Meet a Rogue at Midnight (Midnight Meetings Series, Bk #4)
By Gina Conkle
Blurb:
A Saved Scoundrel…
Jonas Bacon Braithwaite wants to make peace with his grandfather before departing England. Once Nottinghamshire’s favorite trouble-maker, he’s since become an upstanding man of honor. But, the lushly curved thief hiding in his bedchamber makes him think twice about one last conquest.
A Stubborn Siren…
Livvy Halsey bristles at life’s rules. Always has. Sneaking into the Braithwaite house to reclaim a treasured family heirloom is one way she upends the conventional life that awaits her. Duty demands she marry. But what harm is there in having a little fun with her childhood friend before the Twelfth Night ends?
And Twilight Temptation…
Stolen kisses fan hot flames. Surprising passion intertwines with friendship…but will it be enough to last forever?
(NOTE: This book will be a full novella. Please ignore the page count listed on Amazon.)
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Excerpt
“He is a fine man, but I’m unofficially betrothed,” she said, speaking above the clamor.
“It’s a business arrangement. My family duty. Friendship is all that Jonas and I have.”
“Humph! Did the good Lord put Adam and Eve together for commerce?” The proprietress fisted the rag on her hip. “A business arrangement makes cold comfort in your bed. A woman should count herself lucky to marry her best friend.”
“But Jonas doesn’t want to stay in Plumtree.”
Mrs. Bainbridge groaned. “All men need their minds changed. It’s the first lesson of marriage, luv. Convince your blue-eyed pirate to stay, and if you can’t, go with him.”
She balked. “Leave Plumtree?”
“Come now, you’ve never been missish. There’s a whole world out there. You ought to know that from helping your father.”
True. She was bold in every other aspect, yet when it came to Jonas, her heart thudded and her legs stuck in place. Behind her, the room was cleared. Fiddle music hummed the first notes of a reel. Shoes scraped the floor as men and women lined up.
“Do you want him?” Mrs. Bainbridge asked.
“I do.”
“Then don’t stand there like a lost lamb.” The proprietress shooed her away. “Go after him.”
She rushed to the door and snatched her cloak off the hook. Throwing open the door, horses and humble dog carts cluttered the village road outside. A few coachmen tarried in the cold, hands cupped over their mouths. The skies were clear, a thousand stars glimmering from heaven.
Where was he?
She ran to the middle of the road and spun around. She hadn’t asked how Jonas came to the inn. By horse? One of the carts? Or did he borrow the Captain’s flat cart once used to deliver furniture?
Hooking the frogs under her chin, she called out to the coachmen. “Pardon me, gentlemen, have you seen a tall man in black exit the inn?”
“A big gent.” The coachman tapped his ear. “Had a gold earring right here?”
“Yes, yes! That’s him.”
A lanky arm stretched to the east end of the road. “He went that away, miss.”
She barely said her thanks before grabbing handfuls of her cloak, her legs pumping hard. She sprinted up the road, leaping over deep ruts. Tight stays manacled her ribs. There was nothing lady-like and proper about her mad dash through Plumtree. The main road curved east with a fork heading north to Halsey and Braithwaite land. She took the northern turn, and it was there she spied Jonas, his stride eating up the road. Blast it, but he was fast.
“Jonas!” she yelled, her run easing to a trot until she stopped.
He halted his progress and slowly, slowly turned around. Her feet were made of lead, and her heart lurched. Lungs billowing, she let go of her cloak and smoothed it if only to occupy her hands. Jonas stayed put, all six feet and several inches of him. The brim of his hat shaded his face, yet she felt his blue-eyed gaze rake her from head to toe.
A shiver skipped her spine.
Was it possible a man’s hostile stare could stop a woman in her tracks?
Midnight Meetings Series
About The Author
Writer of Viking and Georgian romance, which makes for interesting characters in my head. I grew up in Southern California and despite all that sunshine; I love books over beaches and stone castles over sand castles. Now I live in Michigan with my favorite alpha male, Brian, and our two sons where I’m known to occasionally garden and cook. Living in where there’s snow is the perfect excuse to lose myself in reading and writing.
You can find Gina at
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