The Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James # 2
By: Lorraine Heath
Releasing August 26th, 2014
Avon
From New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath, comes the second book in a brand new series, The Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, featuring three eligible bachelors...and the scoundrels that reside within each.
Born to the street but raised within the aristocracy, Drake Darling can't escape his sordid beginnings. Not when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton snubs him at every turn, a constant reminder he's not truly one of them. But after rescuing her from a mysterious drowning, he realizes she doesn't remember who she is. With plans to bring her to heel, he insists she's his housekeeper—never expecting to fall for the charming beauty.
While Ophelia might not recall her life before Drake, she has little doubt she belongs with him. The desire she feels for her dark, brooding employer can't be denied, regardless of consequences. So when Ophelia's memory returns, she is devastated by the depth of his betrayal. Now Drake must risk everything to prove she can trust this rogue with her heart once more.
As he came to a halt in front of her, he gave his gaze free rein to take a leisurely stroll over her person. Breathing became difficult, and she had a horrid fear he would find her lacking. She drew back her shoulders. What did she care regarding his opinion of her, when his opinion was of no worth?
“Your champagne.”
His rough, deep voice wove something dark and sensual around the words. She suspected he wasn’t a silent lover, that he whispered naughty things into a woman’s ear.
“You were so remarkably slow in retrieving it that I’m no longer of a mood to drink it.”
“Surely you’ll not deny yourself the pleasure of allowing these bubbles to tickle your palate.”
He wrapped a wealth of meaning around the word pleasure. That he would be so bold as to speak to her with such disregard while others were near . . . it was not to be tolerated. But for the life of her, she could think of no witty rejoinder because he was studying her as though he could well imagine her tickling his palate. “With your tarrying, I believe it has gone flat,” she said, before turning her back on him. “Avendale, I believe you were discussing—”
Drake Darling had the audacity to wedge himself between her and the duke. His eyes were narrowed, his jaw taut. “Lady Ophelia, I must insist that you take the champagne.”
“You, boy, are in no position to insist on anything where I am concerned.”
His gloved finger tapped the side of the flute, while his gaze bored into hers, and she could fairly see the wheels of reprisal turning in his mind. She didn’t know why she sought to provoke him, yet something about him unsettled her, always had. She wanted to put him in his place, to remind him—and herself—that he was beneath her. Her father had taken a belt to her backside and bare legs when he once caught her speaking with Darling. She’d been twelve at the time, but it wasn’t a lesson easily forgotten. She was not to associate with anyone not of noble birth.
“So be it,” he murmured, lifting the glass. He tilted back his head and downed the golden liquid in one long swallow. She could see only a bit of his muscles at his throat working, because a perfectly tied cravat hid the rest from view. But his neck, like the rest of him, was powerful. Moving aside the glass, he licked his lips, satisfaction glinting in his eyes. “Not at all flat. Quite pleasant, actually, like the kiss of a temptress.”
Author Info:
LORRAINE HEATH always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals and computer code, but something was always missing. After reading a romance novel, she not only became hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including RWA’s RITA® and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her novels have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times best-seller lists.
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ReplyDeleteThis excerpt really tickled me. Not only did Drake cause Ophelia's nerves to jangle, he laid down the gauntlet. If she wanted his attention for anything from now on, she would have to come to him. At least, that's the way I read it. This is gonna be a very interesting story! Thanks for the post. jdh2690@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks for stopping by :)
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