"I would not make a good husband. I do, however, make an excellent lover . . . "
Harrison Bainbridge, the second son of an English earl, left his home seeking a scandal-free life away from society's stuffy restraints. Then he arrives in Texas, never expecting that a sassy saloon-keeper's daughter would capture his eye. With her outspoken ways and flashing eyes, Jessye Kane is more than tempting. But although she is willing to be his partner in a daring business venture, she is unwilling to take the passion he offers.
Jessye knows that noble-born Harrison isn't for the likes of her, but beneath his devil-may-care exterior, she senses a deeper vulnerability. Then he's suddenly injured, risking his life to save her from mortal danger. And Jessye vows to do anything to make him whole again—forcing this rugged scoundrel who claims he has no heart to take the greatest risk of all . . . on love."I would not make a good husband. I do, however, make an excellent lover . . . "Harrison Bainbridge, the second son of an English earl, left his home seeking a scandal-free life away from society's stuffy restraints. Then he arrives in Texas, never expecting that a sassy saloon-keeper's daughter would capture his eye. With her outspoken ways and flashing eyes, Jessye Kane is more than tempting. But although she is willing to be his partner in a daring business venture, she is unwilling to take the passion he offers.
"I would not make a good husband. I do, however, make an excellent lover . . . "Harrison Bainbridge, the second son of an English earl, left his home seeking a scandal-free life away from society's stuffy restraints. Then he arrives in Texas, never expecting that a sassy saloon-keeper's daughter would capture his eye. With her outspoken ways and flashing eyes, Jessye Kane is more than tempting. But although she is willing to be his partner in a daring business venture, she is unwilling to take the passion he offers.
Jessye knows that noble-born Harrison isn't for the likes of her, but beneath his devil-may-care exterior, she senses a deeper vulnerability. Then he's suddenly injured, risking his life to save her from mortal danger. And Jessye vows to do anything to make him whole again—forcing this rugged scoundrel who claims he has no heart to take the greatest risk of all . . . on love.
Fortune, Texas October 1865
Having been raised within the bowel of hell. Harrison Bainbridge should have been injured to life's disappointments.
It irritated the devil out of him that he was not.
With a jaundiced eye, he gazed around the interior of the dreary saloon. It in no way resembled the gentleman's clubs he had frequented in London. But then nothing in this godforsaken town reminded him of England, and he readily welcomed the opportunity to leave.
Whether she realized it or not, the woman sitting across from him held the key to his salvation. Out of the comer of her mouth, Jessye Kane blew a quick burst of air, which sent into motion the radiant red curls that had escaped from her braid.
"Now don't take this personal," she said in a voice that reminded Harrison of wispy smoke curling over a log before the fire finally caught and consumed it.
"But I don't trust you any farther than I can throw you."
Her words flayed his heart, but Harrison knew his face didn't reflect the unexpected pain. As a lad, he'd drowned his emotions in a bottomless well, a maneuver that now gave him an edge when playing games of chance because no one—not even his trusted friends Christian Montgomery and Grayson Rhodes—could ever determine his exact thoughts.
"On the contrary," he quipped, lifting his glass of whiskey in a silent salute. "I am indeed honored. You always struck me as a woman who was adept at throwing men great distances."
He took no pleasure in the blush that flamed her checks, obliterating the smattering of freckles. But self-preservation was a vicious tutor, and he had learned the lessons well.
She darted a glance at Christian Montgomery, who sat beside him, before she settled her unwavering gaze on Harrison. Her eyes were the green of spring, when the first buds began to emerge. Her chin came up a notch. He knew her well enough to recognize that slight gesture as an ominous warning.
She unfolded a sheet of paper. "I'm interested in taking part in this cattle venture you two are making noise about. I'm willing to fund the whole thing just like we discussed, but the partnership will be between me and Kit. We'll split the profits fifty-fifty. I've written up an agreement that I'll need signed before I hand over any money."
Her unwillingness to accept him as a partner was yet another stroke of the lash, but his admiration for her shrewd business sense increased. It seemed she had also learned well the lessons of survival.
"Now, hold on a minute," Kit began.
Harrison held up a hand to silence his friend. He steepled his fingers and pressed them against his bearded chin. "Is there a particular reason you feel this action is warranted?"
"Yep. From what I can tell, Kit has done all the planning and made all the arrangements, The hardest work I've ever seen you do is to take a long squint at the sun and a short squat in the shade."
The lash cut more deeply.
"This is ludicrous," Kit said. "Harry carries his share—"
"And the paper?" Harrison interrupted.
"Spells out everything so we've got no misunderstandings at the end of the drive as to who gets what."
In the three months since Harrison had first met Jessye, they had developed a tentative friendship. She served drinks in her father's saloon, on occasion played poker with Harrison, and always made it well known that she had no interest whatsoever in accompanying him to a bedroom at the top of the stairs.
Not that he blamed her. Until recently, he had worked in a field like a common laborer. As he had picked the cotton, the sun had beaten him unmercifully, his hands had bled, and his back had ached in agony. Perhaps she would have admired his efforts to a greater degree if he had...
LORRAINE HEATH always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals, press releases, and articles, but something was always missing. In 1990, she read a romance novel and became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her own writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since, for both adult and young adult readers. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including RWA's RITA®, a HOLT medallion, a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and several Texas Gold Awards.
Lorraine loves hearing from readers. You can write her at lorraine-heath@comcast.net or visit her website at www.lorraineheath.com.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
