- blurb -
From different worlds, drawn by desire, passion is about to change their lives forever....
Austin Standish is a man of refined tastes. Intelligent and educated, Austin enjoys all of the best life has to offer. A gambler, a gunslinger, and a man who has plans to taste the sweetest prize at The Palace Casino and Saloon - the lovely owner, Chantille L'Amour, the most sought after jewel on the Barbary Coast.
Running a high-class brothel and casino isn't exactly the life she was born to but Chantille is determined to overcome the ruin her family was left in once the Civil War ended. But, she has chosen a difficult path... one that demands much and leaves her lonely. She's noticed the handsome man who comes into her world from time to time, and when she chooses to give in to desire, the passion evoked by Austin's touch may change her life forever....
Running a high-class brothel and casino isn't exactly the life she was born to but Chantille is determined to overcome the ruin her family was left in once the Civil War ended. But, she has chosen a difficult path... one that demands much and leaves her lonely. She's noticed the handsome man who comes into her world from time to time, and when she chooses to give in to desire, the passion evoked by Austin's touch may change her life forever....
- except -
“He’s a good man, Miss L’Amour,” Suzie said, once she had tucked Chantille into bed. “I’m mighty glad you’ve taken up with someone like him and not the likes o’ Jesse Landon. Poor Faith was always too blind to see that boy for the no-good he was.”
“I haven’t ‘taken up’ with Austin Standish, Suzie,” she remonstrated her maid.
Suzie, motherly and portly, snorted her opinion of that statement.
“Tell that to Mr. Standish, missy,” Suzie remarked. “I think from the way he looks at you, he’s got different ideas.”
“Suzie….”
“You don’t scare me none, Miss,” Suzie retorted, “so don’t be takin’ that tone. I’ve known you too long and too well to think you don’t care about that man. Elsewise, he wouldn’t be in your rooms.”
A curt knock on the door ended the exchange, and Austin entered the room after a perfunctory “come in” from Chantille. Suzie smiled at him, then left again.
He placed the Peacemaker on the bedside table and watched her for a moment.
“I’ve talked to the police and you can make a statement tomorrow morning, Chantille. Faith’s being taken to a doctor now.”
When Chantille looked ready to leap from the bed, he added, “She’ll make it.”
For a few frozen moments, she was back in the room, Faith’s body lifeless on the bed, blood spilling from the bullet wound. The girl had almost died because she hadn’t protected her. Chantille wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Burying her feelings, she looked at Austin.
“Thank you, Mr. Standish.”
His eyebrows rose, and he glowered at her.
“Mr. Standish again. Isn’t it a bit late in the night for that kind of formality, Miss L’Amour?”
“I’ve enjoyed your company tonight, Mr…Austin,” she relented softly, not daring to look at him now. “But I think it’s time you were leaving.”
He laughed at her, and her head shot up, annoyance flaring to life. She pushed back hair that that had fallen from the intricate coil with which she’d begun the evening.
“I don’t think you want me gone just yet, Chantille,” he stated.
Her eyes narrowed slightly when he began unbuttoning his pants and slipped free of them. His interest was immediately apparent, and she shook her head in wordless denial.
“No more, Austin,” she whispered. “I can’t risk it.”
“Risk what?”
He sat on the edge of the mattress and tugged the sheets away, knowing she’d be naked to his gaze in all ways.
“I don’t want you,” she whispered.
“I don’t believe you.” To make his point, he kissed her, easing her onto her back as he joined her on the bed, using his weight to press her into the feather mattress until he was lying over her, and she was clinging to him in blatant longing.
“Tell me again that you don’t want me here, Chantille.” He nuzzled her neck and collarbone.
- Purchase links
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/407861
Publisher: http://naughtynightspress.com/nnpstore2/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=32&products_id=104
- author short bio -
Canadian born and bred, and a lifelong dreamer, I began writing at an early age and can’t recall a time when I wasn’t creating in some artistic form. My life has had several on-going love affairs that shape much of what I write, the American West, Victorian England, cowboys, a passion for pirates, Greek Gods, and Ancient Egypt. The other endless love affairs in my life are Italia and Romania, and all their magic, beauty, and dazzling culture. That passion spills into all aspects of my life.
- author links -
1 comment:
Thanks so much for having me as your guest today, Tina! Have a great day everyone!! Cheers, Denyse
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