Promises Linger - Softcover

McCarty, Sarah

Softcover

ISBN 10: 141995010X ISBN 13: 9781419950100

Publisher: Elloras Cave Pub Inc, 2008

Synopsis

Wyoming Territory, 1868:

Elizabeth Coyote will do anything, anything at all, to save the ranch she loves, including marrying Asa MacIntyre, a broad shouldered, lean hipped silver eyed gunslinger with a ruthless reputation for getting the job done. No one expects Asa to hang around past the first bank draft, but Asa has always wanted a place of his own, a lady for a wife, and the respect that comes with both. Marrying Elizabeth may have started out as a means to an end, but nothing in his wildest dreams could have prepared him for the fun he’d have unleashing the purely carnal woman beneath his wife’s prim and proper exterior.

About this title

About the Author

Sarah has traveled extensively throughout her life, living in other cultures, sometimes in areas where electricity was a concept awaiting fruition and a book was an extreme luxury. While she could easily adjust to the lack of electricity, living without the comfort of a good book was intolerable. To fill the void, she bought pencil and paper and sketched out her own story. In the process, Sarah discovered the joy of writing.

Sarah writes what she loves to read; fast paced stories with vivid dialogue, intense emotion and well developed characters. Her attention to detail in her stories has earned her multiple awards and a reserved spot on Keeper shelves everywhere.

Sarah writes for Ellora's Cave, Harlequin HQN and Harlequin Spice

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpt: PROMISES LINGER
Copyright © Sarah McCarty
All rights reserved, Ellora's Cave, Inc.

"I've always had a hankering to take myself a genuine lady for a wife," he admitted. "Always thought it'd be out of my reach, though. Sorta like a spread the size of the Rocking C."

And that was more than the truth. It'd been his furthest out-there dream, and now it was standing before him, chin up, eyes shooting fire, determination oozing from every pore, tossing out invisible challenges like swear words at a cussing match.

"But now?" she prompted.

He smiled at her hearing that "but" when he hadn't really meant her to. He took the gun from her hand, noticing what a little bit of a thing she was now that he was close. Her head barely reached his collarbone.

"Now, it appears the good Lord's working on one of those miracles I've heard tell of, but, before we shake on this deal, there are a few things you've got to understand." He uncocked the gun and emptied the chamber, using his side vision to keep tabs on her expression. "First, trouble has a way of following me."

The corners of her lips lifted in a hint of a smile. "It doesn't exactly go out of its way to miss me."

He looked at her shiner and the situation she was in. "You got a point there." He handed the gun and bullets back to its owner.

Brent obviously felt he'd been quiet long enough. He made to get up. "As touching as I find this moment, wife, you can't give away what's not yours."

Brent got to his knees. This close, it was impossible for Asa to miss Elizabeth's slight start.

With his foot, Asa shoved the man back down. "Shut up."

He slid his gloved finger under Elizabeth's chin and turned her gaze to his. "Second, what's mine, stays mine."

"I won't take the Rocking C from you as long as you do your best by it."

He smiled. She was a determined little thing. "Fair enough."

"Third," he gently traced the bruise around her right eye, "I take care of my own."

She had nothing to say to that.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" he asked quietly, wishing he weren't wearing gloves so he could feel the texture of her skin, memorize it the way he'd already memorized her scent.

"No." Her gaze didn't leave his. Her pupils were large, nearly swallowing the green. Her breath hitched in her throat when he slid one finger down her cheek and traced the delicate underside of her chin.

"Good. Go wait for me outside the door."

Her gaze slid to his table where one of the saloon girls had taken a seat. "Why?"

"I thought you promised me obedience?" She opened her mouth and then closed it. Taking her shoulders, he turned her in the direction of the door. "Wait for me outside."

With her pride draped like a shield around her, she did as ordered. She made it as far as the door before balking. "You're taking the job?"

Asa couldn't see her face, but he bet her expression was still blank. "I'm marrying you," he replied. "Just as soon as I finish a little business here."

There was a pregnant pause. "Can I wait for you at the mercantile?"

"Outside the door will be fine."

He knew she was wondering as she walked into the sunlight if this was a test. He knew she was braced to have her pride ground into the dust. What she didn't know was that he'd dreamed his whole life of a home of his own, a lady for a wife, and the respect that came with both. He had no intention of tempting fate by mistreating either.

He pulled off his gloves, rolled up his cuffs, turned to Brent, and smiled.

Edition details

• Publisher: Elloras Cave Pub Inc
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 141995010X
• ISBN 13: 9781419950100
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 432