Nell De Lacy loves small things like story time, a well-stocked bookshelf, and evenings with friends. Relearning how to date after grief was supposed to be the hardest thing.
Enter professional wrestler Chance Robicheaux. Towering, tender, and utterly relentless about keeping her safe. The two become friends first, spending nights learning each other’s quirks. Between hospital rooms and poker nights, the two find something electric and real.
Nell’s life suddenly fractures with a violent assault, a cache of stolen images, and a blackmailer who won’t be denied. As the threat tightens and the press draws near, Nell’s voice, literally and figuratively, fails her at the worst possible time.
With the De Lacy family company’s December board vote approaching, Nell faces a critical challenge that threatens to upend her life. The outcome of the vote carries the risk of awarding a coveted contract to the wrong people, forcing Nell to balance family loyalty, legal danger, and a secret that could change everything.
Nell and Chance’s is a story about rebuilding, of finding courage in therapy and friendship, and discovering there’s strength in asking for help. Nell’s fight becomes Chance’s fight, and soon they choose to fight evil together. Will justice arrive before the quiet she loves is gone forever?
“This honey pot just got a whole lot sweeter.” Chance Robicheaux licked his lips and tossed in a few plastic chips. The cards in his hand were the best he’d held the entire night.
He peered around the table of friends as they partook in their newly minted Wednesday poker night. Rob Breyer, Chance’s closest friend and wrestling tag team partner, concentrated on his hand. Rob’s girlfriend, Emma MacLean, rolled her eyes at Chance’s comment, then winked at
him when she glanced his way. The dealer and his new sidekick, Seamus De Lacy, took a sip of his drink while the rest of the players made their decisions.
Chance’s eyes landed on the last member of the table; he bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from moaning. Emma’s roommate, Nell De Lacy, stared at him with a slight look of awe mixed with determination, which he found fucking irresistible. The woman had driven him mad since their first meeting over a bowl of potato salad to his crotch. No matter what the situation, one glimpse of Nell, her auburn hair in those cute as hell space buns and perfectly pouty lips, had him hard in three seconds flat.
“I fold.” Rob placed his cards on the table and slumped in his chair.
“I’ve got nothing.” Emma tossed in her cards, then slid her arm around Rob’s shoulders. “This isn’t our night.”
Chance lifted his eyes to Nell’s. “What about you, Nell?”
The corner of Nell’s lips that Chance spent hours fantasizing about curled upward. “I’ll see you.” She tossed in enough to match Chance’s bet. “And I’ll raise you.” She counted out the rest of her chips and placed them in the pot.
Chance could tell she was confident about the hand she possessed. She had her tells as much as anyone else did. The smirk she wielded always made him pull out of the game. Not tonight, though. She’d gone all in, but he’d go a bit more.
“All right.” He determined the required chips to call but decided to raise to find out what she had to offer.
“You can’t do that!” Her confidence turned to anger.
“I sure can. I’m willing to make a deal if you think your hand is still as worthy as it was a moment ago.” Chance’s heart thumped in his chest while he stared her down, praying she would give in.
“What kind of deal?” she asked.
Chance grabbed the pad of paper and pen beside him and wrote down what he wanted. He slid it to her.
She picked it up and read his chicken scratch. “This…” The words clogged her throat as heat moved up to color her face.
“You place that in the pot. I win; you deliver. You win; you can rip it up.”
Nell opened and closed her mouth, then pressed her plump lips in a firm line. She pushed the slip across the table. “I call. Show me what you’ve got.”
Chance peered into her brilliant emerald eyes as he laid each card down one by one. Her face paled. “Royal flush.”
“Damn,” she murmured, and she laid her cards down face up.
“Full House. Not bad, but not good enough tonight.” Chance licked his lips in anticipation of his winnings.
Emma glanced between the two. “What did he win?”
Nell placed her palms on the table, her cheeks tinged pink. “A kiss.”
Author Bio:
Lindsey Gray is a writer, an over-thinker, and a chronic list-maker, but her passion for writing stories you'll love always tops the list. Her author journey began in 2010 with the publication of her first novel, and she has spent the last decade creating worlds for readers to
play in. In addition to her own work, Gray utilizes her skills formatting novels for other authors and hosts the weekly show, Gray Matters, on TMV Cafe Internet Radio. She lives and writes fueled by iced tea, her handsome hubby, and the beautiful chaos of mothering her children.
