Table Of ContentHe would be an exciting lover.
Alex sat on the edge of the bed and turned out the light, then dragged both
hands through her tousled hair.
What was it about Grant Malone that had her reacting like a girl with her
first crush? Even now, just thinking about the look in his eyes had her heart
racing, her palms sweating. What in the world was happening to her? She
wanted, right this minute, to have that muscled body pressed to hers.
Enough of this, she cautioned herself. The last thing she needed was to start
entertaining any ideas about romancing a guest.
Alex lay down and snuggled under the blankets. From her stereo came the
voice of Tony Bennett crooning about leaving his heart in San Francisco. She
had no intention of leaving hers anywhere…or with anyone…except Grant
Malone….
Dear Reader,
It’s the beginning of a new year, and Intimate Moments is ready to kick
things off with six more fabulously exciting novels. Readers have been
clamoring for Linda Turner to create each new installment of her wonderful
miniseries THOSE MARRYING McBRIDES! In Never Been Kissed she honors
those wishes with the deeply satisfying tale of virginal nurse Janey McBride and
Dr. Reilly Jones, who’s just the man to teach her how wonderful love can be
when you share it with the right man.
A YEAR OF LOVING DANGEROUSLY continues to keep readers on the
edge of their seats with The Spy Who Loved Him, bestselling author Merline
Lovelace’s foray into the dangerous jungles of Central America, where the
loving is as steamy as the air. And you won’t want to miss My Secret Valentine,
the enthralling conclusion to our in-line 36 HOURS spin-off. As always, Marilyn
Pappano delivers a page-turner you won’t be able to resist. Ruth Langan begins a
new trilogy, THE SULLIVAN SISTERS, with Awakening Alex, sure to be
another bestseller. Lyn Stone’s second book for the line, Live-In Lover, is sure to
make you her fan. Finally, welcome brand-new New Zealand sensation Frances
Housden. In The Man for Maggie she makes a memorable debut, one that will
have you crossing your fingers that her next book will be out soon.
Enjoy! And come back next month, when the excitement continues here in
Silhouette Intimate Moments.
Yours,
Leslie J. Wainger
Executive Senior Editor
Awakening Alex
RUTH LANGAN
For Carol, whose heart is so open and generous.
And for Tom, our snug harbor.
Books by Ruth Langan
Silhouette Intimate Moments
§The Wildes of Wyoming— Chance #985
§The Wildes of Wyoming— Hazard #997
§The Wildes of Wyoming— Ace #1009
**Awakening Alex #1054
Silhouette Romance
Just Like Yesterday #121
Hidden Isle #224
No Gentle Love #303
Eden of Temptation #317
This Time Forever #371
Family Secrets #407
Mysteries of the Heart #458
The Proper Miss Porter #492
Silhouette Special Edition
Beloved Gambler #119
To Love a Dreamer #218
Star-Crossed #266
Whims of Fate #354
Silhouette Books
The Fortunes of Texas
Snowbound Cinderella
Harlequin Historicals
Mistress of the Seas #10
†Texas Heart #31
*Highland Barbarian #41
* Highland Heather #65
*Highland Fire #91
*Highland Heart #111
†Texas Healer #131
Christmas Miracle #147
†Texas Hero #180
Deception #196
*The Highlander #228
Angel #245
*Highland Heaven #269
‡Diamond #305
Dulcie’s Gift #324
‡Pearl #329
‡Jade #352
‡Ruby #384
‡Malachite #407
The Courtship of Izzy McCree #425
Blackthorne #435
Rory #457
Conor #468
Briana #480
One Christmas Night #487
“Highland Christmas”
††The Sea Witch #523
Harlequin Books
Outlaw Brides
“Maverick Hearts”
Harlequin Historicals
Christmas Stories 1990
“Christmas at Bitter Creek”
RUTH LANGAN
Award-winning and bestselling author Ruth Langan creates characters that
Affaire de Coeur magazine has called “so incredibly human, the reader will
expect them to come over for tea.” Four of Ruth’s books have been finalists for
the Romance Writers of America’s (RWA) RITA Award. Over the years, she has
given dozens of print, radio and TV interviews, including Good Morning
America and CNN News, and has been quoted in such diverse publications as
The Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan and the Detroit Free Press. Married to
her childhood sweetheart, she has raised five children and lives in Michigan, the
state where she was born and raised.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Prologue
Snug Harbor Lodge—Snug Harbor,
New Hampshire—1980
“G
randpa Sully! Grandpa Sully! Hurry! Come quick!” The high-pitched
sounds of two little girls shouting in excitement caused their grandfather to drop
his fishing pole and scramble along the length of the dock until he reached them
on a stretch of hill overlooking the lake.
His granddaughters, eight-year-old Lizbeth and seven-year-old Celeste were
gathered around their nine-year-old sister, Alexandra, who was kneeling in the
dirt.
“What’s happened, lassie?” As always, when he was agitated, Patrick
Joseph Sullivan’s Irish brogue thickened. He pushed his way between them and
dropped to his knees beside the oldest of his granddaughters. “Did you fall,
darlin’? Are you bleedin’?”
He’d seen Alexandra hiking the woods nearby, but he hadn’t worried, since
Buck Thornton, his lodge manager and trail guide, had been with her. Old Buck
would never let anything happen to the dark-haired little girl who had become
his shadow. From the first day she’d arrived at the lodge, Alex had been tagging
along behind the grizzled old woodsman, asking a million questions.
Where do the animals sleep at night?
How do the squirrels know where they stored their nuts?
Why did the moss only grow on certain trees?
Were the stars always in the same place in the sky every night?
Since their arrival at Snug Harbor Lodge, Lizbeth, a plump, curly-haired
urchin, had taken herself off to the garden to pass the days picking sweet ripe
strawberries. Celeste, ever the little lady, preferred lying in a hammock and
reading her books, her red hair and milk white skin carefully hidden from the
sun. Only Alexandra had shown any interest in paddling a boat, hiking the
nearby hills or swimming in the frigid lake.
“Alex found something in the woods.” Lizbeth stared at her sister’s cupped
hands, eager to see.
“It’s nothing but a filthy old bird,” Celeste said, wrinkling her nose.
“Oh, Alex. You shouldn’t have taken him from his nest,” Lizbeth scolded.
“He’s wounded, Grandpa Sully.” Alexandra looked at her grandfather with
brimming eyes. “His mother and the rest of the babies were all dead. Buck said,
