Bring the Ring Author:Janet Dailey This book contains two previously published books in the Americana Series: Summer Mahogany and Valley of the Vapors. — "Summer Mahogany": — Gina's face grew pale with shock. It couldn't be Rhyder. Not after all these years. But there was no mistaking the tall, darkly tanned figure moving menacingly nearer. Like a child, a young, na?ve Gina had onc... more »e worshipped Rhyder Owens. But her desire for him, even then, had been like a woman's. Gina was older now, an intelligent, sophisticated lawyer. Yet she felt the waves of panic rising inside her.
"Why did you have to come back to Maine?" she protested in angry despair. "I don't want you here. All I want to do is forget."
Rhyder's narrowed blue eyes raked her body chillingly. "You couldn't possibly have forgotten that you are my wife!"
"Are you taking me to a hotel?"
Rhyder answered Gina's question shortly. "It's our wedding night, Mrs. Owens. Have you forgotten?"
Behind the dryness, there was a hint of a jeer. "Your grandfather wanted you to have a proper honeymoon. He arranged this marriage."
"Grandfather wanted to save my reputation. It was for his sake that I agreed to marry you." Despair made Gin's voice bitter. "It doesn't seem fair."
"Nothing in life is fair; a fact you'll discover when you grow up." His words aroused her anger.
"Will you stop referring to me as if I was an infant!" she snapped. "I happen to be your wife!"
But, suddenly, as if her words had brought full awareness, Gina was afraid. She didn"t really know anything about this man...
"Valley of the Vapors":
Her fate was sealed with one kiss...
One kiss, one innocent embrace was all it took for Tisha's father to jump to all the wrong conclusions and demand that Roarke Madison do the right thing by his daughter. Tisha knew she would not be able to move her father from his adamant stand, but surely Roarke would put a stop to this ridiculous talk of marriage. But Roarke was no help at all. First he accused Tisha of engineering the whole thing to trap him. Then he presented her with the most beautiful diamond solitaire engagement ring!
"This is all your fault," Tisha accused. "Why did you let dad bully you into agreeing to marry me?"
"Guilt, I suppose," Roarke answered calmly.
"Guilt?" she flared. "There was nothing to be guilty about! Nothing happened!"
"You're right. Physically nothing happened." An eyebrow quirked as his gaze roamed over her. "But in my mind, let's say that it didn't end with kisses, little girl."
"We're getting off the track," Tisha stammered, turning away from him.
His hands settled around her waist in a provocative caress. "I though we were just getting on the track." He nuzzled her neck. "We're engaged. We should enjoy some of the pleasures that go along with it."
"You forget we're trying to find a way out of this engagement." Tisha gulped.
"Are we?" he asked. Then his mouth came down on hers....« less