I want to welcome J.R. Thornton to Books R Us. Mr. Thornton is the author of Lucien. The author has provided an interview just for my readers. Thanks for stopping by.
About The Book:
The son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher “Atlas” Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti, introduces him to.
Born to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant roommate. But is Lucien all that he seems?
Sensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a solution, convincing the naïve artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers.
But Lucien’s charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien’s behavior grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced to take on escalating risks with devastating consequences.
Interview:
Can you tell us when you started writing?
I started writing when I was very young, mostly just for fun at first. As I got older, I took as many creative writing courses as I could in school. I actually wrote the earliest draft of my first novel during my senior year of high school.
Can you tell me who or what inspired the book?
The idea for the book really came together over the course of several years. There wasn’t one single moment of inspiration - it was more a combination of different influences and ideas that gradually merged into the story.
Can you tell us how you came up with your title?
The title of the novel is simply the name of the main character, Lucien. I experimented with countless other title ideas but never landed on one that felt quite right. Lucien is such a dominant, larger-than-life presence in the story that naming the book after him ultimately felt like the most natural choice.
Can you tell us a little about your main characters?
At the start of the novel, both characters are freshmen at Harvard. Lucien is charming, confident, and worldly - a kind of “golden boy” who presents himself as coming from a wealthy European family. Atlas, by contrast, is a very talented artist from a more modest background. He’s something of an outsider: lonely, thoughtful, and not someone who has ever really belonged to the in-crowd.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Not in the sense of sitting down and being completely unable to start writing. What I do encounter sometimes are difficult plot problems that require time and focus to work through. If someone is struggling just to get started, I often suggest doing a quick warm-up exercise - take a random line of dialogue, have a character respond to it, and see where the conversation leads.
Where is this book set, and why did you choose that setting?
The book is set at Harvard. I wanted to write a campus novel, and since I went there for college, it’s a world I know very well.
What’s next on your writing to-do list?
I have some ideas for a sequel to Lucien and would like to work on that next.
If you were going to hang out with one of your characters, who would that be?
I have say to Lucien. At this point I know the character so well that when I imagine him in my mind it’s like thinking of a friend. I can put him in different situations and know how he’d react, or what he would say.
What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?
I like to stay active and enjoy sports, such as running, soccer, and tennis. I’m a big soccer fan.
Where do you like to go on vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?
Now that I’m living in Milan, it’s very easy to travel around Europe, especially during the summer. Over the past couple of summers I’ve spent time in Greece, which I’ve really enjoyed.
How long did it take you to write the book, and how long did it take to get published?
Too long!
Who is your favorite character in the book, and why?
There are a number of relatively minor characters in Lucien I’m quite fond of. There’s a pair of frat bros named Dante and Steinway who have quite funny dialogue exchanges. Those scenes were fun to write.
Do you have any tips for a young writer just starting out?
Learn not to take critical feedback personally. The purpose of feedback is to help you improve your work. You want the people reading your writing to feel comfortable being honest with you. If they’re worried about upsetting you, they’ll only tell you what sounds nice rather than what’s actually helpful.
If your book were to be made into a movie, who would you like to play the main character and why?
I’ll go with Jacob Elordi for Lucien even though he played quite a similar character in Saltburn
Can you tell me where we can purchase your book?
Try your local bookstore; if not there, you can find it on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble.
About the Author:
Born in London,J. R. Thorntongraduated from Harvard College in 2014, where he studied history, English, and Chinese. An internationally ranked junior tennis player, he competed for Harvard and on the professional circuit. He was a
member of the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars and obtained an M.A. from Tsinghua University in Beijing. His debut novel, Beautiful Country(2016), which was loosely inspired by his experiences living in Beijing as a teenager,was reviewed by literary luminaries such as Gary Shteyngart, Mo Yan, and Fareed Zakaria. The novel became a best-seller in China, and the film rights were subsequently purchased by WME/IMG.His second novel, LUCIEN, was first published in China in 2024 and ranked among the top 25 bestselling new novels of the year. He now lives in Italy and works for AC Milan.
Five Unless Angie Day (Legends & Shadows Saga, #4) Publication date: March 24th 2026 Genres: Adult, Romance, Urban Fantasy
In this gripping finale, a clean romantasy where the last safe place falls under siege and love has to survive it all.
