An Improper Situation (Sanborn-Malloy Historical Romance Series, Book One) (45 page)

She was glad to share the joy of her recently discovered secret. Just six months earlier, she would have been petrified at the thought. Now, she relished the idea of being a mother to Reed’s baby. Children were just as perplexing and distracting as she’d believed, but they were also the best challenge she’d ever faced.

For his part, Reed was torn between surprise and happiness. “You’re—then I’m to be a—but how can this—well of course I know how, but—”

“
Shh,” she silenced her new husband with another kiss. “You talk too much, Mr. Malloy.”

He agreed and proceeded to show his exquisite new wife how very much he loved her, in a manner as timeless as the sea that crashed on the rocks below.

The End  ###

An Irresistible Temptation
(Book Two in the Sanborn-Malloy series) is the story of gifted pianist Sophie Malloy, Reed's middle sister. Her heart broken, she leaves Boston and heads west to Spring City, Colorado. There she meets Riley Dalcourt, a handsome medical student who is already spoken for. That doesn't seem to matter when they're drawn irresistibly together with an unexpected passion that neither can deny.

When Sophie flees for San Francisco and a new life, Riley has to choose—
either the woman he has promised to marry or the woman who tempts him with a life full of love and passion. 

Excerpt:

“I’d rather hear you play some more,” Riley said, coming closer and taking a seat in the parlor.

Sophie stared at him a moment. She’d played for large audiences with nary a qualm when performing at school, but now, wanting to play flawlessly for Riley, she felt a few raw nerves. It was an odd sensation.

“All right.” She sat back down and, flicking her long, nearly black hair over her shoulders, she closed her eyes a moment and decided what to play. Not her own composition that he’d stumbled upon, but something really spectacular. Of course—Mozart’s
Rondo alla Turca
.

She started and played for five minutes, then ten, not noticing the passing of time but occasionally looking over at him. He sat with his eyes closed, taking it in. She liked that. It was easier to play without him watching her. When she finished, after the last resonance receded, there was only silence. Then Riley’s chair creaked and he stood up and came over to her.

He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. Then he took her other hand and brought her round to face him. She thought he’d say that she played well. It was, after all, a difficult piece. Yet as she looked up into his warm brown eyes, she caught her breath at what she saw. She knew what was coming; she’d seen that look on a man’s face before, and she couldn’t move even if she’d wanted to.

Sure enough, Riley lowered his head and brought his lips down to hers.

Sophie stayed frozen. She should step back and slap him. She should scream at his outrageous behavior. She did neither. Instead, she leaned in to his tender kiss, and as she did so, whatever was happening between them ignited like wildfire.

His mouth slanted across hers and his lips moved against her own, while his hands dropped hers to encircle her waist and pull her closer. Her nostrils were filled with the scent of him, clean vanilla and a hint of leather. Her own hands moved up to rest against his broad chest, and she could feel the staccato of his heartbeat, loud and fierce against her sensitive fingers.

When his mouth became more insistent and opened against hers, she felt his teeth tug at her lower lip and her knees went weak.

“Sophie,” he half-whispered, half-groaned against her mouth.

She was about to pull away, knew that she had to, but before she did, she barely touched his lip with her tongue. Suddenly, his hands were buried in her hair, pulling her closer, and instead of letting go, she was lifting her arms around his neck and standing on tiptoe to give him better access.

She relished the feel of her breasts grazing the front of him and her taut nipples being crushed between them. His tongue was urging her lips apart and she opened them, letting him slip inside. Instantly, she felt a low flutter in her stomach and, a moment later, dampness between her legs.

“Riley,” she said, her voice and her breathing ragged. “Please.”
Stop this madness
,
for I cannot.
Let me go
, she urged silently.

(Excerpt end ###)

Sydney Jane Baily lives in New England with her family—human, canine, and feline. To learn more about the author, you can visit her website at
www.SydneyJaneBaily.com
or her Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/sydney.jane.baily
.

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