Description: a
sensual contemporary Western novella in the Hawk Point Romances series,
released January 15, 2014 by Whiskey Creek Press LLC/Torrid Books
Excerpt:
Blurb:
She’ll
do anything to get her way.
Tall, elegant and beautiful, Emma Thorpe
has wanted a baby for years. The yearning for a child occupies all her thought,
her time, her effort, and any money she and her husband can scrape up for
medical intervention. After trying and failing to conceive, the solution that
finally comes to her is to leave her husband and hope to find a man—any man—capable
of fulfilling her deepest desire.
Big, handsome Clay Thorpe isn’t the kind
of man to let his wife just wander away. It takes a few months of Emma’s
absence from his bed to devise a plan, but he’s determined. Eventually, Clay
lures Emma home with a convoluted strategy only he could concoct, involving an
antique diamond ring, sex three times a day, and...a turkey baster?
Caution: This is
a work of fiction. Please don’t attempt duplicating Clay’s methods!
She forced herself to
slide open the glass doors in the rear of the display case and begin taking out
the rings he requested. One by one, the lovely old boxes of velvet with satin
linings came out, royal blue, deep purple, Valentine red. One by one she slowly
lined them up beside the jumble of chains, taking her time and letting him
consider. One by one, he silently debated and then shook his head no.
Square-cut amethyst in platinum? No. Oval pink diamond in silver? No.
Marquise-cut black onyx surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds in white gold? No.
The rings she chose got progressively older and more expensive. Heavy, with
curlicues and much hand work, the vintage pieces were as beautiful on the back
as they were on the side meant to be admired when worn. Their beauty didn’t
seem to affect Clay any. He rejected them all.
Really, Emma was
astounded. What did Clay Thorpe know about antique jewelry? How could he just
shake his head negatively at all her pretty wares? “Maybe you would find what
you’re looking for at the mall,” she suggested with a touch of asperity. He had
heard her disparage the chain jewelers more than once and would know she was
denigrating his taste. But in her opinion, industrial grade diamonds used on
saw blades would be good enough for any new woman Clay was considering letting
take her place.
“You haven’t showed me
everything you’ve got, Emma,” he accused. “You’re holding back the best.”
Could he actually be
referring indirectly to their situation? Would he dare accuse her? Up until now
not a word of denunciation had passed between them. They had steadfastly
refused to cast stones. But now that he’d found someone else, was the blame
game going to begin?
His finger touched the
glass. “That one. I want to see that one.”
She blew out a breath. He
would. Emma felt her shoulders sag. He would ask to see the one piece in the
entire store she was reluctant to part with. Despite the bills steadily
mounting now that she lived on her own, she had hoped to hang onto the ring
until her financial situation improved. Until she could take it home and admire
it and keep it for herself. Over the years she had become almost inured to
giving up beautiful, priceless things, things that she appreciated but couldn’t
afford for herself. It was an unpredictable business, antiques dealer. Most of
the time she made little money; sometimes she made a lot on a single item. She
loved so much of what she bought, or else stocked on consignment for others,
but the whole idea was to sell them. Not to have them for her own. Yet there
were just those few certain pieces that cried out to be possessed and loved by
her alone.
She could feel Clay’s
eyes on her, watching and assessing as she continued to hesitate. At last she
brought out the ring and set the box on the counter. It was truly an
extraordinary diamond, a round solitaire with a weight of almost a carat and a
half, surrounded by smaller diamonds set in a platinum linear Art Deco design.
Even in the poor light from the hanging ceiling fixtures of the shop and the
dim autumn light struggling to penetrate the front windows, the ring sparkled,
bending and refracting and reflecting what little light was available, in a
remarkable demonstration of a long dead and forgotten master gem-cutter and ‑setter’s
talent.
Clay sucked in a breath.
Even Clay, who would be the first to admit he knew little of truly valuable
antique jewelry, had to appreciate this amazing ring.
“Put it on for me, Emma.
Let me see what it looks like.”
“Clay.” She tried to
forestall him. “This is a very expensive piece.”
“Well, I figured. Since
you didn’t want to show it to me.” She caught his eyes glinting with repressed
humor again. “Come on, cooperate with me. I’ve seen your financials, remember. I
doubt if you’re doing much more business than you ever were. You can probably
use the money from a big sale. Let me see what it looks like on your hand.”
Buy link:
Order Perilous Promises:
Barnes and Noble Nook
Order Take a Chance on Love:
Barnes and Noble Nook
Links for Christi Williams:
Book page: https://www.facebook.
Twitter: @WriterChristi
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