Welcome to the final round.
Mara and Kylan can’t be happy. Alec won’t let them. Hunting for energy is getting harder for every Legend. The Shadow mansion feels the hunger. Then Alec returns, not with threats but with force. He seizes the mansion, rips their home away, and everything Mara built with Kylan and their found family fractures instantly. He leaves her one challenge: find the safest place you can.
Driven into hiding, they reach for the one place that might be out of Alec’s reach. Secrets surface. Loyalties bend. Alec will not relent. Mara must decide who to fight and who to save when not everyone can survive.
Expect a fade to black fantasy romance in crisis, finale-level stakes, and a relentless villain in full command. This urban fantasy pushes found-family bonds to the breaking point and intensifies a slow-burn love that refuses to die. Dark, vivid, and built to leave you crying, breathless, and satisfied.
“What he does isn’t your decision,” I hissed at Fiona. “If you’re looking for a fight, you don’t have to go after him.”
Kylan pulled his arms away when he felt me tense.
“Too bad Thayer banned you from playing,” Fiona said, sizing me up and her eyes lingering on my gloves.
I smiled and cracked my knuckles. “You think I answer to Thayer?”
“Mara, don’t,” Derek said.
“Why not?” I asked, pulling off my gloves and settling into a low stance. “I’m feeling a little hungry.”
Fiona’s face paled slightly, even if she tried to hide it. She lowered her stance, ready to accept the challenge we both know she’d lose.
Kylan stepped in front of me and I didn’t budge. He caught my clothed arm, “Stand up.”
I shook off his hand and tried to step around him. He stopped me again with an arm blocking my path.
“If you really need to teach Fiona a lesson, take it outside. You have little eyes here,” Kylan whispered.
I looked around and caught Cassie holding Etta. Those little eyes watched me snarling at Fiona and ready to knock her out. I swallowed. I knew why Cassie didn’t like being here. I knew why she didn’t want her daughter turning into a Shadow.
Right now, I was everything Cassie feared for her little girl.
I stood and stepped back, slowly pulling my gloves back on.
Fiona relaxed, silently debating whether or not she wanted to taunt me more. Nikki would’ve. Most of the other Shadows would’ve if this was a year ago. But things were different now.
For better or worse.
I walked over to her and lifted my hand, now covered by my glove. She hesitated a second before she took it. I shook her hand and smiled, but pulled her closer.
“If you come after my brother like that again, I’ll cut an X on you so big you’ll need a full human to heal you,” I whispered. I tightened my grip. “Got it?”
She leaned back, already smiling. “I missed you.”
It felt a little twisted to grin back at her, but it was automatic. I dropped her hand and felt more at home here than I had in months.
Author Bio:
Angie Day found her love of writing while in college where she studied psychology and eventually went on to a master’s degree. She noticed the need for romantic and fantastic adult stories that were still wholesome and clean. So, she took matters into her own hands. LEGEND UNDONE is her debut novel. When she’s not devouring the next book, she is spending time outdoors with her husband.
To follow along with her journey, find her on Twitter or check out her website.
In suburban Westchester County, just outside the frenetic pace of New York City, a deadly murder occurs. After a violent struggle, FBI agent Shane Walsh is dead and his wife, Caitlin, has vanished. At the urging of a mysterious text, the Walshes’ nine-year-old daughter, Kennedy, has been safely whisked away by a close family member.
The FBI is determined to bring down whoever assassinated one of its own and is focusing on Caitlin as a prime suspect. Ryan McKay, Forensic Instincts’ chief technology officer, as well as Shane’s cousin and lifelong friend, vehemently disagrees. Ryan knows the Walsh family well. He insists that Caitlin is innocent, and that she, herself, is in danger.
After convincing his team to cast a wider net, Ryan leads FI on a zigzag course across two continents to locate Caitlin, sidestepping the FBI at every turn, and protecting Kennedy at all costs. But the FBI is on the warpath, and threatens to permanently shut down Forensic Instincts if they don’t back off. Undeterred by the FBI’s threats, FI goes underground in pursuit of their rogue mission.
As the pace quickens, Kennedy becomes the target of unnerving text messages. Both The FBI and the Forensic Instincts teams sense that the end game is near and that the chess match is spiraling to a stunning conclusion. Determined to declare “checkmate” before the killer, Forensic Instincts must not only protect Kennedy but make sure that their team doesn’t end up as collateral damage when the king falls.
