Meet the Earl of Redmere in the 1st book in
the Rogues of Redmere series, a brand new Regency romance series by #1
bestselling author Samantha Holt.
Red never shies
away from a challenge.
Never.
But when Miss Hannah
St. John strides into his life demanding—yes,
demanding—he help her, he’s certain she’s more challenge than even he can
handle.
Hannah is
determined to transport an artifact from France—one that will change
everything—even if it means working with a lawless man like Red. Nothing is
more important than preserving history.
Nothing.
Not even the touch
of a smuggler who inconceivably makes her stomach twist.
When it becomes
clear the irritating bluestocking will do anything for this blasted artifact
and needs saving from herself, the earl-turned-smuggler steps in.
Carting a cursed
stone across the country with a know-it-all woman is not Red’s idea of fun,
particularly when their journey runs far from smoothly…so why does he find
himself enjoying her company just a little too much?
Excerpt
“Excuse
me,” she started but her voice came out like nothing more than a mouse’s
squeak. She coughed and tried again. “Excuse me, are you Red?”
His
head jerked up. “Who wants to know?”
She
took another step closer and gasped. The firelight cleared the shadows around
his features. She was not sure what she expected from an infamous smuggler but
it was not this. Where were the pock marks? The scars? The missing teeth?
There
were no missing teeth to be sure. Though he kept his mouth in a firm line of
disdain—or perhaps annoyance—the quick flash she had seen had revealed a mouth
of perfectly healthy teeth. As for scars or pockmarks, his skin was perfect.
His
light brown hair was, admittedly, a little too long and his face was unshaven,
revealing several days of neglect. There were shadows around his eyes too, and
he looked weary. However, that could not take away from that fact he was a
handsome man.
He
stared at her expectantly. She gulped. “I need your help.”
“And
if I do not wish to give it?”
She
shook her head. Impossible. He had to help her. He was her only chance. She
dragged out the chair opposite and sat. One dark brow rose at the action. Chin
lifted, she propped her arms on the table and leaned forward. He smelled of the
sea.
“I
need your help bringing across something from France. I’m told you are the man
for the job.”
“Then
you were told wrong.”
“I
can pay handsomely.”
“I
don’t need coin.”
“Do
you not? I thought all smugglers did.”
He
leaned forward abruptly. “You need to watch your tongue, miss.” He glanced
around. “Not everyone here is a friend.”
She
jerked back a little. Handsome he might be, but he was also intimidating. His
strong jaw, finished with a slight dip that was just visible under the stubble,
was set firmly. His eyes glinted in the firelight though she could not tell
their color properly.
She
took a breath and cast her gaze over him. It was something she was in the habit
of doing. Study everything closely enough and any fear she might have of it
left. It had worked with spiders. When one looked closely, one could see they
were no more than a few legs and a body pieced together. Those long legs no
longer appeared so terrifying once she had seen them under a microscope and
appreciated the unique design of the creatures.
It
did not seem to quite work with this creature. His slightly creased forehead
and the still lifted brow did not lose any of it sternness. His lips, she
concluded, were generous for a man’s, but it did not soften his appearance. She
pictured him in evening wear and that helped a little, though she could tell he
would be ridiculously handsome and likely still no more polite.
“I
was told you were the man to help me,” she said, aware of being a little
breathless.
“As
I said, you were told wrong.”
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