shades of the woman he loved. "You don't have any," he
said. "So that's hardly fair."
Her shoulders
stiffened and the steel rod in her spine couldn't get any straighter. He needed
to find a way to bring back the woman he once knew without changing the
indomitable courage that seemed to have become her calling card.
Buck naked he
rose from the bath, water sluicing from his skin. He heard her slight gasp, and
he wondered if he had just made a huge mistake. She'd seen him naked before.
Inwardly, he sighed. One step backward and two steps forwards sometimes worked.
He stepped from the tub. He wondered if the wounds on his body upset her. She
didn't look upset just curious.
"Could you
hand me a bath sheet," he asked nonchalantly.
Her beautiful
azure eyes were huge. He watched her swallow then lift her chin a notch. She
unfolded a sheet and walked to him, holding it out. He didn't mean to make this
too easy for her. But he also didn't want to scare her away. He let her get
within a few inches before taking the sheet from her. He wrapped it around his
waist and grabbed another sheet from the counter where she'd set the rest of
them. He towel dried his hair and chest then sat down on a chair near the tub.
"I'm ready
anytime you are. Do you want to change your mind?"
"I'm not
afraid of a Yankee soldier, if that's what you're asking," she said as she
put the scissors and the razor on a table near the chair where he sat.
"Maybe you
should be."
She ignored
him. "Scoot the chair out so I can get around the back," she said,
the tone in her voice told him her courage returned full force.
He obliged with
a smile and a nod. At the moment, teasing her didn't seem like a great idea so
he rested his hands in his lap and let her work her magic. When she ran her
fingers through his hair, he closed his eyes and clenched his fists, wishing
for things that couldn't be right now. Beneath his ribs his heart thundered as
loud as stampeding horses. When she smoothed the soap across his jaw and upper
lip, he hardened. When she moved in front of him, his legs spread wide to let
her stand between them. He understood a need so great he'd do everything in his
power to convince Elice Weld he deserved another chance.
He groaned.
She paused, the
razor hovering near his upper lip. "Are you all right?" she asked.
"Just
dandy," he said, wondering why he'd wanted to torture himself. One of his
men could have done this.
Ah, but not as
well as Elice and not with her breasts an inch away from his mouth, not with
the scent of vanilla lingering and swirling around him, enticing every sense he
possessed.
"Do you
want me to take off the mustache?"
"Yes,"
he choked out. When he made love to her, he wanted to feel every soft and
gentle touch of her finger tips.
Thinking about
making love brought an unconscious reaction from him. Without giving it a
second thought, he brought his hands to her hips. His fingers tightened, his
thumbs and hands exploring while he still had the chance.
Startled, the
razor nicked his cheek. "That's probably not such a good idea," she
whispered.
"What?"
he asked, knowing full well of what she spoke.
"Touch
me," she whispered raggedly.
"I thought
you would never ask," he said smoothly but let his hands drop to lap once
again.
REVIEW:
Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne Reviewer
Email: RJChrissyDionne@yahoo.com
Christine Young’s ALLURA is a
delightful historical novel full of suspense, lovable characters, humor and a
budding romance between two characters determined not to fall in love. Allura
and Hunter’s stubborn, determined natures allowed for some interesting scenes
as they attempted to get one up on each other. As a modern day woman I felt bad
for Allura because technically her husband would dictate every aspect of her
life and the freedom she loves would be a thing of the past. Hunter is
unbending as far as to how he believes a wife should behave but falling in love
changes him and his perception of Allura. Hunter and Allura are the main focus
of this story but there are secondary characters whom I absolutely adored and
would love to revisit in future novels (hint, hint). Especially the youngest
sister Aiden and Hunter’s trusted friend Blade. He doesn’t believe in love and
she’s determined to do whatever’s necessary to get him to notice her. SNIPPET—
Allura has come to treasure her freedom and the adventures she shares with her
sisters and her cousins but her father’s decision to find her a husband
threatens that freedom. He’s placed an ad in the times in search of a man
strong and smart enough to discover where exactly it is that the girls venture
when they leave the safety of the castle.
-
BLURB:
Allura McClellan is horrified by her father’s decision to take out an
ad in the Times awarding her to the man strong enough and smart enough to win
her hand and uncover her secrets. She’s an intelligent young woman who
takes great delight in the freedom allotted to her by her father. She’s well
aware that marriage would effectively curtail the adventures she’s shared with
her sisters and cousins.
Hunter Gray is nothing like the other men who’ve arrived to vie for
Allura’s hand in marriage and everything that goes along with it. However, he
is the first to refuse to concede defeat and pursue her despite her attempts to
disguise her true appearance. It’s her temperament that is of more concern to
him than her looks. Hunter has worked all his life with the hope of someday
owning his own land. Now that it looks like there’s a very real possibility
that everything he’s ever wanted is within reach nothing is going to deter him
– including Miss Allura’s disagreeable disposition.
Amorica Hepburn was sent to London to find a husband. However, finding
a man was the last item on her agenda. With her two cousins, Amorica wagers she
can dissuade her suitor before the others. Despite her efforts she discovers a
chemistry that cannot be denied. Suddenly she is the arrogant man's wife,
pledged to a marriage neither desire. But swept off to his ancestral home above
the Dover cliffs and into his strong embrace, Amorica is soon possessed by a
raging passion for the husband she had vowed to despise…
Damian Andrews couldn't afford to trust the emerald-eyed spitfire who
happened upon his secret. Amorica's hatred of all men of his kind only inflames
the war that rages between them. Still, he can not control the intense desire
his stubborn bride inspires, or make her surrender to his will until he has
conquered the headstrong beauty on the battlefield of love…
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