Praise for Life Or Death:
"Life Or Death is a riveting read that explodes right from the opening pages with the shocking murder of an FBI agent - then takes the reader on a non-stop, roller coaster ride of thrills and suspense during a desperate search to find the victim's missing wife and to protect his 9-year-old daughter. Andrea Kane really delivers the goods in this book, the 11th in her Forensic Instincts series." ~ R.G. Belsky, author of the Clare Carlson mystery series
"An adrenaline-fueled joyride. Andrea Kane doesn’t pump the brakes in LIFE OR DEATH. Centered around family ties, and who can you really trust when shadowy forces close in? Combustible pacing and a cast of characters you can’t get out of your head long after the last page." ~ James L’Etoile — award-winning author of River of Lies and the Detective Nathan Parker series
"Life or Death, the latest heart-stopping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Andrea Kane, delivers nonstop tension, emotional depth, and a twist-filled chase that spans continents. When an FBI agent is murdered and his wife vanishes, the elite Forensic Instincts team must outsmart the Bureau itself to uncover the truth. Ms. Kane once again proves why she's a master of psychological suspense. Fans of razor-sharp plotting, unforgettable characters, and fast-paced suspense will devour this one!" ~ Marjorie McCown, author of The Hollywood Mystery Series
"Forensic Instincts’ leader, Casey, is recovering from an injury sustained in a previous case when tragedy strikes. An employee’s cousin is murdered, and his wife has vanished. Left behind is their traumatized eleven-year-old daughter, Kennedy. As the FBI and Forensic Instincts compete to solve the case, Kennedy’s close-knit family and the FI team surround her with love and support. Life or Death, the eleventh book in Andrea Kane’s gripping series, draws readers into an emotional high-stakes race for the truth." ~ Stacy Wilder, author of the Liz Adams Mystery series
Life Or Death Trailer:
Book Details:
Genre: Suspense Thriller Published by: Bonnie Meadow Publishing, LLC Publication Date: March 17, 2026 Number of Pages: 304, HC ISBN: 9781682320686 (ISBN10: 1682320685), HC Series: Forensic Instincts, Book 11 | Each is a stand-alone novel Book Links:Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | RBmedia, Audiobook Links
Read an excerpt:
Bronx River Parkway
Friday, 3:55 p.m.
It wasn’t rush hour—not quite yet. So the drive was an hour plus away. That now left a short distance to go.
Ryan remained quiet and tense, staring out the passenger window as he had throughout the trip to Westchester County.
“Where are we going in New Rochelle?” Marc finally asked, glancing at his GPS, aware that he didn’t recognize the address Ryan had given him.
“To my cousin, Shane Walsh’s, house,” Ryan replied.
Marc nodded as they reached their exit and he eased his car around a loop and off the parkway. “Tell me only what I need to know. I’m not going to pry.”
“You’re not prying. I’m just really freaking out.” Ryan cleared his throat and relayed the entire situation to Marc.
Marc took it all in. “You’ve mentioned that you had a cousin with the Bureau. But that’s about all you’ve said, other than the fact that he has a wife and a young daughter.”
Ryan shrugged. “Shane’s a private guy, so I don’t talk about him much. He’s a Special Agent, Violent Crimes division, at the New York field office. He’s been there since he joined the FBI about eight years ago.”
“Does Hutch know him?”
“I never asked. But I doubt it. Hutch is in charge of all the Violent Crimes divisions. That’s too high up to know every agent who works under him.” Ryan pointed, shifting to the edge of his seat, and reiterating what the GPS was already showing them. “Make your next right. Two blocks down and make a left. Go through a few lights. You’ll see a cul-de-sac on your right. Marigold Terrace. Shane’s house is number 15.”
Marc understood that Ryan’s redundant supply of information was a manifestation of his anxiety. He just nodded again, then pressed his foot a little harder on the gas pedal to speed them up without accelerating too much. Suburban cops lived for speed traps.
Four minutes later, Marc turned onto Marigold Terrace and eased slowly around the curvy road.
“Three down on your left,” Ryan instructed. “White clapboard house, blue shutters.” His tension intensified as Marc reached Shane’s home. “That’s Caitlin’s car parked in the driveway. And Shane’s parked in his usual spot on the street. If they’re both home…but they don’t want Kennedy there… Shit.”
