Little Thing Series by Sasha Gold

Texas, Spring of 1888. Esme Duval wants nothing more than to return to Honey Creek, Texas, to the ranch she's inherited. Her father and brothers think she doesn't deserve it. Her neighbor, Luke Crosby, thinks she has no business running four hundred acres of prime ranch land and he'll do anything to prove it to her. Not so many years ago, Luke was her ally, her hero and her secret love, now he threatens everything she holds dear... moreTexas, Spring of 1888. Esme Duval wants nothing more than to return to Honey Creek, Texas, to the ranch she's inherited. Her father and brothers think she doesn't deserve it. Her neighbor, Luke Crosby, thinks she has no business running four hundred acres of prime ranch land and he'll do anything to prove it to her. Not so many years ago, Luke was her ally, her hero and her secret love, now he threatens everything she holds dear. When Esme comes back to claim her property, will Luke once again come to her defense, or will he seize the opportunity to blackmail her into his arms? From Chapter Two “Drink this. It’ll help you sleep tonight,” he murmured. “You’re probably not used to sleeping in a tent.” She was a skittish, wild filly, keeping her distance and avoiding his gaze. For some reason she was fearful. Why, he couldn’t fathom, but one thing he knew for certain was that he was just the man for Esme Duval. There was a reason she’d returned. They belonged together. He’d keep his seduction slow, unravel the knots that bound her just a little at a time, easing up close enough to gentle her. Nolan watched her sip the drink and laughed when she made a face. He drained his in one draught. “Better give her two. The chupacabra hates whiskey. Bet you want to know how I know that, huh, Miss Esme?” “I’d rather hear it in the morning.” Esme took another sip of her drink and shuddered. “My brothers would be laughing if they could see me. I never wanted to go camping with them, and look at me now.” Luke dropped to sit on a blanket. He lay on his side, propped up on one elbow, and sipped his whiskey. “Is your family coming soon?” Esme stared into the flames. “No. They think I’m waiting until the school year is over to claim Simon’s place. They plan to come bully me out of the land.” Luke stilled. “They don’t know you’re here?” “Not exactly.” “Ooo, shit,” said Nolan. The two boys were playing cards on a nearby blanket and snickered when they heard Nolan’s profanity. Luke stared at her. “Do they know I offered to buy the ranch from you?” “I don’t recall,” Esme said. “Your memory’s a little sketchy?” Nolan asked. Luke drained his glass, got up and returned with the bottle of whiskey. He tipped more into Esme’s glass before refreshing his own. Esme took a larger swallow and found this time it didn’t burn quite as much. She didn’t drink spirits, just a little wine every so often. It wasn’t something her father approved of, even though he didn’t apply the rule to himself. She began to feel the liquor’s effects as the moon peeped over the horizon. She watched it rapidly climb into the sky, a full moon casting a warm glow on the ridges, hills and meadows. The trees, giant oaks with limbs hanging almost to the ground, were washed in silver light. The boys, David and Joseph, played quietly at a game of cards. Nolan gazed thoughtfully into the campfire. When she turned to look at Luke, she found him studying her. “Why did you come back after all these years?” he asked quietly. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” less

Will Briscoe has had enough. For months his assistant has been toying with him and now he's about to break. A single weekend will be enough to cure him of his unwelcome obsession for her, he's certain. Two nights with Emma, that's all he needs. He lays out his plans and they fall into place. The weekend goes perfectly... until his redheaded spit-fire turns the tables on him.

