Bedeviled Angel
By
Annette Blair
Contents
Praise for the work of ANNETTE BLAIR
"
An Unmistakable Rogue
brings to mind the best of Teresa Medeiros or Loretta Chase: funny, passionate, exquisitely lyrical."
—Eloisa James, author of
Fool for Love
"An innovative mix of family frolic and period gothic… fast-paced romance…
plenty of sexual tension. Wonderful."
—
Romantic Times
"Wonderfully written… captivating… engrossing… masterful."
—
Scribes World
"Humorous… emotional… delectable."
—
Reader to Reader
"What this story is filled with is love."
—
Romance & Friends
continued…
An Undeniable Rogue
"A love story that is pure joy, enchanting characters who steal your heart, a fast pace, and great storytelling."
—
Romantic Times
"An utterly charming and heartwarming marriage-of-convenience story. I highly recommend it to all lovers of romance."
—
Romance Reviews Today
"Awesome! To call this story incredible would be an understatement… Do not miss this title."
—
Huntress Reviews
"Annette Blair writes a very good story and has created some unforgettable characters in this excellent tale."
—
Romance Review
"Annette Blair skillfully pens an exhilarating, humorous, and easy-to-read historical romance. You don't want to miss
An Undeniable Rogue
."
—Jan Springer
"Ms. Blair has a delicate touch with love scenes… none of her characters are insignificant."
—
Romance Readers Connection
"A feel-good read that shines with warmth, wit, and passion."
—C. L. Jeffries,
Heartstrings
An Unforgettable Rogue
"Never has a hero submitted to such sweet seduction while remaining very much the man in charge… Spicy sensuality is the hallmark of this unforgettable story."
—
Romance Readers Connection
"After
An Undeniable Rogue
, I never expected to read such a wonderful story again.
An Unforgettable Rogue
proved me wrong."
—
Huntress Reviews
"A beautiful blend of humor, pathos, and passion, with the added bonus of outstanding supporting characters."
—
Reader to Reader
"Knight In Shining Silver Award for KISSable heroes. Bryceson 'Hawk'
Wakefield is most definitely
An Unforgettable Rogue
."
—
Romantic Times
"Ms. Blair is such an awesome storyteller…
An Unforgettable Rogue
is a mesmerizing tale that sweeps the reader into the Regency era."
—
Scribes World
"Annette Blair creates another memorable and refreshing love story… a charming read."
—Jan Springer
"I recommend
An Unforgettable Rogue
as an entertaining book in its own right, even more as part of the must-read Rogues Club series."
—
Romance Reviews Today
This book is dedicated with love and gratitude to:
Edie and Andy Anderson—for your hospitality and friendship. I will never forget those magic writing retreats on the mountain.
Janet Kuchler—for a summer home away from home, relaxing hours of pool plotting and laughter; late night talks, and for telling me to pay attention to the signs.
Rainy Kirkland—for dragging me to Salem in the first place, then for listening to my wild ideas—all my wild ideas—and saying, "You can do it, kiddo." Lucky for me, I always believe you.
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
THE KITCHEN WITCH
A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation edition / October
Copyright © 2004 by Annette Blair.
Cover art by Masaki Ryo/CWC International Inc.
Cover design by Rita Frangie.
Interior text design by Kristin del Rosario.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 0-425-19881-2
BERKLEY SENSATION
Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
Hudson Street. New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY SENSATION and the "B" design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Salem, Massachusetts, September 2004
LOGAN Kilgarven plucked a bright red leaf off the sleek black hearse in his neighbor's driveway. "What if she really is a witch?"
Jessie Harris laughed as she buffed the chrome hood ornament. "Melody Seabright is no more a witch than I am."
"Jess, I only moved into the apartment above her a couple of days ago, and already I've heard that she's flighty, unpredictable, and quite possibly a witch. After all that, you still think I should ask her to baby-sit?"
Jessie straightened, raised a speaking brow, and gazed at him through the top of her bifocals. "What would have happened to you," she asked, "if I had believed what people said about the town bad boy when you stood before me in juvenile court all those years ago?"
"Good point," Logan said, which didn't stop him from wincing at the mention of a past he'd tried for years to bury. Nevertheless, here he stood, back in good old Salem, Massachusetts… though he didn't suppose there was a better town in which to lay old ghosts to rest. He glanced over at his son, playing quietly in their backyard. No, nor a better place to raise a boy, either.
Logan took to studying the straight lines on the sleek sixties hearse Jessie had salvaged and refurbished. That was Jess, always trying to fix junk.
When Logan looked up, she was watching him, and he smiled, touched that she still worried about him after all these years. "If you hadn't given me a break, I'd probably be in jail today," he said, "and we both know it." He shook his head. "Are you going to remind me of that for the rest of my life?"
"I will if I have to."
Logan groaned. "Just don't do it in front of Shane, okay?"
After she finished polishing the hearse, he helped her put champagne and soft drinks in a cooler shaped like a coffin.
Jessie gave him a searching look. "I'll make you a deal. I'll swear off reminding you for about ten years—until after you tell him."
"Gee, thanks."
"I don't know if you'd be in jail right now," she said, considering. "But you might not be the respectable new executive producer at WHCH TV. Have I told you how proud I am of you? How glad I am that you came home?"
"A few times, on both counts," Logan said, shaking his head, but eventually he sighed. "I never intended to come back, you know."
"I know," Jessie said. "But you did want to give Shane a family, plus you thought a grandson would lure your mother into retirement; she knows, by the way."