Ryan flung open the passenger door before Marc had brought the car to a complete stop. He was halfway to the front door, digging in his pocket for the key Shane had given him long ago, when Marc reached his side.
“Ryan, wait.” Marc grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
“Why?”
Marc tugged out the two pairs of latex gloves and shoved one pair into Ryan’s hand. “Put these on.”
Ryan gritted his teeth, while he and Marc worked their hands into the gloves. “Can’t leave any new fingerprints,” he muttered. “In case this is a crime scene.” He sounded ill.
“Is the door unlocked?” Marc asked, quickly assessing the garage door, which was up. He might have suggested accessing the house through there, but Ryan was already in motion. And time was precious.
Ryan jiggled the doorknob. “No.”
“Okay, use the key. I’ve got my Glock. Let’s go.”
Ryan’s hands were shaking as he turned the key and pushed open the door.
He and Marc stepped inside. The foyer was empty and quiet. In fact, the whole house was silent in a way that suggested no one was home.
“Shane?” Ryan called. A pause. “Caitlin?” No response. No sound of footsteps. Nothing.
Marc eased his way in front of Ryan, then crept ahead, sweeping the area with his gun.
Ryan followed behind him, aware that, not only was Marc armed, he was former FBI. He was trained at this. Ryan was not.
They’d barely gone fifteen feet, when Marc caught something in his peripheral vision, and swerved to his right. “Shit,” he muttered.
Ryan peered around him and gasped. Just outside the bathroom was a crumpled body, unmoving and lying in a pool of blood. Beside it, were two shell casings and a cell phone that had been crushed. On the other side of the cell phone was a jagged line of blood.
The inconsistency of the blood pattern struck Marc at once. Reflexively, he whipped out his cell phone and took a few quick photos.
Ryan was in a whole different headspace. Pushing past Marc, he strode over, squatting as he reached the body. “Shane,” he managed.
“Oh my God. Shane.”
Marc was beside Ryan in a heartbeat, restraining him from doing anything that would contaminate the scene. He leaned over Shane’s body, checking for a pulse, a breath—any sign of life.
There were none.
Marc gripped Ryan’s arm, standing and pulling him to his feet. Ryan’s entire body was stiff with shock, but Marc knew that consolation would have to wait.
“Ryan, we’ve got to get out of the house,” he said, visually sweeping as much of the ground floor as he could. “The killer might still be inside. He might have Caitlin.” A hard swallow, as Marc considered the possibility that she might also be dead. That additional jagged line of blood didn’t bode well. “I’ll call 911 as soon as we’re on the front lawn.”
Ryan didn’t budge. He was staring, wild-eyed, down at Shane’s lifeless form. It was only when Marc tugged insistently at his forearm that he regained some semblance of awareness. “No, Marc.” He gave a firm shake of his head. “I have to stay with him.”
“He’s gone,” Marc stated simply, placing a supportive hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “But Caitlin might not be. Let’s get the EMTs and the cops here. We might be saving her life.”
Slowly, Ryan turned, allowing Marc to lead him outside the house and to the front lawn, where he sank down on the grass, still unable to process this horrific occurrence.
Marc kept his Glock at the ready—just in case it was needed. “I’ll watch the windows and the doorways to block any attempt at escape,” he told Ryan. When there was no response, Marc glanced down, giving Ryan a worried look. The poor guy was staring off into space and wasn’t even hearing him.
Stationing himself close to his friend’s side, Marc took out his iPhone and called 911.
“What is your emergency?” was the immediate response.
Marc supplied his name, the address of the crime scene, and then, in staccato phrases, the necessary information.
He disconnected the call, knowing that it would be two minutes, at the most, before the ambulance showed up. He used the time wisely, pressing the button to Hutch’s private cell phone line.
One ring. Then, “Marc?”
“We’re in New Rochelle,” Marc said. “Ryan’s cousin, Shane Walsh, has been killed at his home. He worked for the Bureau, New York field office, Violent Crimes. I called 911, so the locals must already have been dispatched.”
Not even a heartbeat of a pause. “Text me the address.”
“Already done.”
“Then I’m on my way.”
***
Excerpt from Life Or Death by Andrea Kane. Copyright 2026 by Andrea Kane. Reproduced with permission from Andrea Kane. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including nineteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller.
