Description
Amanda Quick, a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, is a New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of contemporary and historical romances. There are nearly thirty million copies of her books in print, including Seduction, Surrender, Scandal, Rendezvous, Ravished, Reckless, Dangerous, Deception, Desire, Mistress, Mystique, Mischief, Affair, With This Ring, I Thee Wed, and Wicked Widow . She is also the author of Slightly Shady and Don’t Look Back , the first two novels featuring Lavinia Lake and Tobias March. She makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Frank. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. "You pass yourself off as a man of action, but now it seems that you are not that sort of man at all." "I do not pass myself off as anything but what I am, you exasperating little--""Apparently you write fiction rather than fact, sir.xa0xa0Bad enough that I thought you to be a clever, resourceful gentleman given to feats of daring.xa0xa0I have also been laboring under the equally mistaken assumption that you are a man who would put matters of honor ahead of petty considerations of inconvenience.""Are you calling my honor as well as my manhood into question?""Why shouldn't I? You are dearly indebted to me, sir, yet you obviously wish to avoid making payment on that debt.""I was indebted to your uncle, not to you.""I have explained to you that I inherited the debt," she retorted.Matthias took another gliding step into the grim chamber.xa0xa0"Miss Waterstone, you try my patience.""I would not dream of doing so," she said, her voice dangerously sweet.xa0xa0"I have concluded that you will not do at all as an associate in my scheme.xa0xa0I hereby release you from your promise.xa0xa0Begone, sir.""Bloody hell, woman.xa0xa0You are not going to get rid of me so easily." Matthias crossed the remaining distance between them with two long strides and clamped his hands around her shoulders.Touching her was a mistake.xa0xa0Anger metamorphosed into desire in the wink of an eye.For an instant he could not move.xa0xa0His insides seemed to have been seized by a powerful fist.xa0xa0Matthias tried to breathe but Imogen's scent filled his head, clouding his brain.xa0xa0He looked down into the bottomless depths of her blue-green eyes and wondered if he would drown.xa0xa0He opened his mouth to conclude the argument with a suitably repressive remark, but the words died in his throat.The outrage vanished from Imogen's gaze.xa0xa0It was replaced by sudden concern. "My lord? Is something wrong?""Yes." It was all he could do to get the word past his teeth."What is it?" She began to look alarmed.xa0xa0"Are you ill?""Quite possibly.""Good heavens.xa0xa0I had not realized.xa0xa0That no doubt explains your odd behavior.""No doubt.""Would you care to lie down on the bed for a few minutes?""I do not think that would be a wise move at this juncture." She was so soft. He could feel the warmth of her skin through the sleeves of her prim, practical gown.xa0xa0He realized that he longed to discover if she made love with the same impassioned spirit she displayed in an argument.xa0xa0He forced himself to remove his hands from her shoulders.xa0xa0"We had best finish this discussion at some other time.""Nonsense," she said bracingly.xa0xa0"I do not believe in putting matters off, my lord."Matthias shut his eyes for the space of two or three seconds and took a deep breath.xa0xa0When he lifted his lashes he saw that Imogen was watching him with a fascinated expression.xa0xa0"Miss Waterstone," he began with grim determination. "I am trying to employ reason here.""You're going to help me, aren't you?" She started to smile."I beg your pardon?""You've changed your mind, haven't you? Your sense of honor has won out." Her eyes glowed.xa0xa0"Thank you, my lord.xa0xa0I knew you would assist me in my plans." She gave him an approving little pat on the arm.xa0xa0"And you must not concern yourself with the other matter.""What other matter?" "Why, your lack of direct experience with bold feats and daring adventure.xa0xa0I quite understand.xa0xa0You need not be embarrassed by the fact that you are not a man of action, sir.""Miss Waterstone-- ""Not everyone can be an intrepid sort, after all," she continued blithely. "You need have no fear.xa0xa0If anything dangerous occurs in the course of my scheme, I shall deal with it.""The very thought of you taking charge of a dangerous situation is enough to freeze the marrow in my bones.""Obviously you suffer from a certain weakness of the nerves.xa0xa0But we shall contrive to muddle through.xa0xa0Try not to succumb to the terrors of the imagination, my lord.xa0xa0I know you must be extremely anxious about what lies ahead, but I assure you, I will be at your side every step of the way.""Will you, indeed?" He felt dazed."I shall protect you." Without any warning Imogen put her arms around him and gave him what was no doubt meant to be a quick, reassuring hug.The tattered leash Matthias was using to hold on to his self-control snapped. Before Imogen could pull away, he wrapped her close."Sir?" Her eyes widened with surprise."The only aspect of this situation that truly alarms me, Miss Waterstone," he said roughly, "is the question of who will protect me from you?"Before she could reply, he crushed her mouth beneath his own.
Features & Highlights
- Imogen Waterstone has always prided herself on being a thoroughly independent young woman, but now she needs a man of implacable will and nerves of iron. That's why she invited Matthias Marshall, infamous Earl of Colchester, to her home in Upper Strickland. Who better than the legendary explorer to help her lay the perfect trap? Her scheme is simple, really: She plans to let it be known that when she inherited her uncle's collection of antiquities, she also inherited a map to a fabulous ancient treasure. She's sure that her enemy would risk financial ruin in pursuit of the mythical artifact. And to make doubly sure the scoundrel took the bait, she wants Colchester to pretend that he's out to seduce Imogene so that he, too, could get his hands on her map. Yet in all of her plotting, Imogene never anticipates Colchester's violent reaction to her request or her own electrifying reaction to him. Neither does she expect that a malevolent threat would emerge from the labyrinth of London--sinister enough to endanger her and Colchester's lives.
