Release party excerpt & giveway: EMILY'S CAPTAIN by Shari Anton
As the Union Army prepares to rampage through Georgia, Emily Gardner prepares to flee. She accepts the escort of a handsome soldier, who she later learns is not the man he claimed to be. Jared Hunter is on what he considers an easy mission: kidnap Emily Hunter and take her to her father. Too soon he discovers his necessary deceptions could cost him not only Emily's love but their very lives.
Emily's heart thumped, realizing she was about to offer her body, her heart, her very soul to the man she loved. She loved Jared. The startling admission heightened her fears.
Lovers. Could she settle for the relationship without commitment on Jared's part, knowing that once they reached their journey's end at Petersburg, Jared would leave and she might never see him again?
Damn her scruples. She'd had commitment once, from Lewis, and where had it left her? Rejected, alone.
Emily extinguished the lamp, closed the door behind her, then padded down the inn's dimly lit hallway. She stopped. What if Jared no longer wanted her after she'd so thoroughly rejected him?
Before her courage could falter she knocked on his door, but entered before he answered.
Jared's room was dark, except for the glowing ash on the tip of his cigar. She watched the spot of light glow brighter, then make a long arc of orange between his mouth and knee. He had to be sitting in a chair, in the corner.
"Do you know," he asked flatly, "the light from the hall seeps right through your nightgown?"
Stung by the lack of emotion in his voice, Emily realized Jared was angry, probably hurt by her rejection. Heavens, she'd come to his room for the express purpose of being seduced, not seducing Jared. Where did a lady begin?
"I'm sorry."
"Go back to bed, Emily."
Emily almost turned to obey the command. But she'd come too far to retreat. She closed the door.
"I'd like to stay."
He took another drag from the cigar. With a sigh, he said, "You can't sleep in your bed, so you want to use mine."
Emily resisted the childish urge to stomp her foot. Usually so astute, Jared had chosen this awkward moment to be blindly imperceptive.
"I am trying to say I am willing to share yours."
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Find out more about Shari and her books at her website.
One lucky commenter will win an e-copy of EMILY'S CAPTAIN by Shari Anton. Comment on all 26 DRAGON BLUES Release Party excerpts for a chance to win more free books! Winners will be announced on Monday, Feb. 28. If you'd like to look at the schedule of events, click here.