She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including No Way Out, Twisted and Drawn in Blood.
Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, Life or Death, forces this eclectic team of investigators to navigate a high wire act between the FBI on one side and a vicious killer looking to terminate the rest of a young family on the other. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, followed by The Line Between Here and Gone, The Stranger You Know, The Silence That Speaks, The Murder That Never Was, A Face To Die For, Dead In A Week, No Stone Unturned, At Any Cost, Struck Dead and Life or Death.
Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, Echoes in the Mist, and Wishes in the Wind.
With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.
Kane lives in New Jersey with her family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan.
The Sheik and the Slave Nicola Italia (The Sheik and the Slave, #1) Publication date: March 13th 2026 Genres: Adult, Historical Romance
He owned her body… but could he ever claim her heart?
In the merciless splendor of the Arabian desert, Sheik Mohammed rules as an absolute master. His command is law. His power unquestioned. Women adore him, enemies fear him—and nothing he desires has ever been denied him. But when a golden-haired English beauty is dragged before him in chains, defiant despite her fate, something long buried in his warrior’s heart awakens. For her, he pays a king’s ransom… and claims her for his harem. Yet the proud, fiery Katharine refuses to surrender—not her spirit, not her will… and certainly not her heart.
Lady Katharine Fairfax was born to privilege, not bondage. The cherished daughter of English nobility, she has known only safety, luxury, and freedom. But when she dares to reject the vile advances of a powerful Baron, his vengeance is swift and cruel. Torn from her homeland and sold into the sultry, dangerous world of an Arabian palace, she becomes a prisoner of a man whose touch both terrifies and awakens her.
In a palace of silken veils, whispered secrets, and forbidden longing, passion ignites between captor and captive. Katharine burns with hatred for the man who owns her… yet trembles beneath the heat of his dark gaze. Mohammed has conquered kingdoms—but Katharine’s love may prove the one prize he cannot command. And as treachery coils around them and enemies close in, they must risk everything for a love that could destroy them both… or set them free.
The candle lights flickered low and the music began. It was a beautiful piece by George Frederick Handel, a Trio Sonata in B Minor. Katharine listened to the music and closed her eyes. The violin, flute, and continuo were in perfect sync with each other as the music moved and flowed through the room. She stood with James, sipping a glass of champagne, while she watched her guests mingle. A hundred people filled the room, and dozens more stood or danced in clusters and groups around the food tables. Champagne was in abundance. She had lost count how many people she had greeted and smiled at. She suddenly felt lightheaded as
the champagne drizzled into her veins. The trio sonata continued playing, and its beauty was mesmerizing.
When she opened her eyes and looked across the room, she glimpsed him across the room and knew she had drunk too much. He had walked behind a group of people standing at the far end of the room. Kat almost dropped her flute of champagne.
“Darling, what is it?” James whispered as he felt her lean into him.
“The heat. It’s the heat,” she answered. “I need some fresh air.”
“Of course. I’ll accompany you,” he said.
“No, you should stay. I’ll only be a few minutes,” she replied. She moved her dress hem aside as she moved gracefully through the room.
Kat placed her champagne glass on a table and walked outside the ballroom and into the night. A few couples were outside talking and they greeted her. Her brother Charles and his wife, Sarah, smiled at her, and Charles kissed her in greeting.
She smiled to them and then turned away. She was going mad! She brushed a hand across her forehead and flushed cheeks.
Katharine looked out over the gardens that she knew so well. Earlier that day, she had stood next to James, thinking of the stallion and wanting to give him a proud name. She had always loved Greek mythology so she had thought of Ares, the god of war. But just then, she had seen him. Either that or her imagination was going wild.
She saw at first the figure behind the large group of people at the far end of the ballroom. He was dressed in a deep blue coat and waistcoat with snug knee-length breeches, low-heeled shoes and silk stockings. His hair was unpowdered but clubbed with a black ribbon, and he appeared to be clean-shaven. He was well-dressed, and the cut of the coat showed off his muscled back and the width of his shoulders.
The breeches did well to expose his muscled legs, and his dark shoes had no buckles on them.
But as much as tried to fit into this world, he did not. He was like a wild tiger in a small cage. He belonged in a hot world of sand and sandalwood incense, not in a ballroom filled with dandies and champagne.
He belonged in a world of sandstorms and harems, where the world smelled of incense and jasmine.
