Patricia Rosemoor - A Rancher's Vow

He turned to look at her—even more stunning than she’d been a couple of hours before when he’d married her. If that were possible…

“Reed?” Alcina asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m just thinking. Trying to shake the tension of the big day.”

Suddenly the moment was here and he was struck dumb. He had to say something to get the ball rolling.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything interfere with my…uh…my husbandly duties.”

She laughed. “Your what?”

“I know we both think of this marriage as a kind of business deal, but—”

“But what?” she asked, her amusement vanishing. “Are you saying that you’re willing to put yourself out to seal the deal, so to speak?”

Heck, he’d gone and said the exact wrong thing. He’d never been good with fancy words. He was better at doing. Stepping toward Alcina, he slipped his arms around her back and brushed her lips with his.

“You’re my wife now,” he said simply. “And we both have our…physical needs….”

Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,

The thrills never stop at Harlequin Intrigue. This month, get geared up for danger and desire in double helpings!

There’s something about a mysterious man that makes him all the more appealing. In The Silent Witness (#565), Alex Coughlin is just such a man on assignment and undercover. But can he conceal his true feelings for Nicki Michaels long enough to catch a killer? Join Dani Sinclair and find out as she returns to FOOLS POINT.

The search for the truth is Clay Jackson’s only focus—until he learns the woman he never stopped loving was keeping the biggest secret of all…a baby. See why Intimate Secrets (#566) are the deepest with author B.J. Daniels.

Patricia Rosemoor winds up her SONS OF SILVER SPRINGS miniseries this month. Reed is the last Quarrels brother to go the way of the altar as he enters a marriage of convenience with the one woman he thought he’d never have, in A Rancher’s Vow (#567).

Finally, welcome multitalented author Jo Leigh as she contributes her first Harlequin Intrigue title, Little Girl Found (#568). She also begins a three-month bonanza of books! Look for her titles from Harlequin American Romance (June) and Harlequin Temptation (July). You won’t be sorry.

Gripping tales of mystery, suspense that never lets up and sizzling romance to boot. Pick up all four titles for the total Harlequin Intrigue experience.

Sincerely,

Denise O’Sullivan

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin Intrigue

A Rancher’s Vow

Patricia Rosemoor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Patricia Rosemoor is the recipient of the 1997 Career Achievement Award in Romantic Suspense from Romantic Times Magazine.

To research her novels, Patricia is willing to swim with dolphins, round up mustangs or howl with wolves. “Whatever it takes to write a credible tale,” she says. She even went to jail for a day—as a guest of Cook County—to research a proposal.

Ms. Rosemoor holds a Master of Television degree and a B.A. in American literature from the University of Illinois. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Edward, and their three cats.

HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

38—DOUBLE IMAGES

55—DANGEROUS ILLUSIONS

74—DEATH SPIRAL

81—CRIMSON HOLIDAY

95—AMBUSHED

113—DO UNTO OTHERS

121—TICKET TO NOWHERE

161—PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

163—SQUARING ACCOUNTS

165—NO HOLDS BARRED

199—THE KISS OF DEATH

219—TORCH JOB

243—DEAD HEAT

250—HAUNTED

283—SILENT SEA

291—CRIMSON NIGHTMARE

317—DROP DEAD GORGEOUS

346—THE DESPERADO

361—LUCKY DEVIL

382—SEE ME IN YOUR DREAMS*

386—TELL ME NO LIES*

390—TOUCH ME IN THE DARK*

439—BEFORE THE FALL

451—AFTER THE DARK

483—NEVER CRY WOLF*

499—A LOVER AWAITS

530—COWBOY JUSTICE

559—HEART OF A LAWMAN**

563—THE LONE WOLF’S CHILD**

567—A RANCHER’S VOW**

Reed Quarrels—He would do anything to save the ranch and win his father’s approval, even if it meant marrying the daughter of his father’s nemesis.

Alcina Dale—She agreed to a business arrangement with Reed, because she’d always loved him.

Emmett Quarrels—His manipulations were for naught this time.

Tucker Dale—His search for the truth led to danger.

Reba Gantry—The café owner knew too much.

Cesar Cardona—The developer was looking for his next land acquisition.

Vernon Martell—The neighboring rancher had no scruples when it came to increasing the size of his spread.

Hugh Ruskin—The bartender knew more than he should about everyone in town.

To my editor, Angela Catalano, for her patience

and understanding.

Thanks to my writing friends who went beyond the

call of duty and got me where I needed to be—

Catherine Andorka, Sherrill Bodine, Arlene Erlbach,

Cheryl Jefferson, Jody Lowenthal, Jude Mandell,

Sue Myers, Rosemary Paulas and Elaine Sima.

And special thanks to Linda Sweeney for jogging

my brain when it stalled out.

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Silver Springs, New Mexico

Curly-Q Ranch

For a moment, he glanced at Prudence Prescott Quarrels, who did look beautiful, he supposed, as all brides should on their wedding day.

“Congratulations!” He slapped the groom on the back. “You have yourself some new wife there.”

“Thanks.” Grinning like an idiot, Chance Quarrels pumped his hand. “I think so, too.”

“So what are your plans? Where are you gonna settle down?”

“Right here on the Curly-Q, of course.”

“Hmm. I thought your pa had a full house right now, with your brother Bart and his kids.”

“We’ll be staying with Pru’s sister until we work something out.” Chance was obviously distracted. “Listen, I’d better get back to Pru before she accuses me of deserting her again.”

“You go on then.”

Smiling to himself, he watched the unsuspecting cowboy hurry to his new wife’s side—he was a fool in love with no thoughts but those prompted by his youthful libido.

They would all be unsuspecting today, he knew, looking around at the crowd of more than a hundred. A day of celebration. Of giving thanks.

No one would be thankful before the night ended, however. He’d see to that.

He chuckled to himself as he moved to his vehicle through the knots of relatives and friends and neighbors, well-wishers all. They were also lambs, so to speak, without a suspicious thought in their heads.