Beyond Innocence Page 41

  He smiled. But then it faded from his face as softly and quietly as the colors were fading from the sky. “Do you have an answer?”

  “Well,” she hedged. “What about my family? Don likes you, but you know my mother and Karen will never accept you.”

  “That’s okay. I’m used to rejection.”

  That phrase wrapped around her heart like a hissing cobra. It was high time that changed.

  “Daaaaddy! We need help.”

  Tate looked toward the reeds, where a pair of dark heads were just visible above the cattails. “Ah, the cry of the wayward son.”

  “I’ll marry you on one condition.”

  His eyebrows arched and a smile tweaked at his lips.

  “Yes?”

  “No more illicit sexual activities for you. You have to turn over a new leaf.”

  He dropped his arm around her shoulders and led her toward the reeds. “Does that include the sordid activities in our own bedroom?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then, you’ve got a deal, Marnie the Sinful.” He breathed deeply of the fresh mountain air and Marnie slipped an arm around his waist. Even as they walked, Marnie could feel herself settling comfortably into the person she had always wanted to be. Maybe she owed him more than anyone. Maybe they owed each other. She squeezed him tight and heard him murmur, “You’ve definitely got a deal.”

  About the Author

  Nikki lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada. In the midst of the chaos that comes with raising three small boys, working part-time as a lab tech in a hospital blood bank and caring for her ever-adoring husband, she dreams up her stories. Nikki’s work is an eclectic combination of romance, mystery, suspense and humor with characters that have plenty of room to grow.

  The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

  Tell Us What You Think

  We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at Comments@EllorasCave.com.

  Also by Nikki Soarde

  And Lady Makes Three anthology

  Balance of Power

  Duplicity

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails III anthology

  Firefly Promise

  Jagged Gift

  Legacy of Sin

  Mortal Wounds

  Package Deal

  Perfect Cadence

  Phobia

  Redeeming Alec

  Roguish Hearts

  Tuxedo Tryst

  Wild Oats

  Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

  www.ellorascave.com