Kat shook her head. This was madness. This was what happened to women who had no clean grasp on reality. She wandered into a farthest part of the gardens, where the willow trees had been planted long ago. The birch and ash trees grew there as well.
Katharine was particularly fond of elm trees. The willow tree branches dipped low, almost to the ground, and she stepped inside one. She looked down at her hands and saw that they were shaking. She closed her eyes and remembered his goatee as his mouth touched hers. She remembered his hands on her, inside of her, and taking her that night after the party.
The air was cold, and her breath foamed out as she exhaled. The willow tree branches encircled her and protected her as she sighed. She must let it go. She must forget him. This can only drive me mad; she told herself for the thousandth time.
She touched the diamonds at her throat and tried to calm herself. Silly, she said to herself. She breathed out and turned to go back to the party.
But then, her quick intake of breath and the pounding of her heart inside her chest happened instantaneously. She shook her head and closed her eyes.
“You aren’t real,” she breathed out in disbelief, her breath foaming in the cold air.
“Oh, I’m real enough,” he mocked her.
His clothes were European as she had seen in the ballroom and his hair was pulled back without a wig. But his golden body belied the fact that he was not European and never would be. He would never fit in and would never want to. He had come here for one reason.
“I don’t understand. How are you here?” Katharine asked him, as her fantasy and nightmare collided together. She pressed a hand to her exposed chest as her heart raced.
“The horse, your Arabian, was my Arabian. I bred and sold him to your father,” Mohammed explained.
“Did you know when you sold it to him that it was for me?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. His dark eyes met her blue ones.
Mohammed watched her intake of breath, which caused her breasts to swell over her neckline.
He had watched her that night, not able to take his eyes from her. He had many dealings with Europeans because of the Arabian horses he bred. The horses were renowned for their beautiful bone structure and stamina, but he had never accompanied the horses once they were sold. He had always dealt with the foreigners, accepted their money and had his men transport the horses. This time was different, however. This time everything was different.
Her father had written to Mohammed, inquiring upon the price of an Arabian stallion. Edward wrote in detail about his spirited daughter, explaining that the horse must be the same, intelligent and spirited. Mohammed had accompanied the horse to England to bring back what was his by Arab law.
He had watched her stand near the English dandies at the ball and smile into their faces. He had watched a young blonde dandy rest his hand on Katharine’s waist and clenched his own fist in anger. She had used her body well to trap men into wanting what they couldn’t have. Poor Majeed had found out the hard way. His own brother was enchanted by the little falcon! Majeed should have known better.
And now, after coming across the sea, he was here to claim her again. There would be no negotiations and no bargains; she would be his.
Unaware of his thoughts, Katharine shook her head, confused. Her diamond earrings glistened in the dark.
“Why are you here?”
Mohammed stepped toward her.
“You know exactly why I’m here. I’m here to take back what’s mine,” he told her.
He closed the small gap between them and jerked her into his arms.
“No,” was all she managed to say before his mouth took hers. He was clean-shaven and well-groomed, which only made him more dangerous. She knew what was underneath the fancy clothes.
Author Bio:
Nicola is a Los Angeles native. Early in elementary school, Nicola had a great fondness for reading and began to write creatively. She graduated from university with a degree in communications and has held a variety of positions in journalism, education, government and non profit.
Nicola has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China, Central America and Egypt and loves all things historical.
She has nineteen historical romance and mystery novels on Amazon.
Nell De Lacy loves small things like story time, a well-stocked bookshelf, and evenings with friends. Relearning how to date after grief was supposed to be the hardest thing.
Mara and Kylan can’t be happy. Alec won’t let them. Hunting for energy is getting harder for every Legend. The Shadow mansion feels the hunger. Then Alec returns, not with threats but with force. He seizes the mansion, rips their home away, and everything Mara built with Kylan and their found family fractures instantly. He leaves her one challenge: find the safest place you can.
In the merciless splendor of the Arabian desert, Sheik Mohammed rules as an absolute master. His command is law. His power unquestioned. Women adore him, enemies fear him—and nothing he desires has ever been denied him. But when a golden-haired English beauty is dragged before him in chains, defiant despite her fate, something long buried in his warrior’s heart awakens. For her, he pays a king’s ransom… and claims her for his harem. Yet the proud, fiery Katharine refuses to surrender—not her spirit, not her will… and certainly not her heart.