Embarking on a tour of Tuscany, Cora Bishop is determined to see the sights and enjoy a torrid summer romance. Instead, she is robbed, beaten and forced to ask for help from the one man in Italy she yearns to avoid, Roberto Agnelli. Arrogant, domineering, Roberto takes one look at Cora and decides to make her an offer she can’t refuse. Excerpt from Chapter 3 The band started a new song, and this time Cora listened to the music instead of imagining stories about hostile hotel guests... moreEmbarking on a tour of Tuscany, Cora Bishop is determined to see the sights and enjoy a torrid summer romance. Instead, she is robbed, beaten and forced to ask for help from the one man in Italy she yearns to avoid, Roberto Agnelli. Arrogant, domineering, Roberto takes one look at Cora and decides to make her an offer she can’t refuse. Excerpt from Chapter 3 The band started a new song, and this time Cora listened to the music instead of imagining stories about hostile hotel guests. She was starkly aware of his touch, his hand on her waist and the other clasped around hers. Tonight his masculine scent worked on her, perhaps even more than the Italian fragrances he wore. Cora closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, refusing to think of the blonde woman anymore. Someone should find a way to bottle the sizzling scent of Roberto Agnelli. “You smell very nice,” she whispered. The moment the words passed her lips she wished them back. It sounded like a come-on. Embarrassment heated her face. “I meant you smell clean.” Cora gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. Brilliant. “You told me the same thing the other evening. You said anyone who smelled as good as me didn’t need to wear cologne.” Cora stopped dancing. “When?” Roberto frowned. “You don’t remember? It was when you fell asleep in the living room and I carried you back to your bed?” Threads of memory drifted through Cora’s mind as she recalled that first night when she’d awoken in the guest bed, confused and panicked. She’d wandered to the den and curled up on the couch. “I took you back to your room and you asked me to stay. One of the things you said was that I smelled good.” He pulled her back into his arms. “Keep dancing, Cora.” They joined the other couples once more, moving across the dance floor. Cora racked her memory of that night, searched the recesses of her mind for any recollection of what else she might have said. Roberto went on. “Then you told me that you wanted an Italian lover.” Cora stumbled, and Roberto tightened his hold on her waist, slipped his arm around her. Cold dread settled inside her. Had all this, the dinner, the clothes, all the concern been because she’d propositioned him? She looked into his eyes. “Don’t tell me anymore.” “And you wanted it to be me, since I smelled so good.” Cora refused to allow him to tease her. He might run roughshod over hotel guests, but not her. “I was most likely delusional.” “Or very smart. I’m planning to adopt this direct approach myself. Think of all the game-playing and pretenses we can by-pass. Both parties would understand what they're getting into. This idea would help fix the biggest problem in relationships.” Cora wished the ground would swallow her, but managed to keep an air of indifference to his words. It helped to try to avoid stepping on his feet. She tried counting silently to the music. “And what,” she asked, “Would you say is the biggest problem in relationships?” “The biggest problem is that most women don’t know when it’s over.” Cora shivered. His icy words felt like an Arctic chill in the sultry Tuscan evening. Giancarlo had warned her that his brother was heartless and unfeeling. Part of her hadn’t believed him. How could one brother be so different from the other? “My delusional state has passed. less

A Steamy, Medieval Romance From his deathbed, Sir Bertram de Auxerre bequeaths all his worldly possessions to the young warrior Remy Valeur. Remy arrives to the lands of Auxerre determined to manage both the holdings and Sir Bertram’s young daughter, Lisette. Lisette rebels against Remy’s domineering ways until she grows into womanhood and suddenly finds her defiance changing to something surprisingly different... moreA Steamy, Medieval Romance From his deathbed, Sir Bertram de Auxerre bequeaths all his worldly possessions to the young warrior Remy Valeur. Remy arrives to the lands of Auxerre determined to manage both the holdings and Sir Bertram’s young daughter, Lisette. Lisette rebels against Remy’s domineering ways until she grows into womanhood and suddenly finds her defiance changing to something surprisingly different. Remy battles his own growing desire for his beautiful charge and finds himself embroiled in a match of wills as he attempts to deny the passion that burns between them. From Chapter 6 Remy willed himself awake. Drew a deep breath. The scent of violets, soft and floral, filled his senses and suddenly he was wide awake. He stared at the ceiling, trying to get his faculties to work. His arms were bound. He couldn’t move, couldn’t look beside him, but he knew. Lisette was there. She had come to his bed. He felt her small warm body curled next to his and her long hair splayed back across his chest, tickling his bare skin. He drew a deep breath. The girl had not only come to his cottage, but had come to his bed ? Impossible! Lisette loved nothing better than to provoke him, but this was too much. She was playing a very dangerous game with him. His body, already heated from the dream he’d had of her, hardened. He groaned and she shifted beside him, sighing softly. “Lisette!” he snarled. “What the hell are you doing here?” He jerked against his binds, felt the rope press into his skin. He bellowed in rage. “Untie me!” Lisette bolted up. Her first frantic thoughts flew to the rope that bound him. He’d pulled it taut and it strained against the wooden post, the sound of wood splintering. She yelped and out a sense of self-preservation leapt onto him, straddled his torso as he swore again and thrashed beneath her. The bed post seemed to give and, frightened it would break, she lunged forward to hold his hands fast. Beneath her, his movements stopped abruptly. His breath warmed her breasts as he lay quietly beneath her. He moved slightly and she could feel the prickle of his short beard through her thin nightgown. A hot thrill of pleasure shot down her spine, desire pooled within her, shocking her. “Lisette,” he whispered. “Remy…?” The absurdity of her situation slowly dawned upon her. If she let go of his hands, he would surely break the bed, but she could hardly remain with her breasts pushed against his face. “Get up.” His voice sounded different to her. It was heavy and gruff. “Stop struggling against your binds. I need to speak to you.” “Get. Up.” “All right, but it’s only with the understanding that you’ll be reasonable.” less