A man and a
woman on opposite sides of the Civil War get a second chance at love after one
final battle returns soldiers to their war-torn homes to rebuild their lives.
A man and a
woman on opposite sides of the Civil War get a second chance at love after one
final battle returns soldiers to their war-torn homes to rebuild their lives.
EXCERPT: The Gift
He listened to
the soft sound of slippered feet at the door. Then a hesitant knock before he
heard her enter the tiny room. He let his head rest on the back of the tub,
planning the next steps to winning over Elice Weld.
"I have
bath sheets for you." Her voice was unsure and Micha didn't like the
vulnerability he heard.
"Come
in," he said. If you have the
courage to confront the man you love.
The silence
that followed unnerved him. He'd wanted so badly to pick up the pieces from
where they'd left off five long years ago. He'd been a fool to think picking up
the pieces would be remotely possible. A long campaign would only wear her
down. The skirmishes would not make her love him, nor would it regain her trust
in him.
The door
creaked open. The creak was one of a long list of things to do to help Elice
with the upkeep of her home. He'd already set his men repairing fences as well
as the land for spring planting. He'd talked to them for a long time about the
work, and the men he'd brought with him were all willing to help out before
they traveled home. Some said it was a hell of a lot better than fighting.
"I'll put
them on the shelves here. Don't let me bother you." She stared openly at
him for a half-second before flushing crimson and turning her back on him. But
she didn't leave the room.
Do you like what you see? he wanted to ask. "You would never bother me.
You can stay," he told her. "Wash my back."
"When pigs
fly."
He grinned.
That held shades of the woman he loved. "You don't have any," he
said. "So that's hardly fair."
Her shoulders
stiffened and the steel rod in her spine couldn't get any straighter. He needed
to find a way to bring back the woman he once knew without changing the
indomitable courage that seemed to have become her calling card.
Buck naked he
rose from the bath, water sluicing from his skin. He heard her slight gasp, and
he wondered if he had just made a huge mistake. She'd seen him naked before.
Inwardly, he sighed. One step backward and two steps forwards sometimes worked.
He stepped from the tub. He wondered if the wounds on his body upset her. She
didn't look upset just curious.
"Could you
hand me a bath sheet," he asked nonchalantly.
Her beautiful
azure eyes were huge. He watched her swallow then lift her chin a notch. She
unfolded a sheet and walked to him, holding it out. He didn't mean to make this
too easy for her. But he also didn't want to scare her away. He let her get
within a few inches before taking the sheet from her. He wrapped it around his
waist and grabbed another sheet from the counter where she'd set the rest of
them. He towel dried his hair and chest then sat down on a chair near the tub.
"I'm ready
anytime you are. Do you want to change your mind?"
"I'm not
afraid of a Yankee soldier, if that's what you're asking," she said as she
put the scissors and the razor on a table near the chair where he sat.
"Maybe you
should be."
She ignored
him. "Scoot the chair out so I can get around the back," she said,
the tone in her voice told him her courage returned full force.
He obliged with
a smile and a nod. At the moment, teasing her didn't seem like a great idea so
he rested his hands in his lap and let her work her magic. When she ran her
fingers through his hair, he closed his eyes and clenched his fists, wishing
for things that couldn't be right now. Beneath his ribs his heart thundered as
loud as stampeding horses. When she smoothed the soap across his jaw and upper
lip, he hardened. When she moved in front of him, his legs spread wide to let
her stand between them. He understood a need so great he'd do everything in his
power to convince Elice Weld he deserved another chance.
He groaned.
She paused, the
razor hovering near his upper lip. "Are you all right?" she asked.
"Just
dandy," he said, wondering why he'd wanted to torture himself. One of his
men could have done this.
Ah, but not as
well as Elice and not with her breasts an inch away from his mouth, not with
the scent of vanilla lingering and swirling around him, enticing every sense he
possessed.
"Do you
want me to take off the mustache?"
"Yes,"
he choked out. When he made love to her, he wanted to feel every soft and
gentle touch of her finger tips.
Thinking about
making love brought an unconscious reaction from him. Without giving it a
second thought, he brought his hands to her hips. His fingers tightened, his
thumbs and hands exploring while he still had the chance.
Startled, the
razor nicked his cheek. "That's probably not such a good idea," she
whispered.
"What?"
he asked, knowing full well of what she spoke.
"Touch
me," she whispered raggedly.
"I thought
you would never ask," he said smoothly but let his hands drop to lap once
again.
BLURB
Maska O'keefe has loved the
beautiful shapeshifter for years. Unable to save her life years ago, he vows to
watch over her as he is given a second chance to convince her that even though
he is a witch and not a shifter, they are indeed soul mates. Kimi's divided
loyalties between her family and the cause she is now a part of will determine
their relationship. Only the part she plays as the messiah can bring this to a
conclusion in the final battle.
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