Ruth Dale - Something About Ewe - Something About Ewe / The Purrfect Man

Two brand-new stories in every volume…twice a month!

Duets Vol. #53

Popular Ruth Jean Dale takes the spotlight with a special Double Duets book on the theme of “animal passion.” This writer has a “talent for combining comedy with romance…and creating memorable characters,” says Romance Communications. Ruth also writes for Temptation and Superromance.

Duets Vol. #54

Quirky Tina Wainscott is back with another delightful Duets novel about a gorgeous hero determined to land his ex—hook, line and sinker! Ms. Wainscott tells “a charming story full of love and laughter,” notes Rendezvous. Completing the month is Golden Heart winner Barbara Dunlop, who makes her debut with a funny tale in the spirit of Due South. Enjoy!

Be sure to pick up both Duets volumes today!

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Something About Ewe Something About Ewe

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

The Purrfect Man

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

“When I move in with a guy,” she continued implacably, “it’ll be after I get a ring on this finger.” She pointed to the third finger of her left hand. “I’m in no hurry, you understand.”

Luke winced. “Shacking up, huh.” That one stopped him even colder than the reference to marriage. “That means living together. Does it also cover a little messing around?”

Thalia drew in a deep, forceful breath. “If it did…would I be here, Mr. Dalton?”

It took an instant for that to sink in. “Does that mean what I think it means—damn, what I hope it means?”

Her mysterious smile rocked him. “What do you think…hope…it means?”

“You and me…happily horizontal and all that.”

She laughed. “Oh, Luke,” she murmured, “just shut up and kiss me.”

Dear Reader,

I was having a great time writing my first Double Duets, but about halfway through I suddenly realized I was making life very hard for myself. I had named my fictitious animals all wrong! The Border collie was Jack, the calico was Missy and the black cat was Jet.

As it happens, I have a Border collie, but the name is Reckless. Not too surprisingly, I also have a calico named Patches and a black cat named Rosie. It was tough keeping the names straight.

So I went back to my computer and now the animals you’ll be reading about are all my own, right up to and including their names and their adventures. Sure made my life easier!

There’s another dog in here that I don’t own in real life and that’s Dog. I have had my share of strays, but the newest member of the family is a tiny Maltese named Spike. She weighs something like five pounds and has the heart of a lion. In the future I think there’ll probably be a story that includes Spike….

Anyway, here’s hoping you enjoy my Animal Passions. Old animal lover me sure had fun in the writing.

Best wishes!

Ruth Jean Dale

HARLEQUIN DUETS

4—ONE IN A MILLION

HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION

774—THE WRANGLER’S WOMAN

778—ALMOST A COWBOY

782—THE COWGIRL’S MAN

My Animal Passions books are for Aunt Patty the Cat Lady, who likes anything if it has enough dogs and cats in it. Put one on the cover and she’s in hog heaven. Love ya!

“DOCTOR, PLEASE DON’T keep anything from me. Will Gertrude live?”

Dr. Luke Dalton, D.V.M., smiled reassuringly at the little silver-haired lady bravely confronting him in the sparkling clean waiting room of the Shepherd’s Pass Animal Clinic and Hospital. The hand she laid on his arm trembled and he covered it with his own.

“Take it easy, Miss Pauline,” he said, gently leading her to a chair. “It’s just a simple ear infection. Gertrude will be fine.”

“What?” Miss Pauline looked indignant and not quite ready to give up her fears so quickly. “But she was yowling something awful and throwing herself around. When I picked her up she tried to bite me! She’s never done such a thing before.”

Luke knelt before her, still holding her cold hand. “Gertrude was in pain or she’d never have turned on you that way,” he assured her. “Believe me, it’s nothing life-threatening.” He added as an afterthought, “And Dr. Miller agrees.”

He knew that bit of news would reassure her. The elderly lady might give the thirty-ish Luke his proper title, but she obviously considered him a kid. And why shouldn’t she? She’d known him since he was a baby and his mother before him, had taught him in third grade, had watched him leave Colorado after college and go on to study veterinary medicine. She’d even attended the welcome-home party when he returned six months ago to join the practice of longtime Shepherd’s Pass veterinarian Dr. Gene Miller, more commonly called Doc.

She knew Luke was a real animal doctor, but this was her beloved cat. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to take chances. He understood that. He even respected it.

“May I see my Gertrude now?” She leaned forward with a pleading expression.

“Better than that.” He smiled. “You can take her home. You’ll have to put drops in her ears for a few days, but she won’t give you any trouble now that she’s not hurting.”

Relief and gratitude suffused her lined face. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said as formally as if she’d never kept him in at recess for launching spitballs. “You’ve been very kind. Please don’t feel obliged to wait with me. I know you’re busy, and—”

“Not at all.” He was, but she’d done so much for him in his misspent youth that he wanted to show her every consideration. He slid into the chair next to hers. “Cindy will bring Gertrude out just as soon as she fills the prescription. In the meantime, I’d enjoy keeping you company, if that’s okay with you.”

She looked pleased. “Quite okay,” she said. “So how have you been, Lucas?”

“Fine. And you? I haven’t seen much of you lately.”

“I’ve been quite busy, actually. I’m working part-time at Lorraine’s Pretty Posies. Did you know that?”

“I hadn’t heard.”

“Oh, yes. I answer the phone from time to time, and take orders when Lorraine gets really busy or the regular girls don’t come in.”

“That’s great,” he said, firmly believing that a busy mind was a healthy mind. “How is Lorraine? I haven’t seen her around lately.”

“Actually, she’s quite excited. Her daughter arrived yesterday for an extended vacation. You remember Thalia, no doubt?”

Thalia! The name galvanized Luke and he shot to his feet.

“My goodness.” Miss Pauline frowned. “I didn’t expect quite that reaction.”

He sat back down. “I just remembered something I have to do later,” he apologized lamely. “Of course, I remember Thalia. Is she still living in California?”

“Yes, indeed. Apparently she has some free time—something about her company merging with another company. I’m not real clear on the details, but she’ll be home for a month or so, I understand.” Her tone dropped lower. “Lorraine’s been quite concerned about her since the divorce.”