Peggy Moreland - The Restless Virgin

Nash Rivers Was Sexy As Hell. Why Would He Even Bother To Look Twice At A Woman Like Her? Nash Rivers Was Sexy As Hell. Why Would He Even Bother To Look Twice At A Woman Like Her? Still, the images played through Samantha’s mind at night. Images of Nash. Only Nash. He was with her in bed, his arms wrapped tightly around her, his body pressed close to hers. He would kiss her, whisper sweet seductive words in her ear. She’d touch him, kiss him, glory in the feel of him. Locked safely in the web of her dream, she could love him. Then she would wake up and find herself alone, with nothing but a yearning growing stronger every day. So what was the point of torturing herself by dreaming about him? “Because that’s all I have,” she whispered sadly against her pillow. “And probably all I’ll ever have.” She closed her eyes, waiting for him to come to her in the hazy cloud of a dream. Letter to Reader Dear Reader, August predictably brings long steamy days...and hot sensuous nights. And this month Silhouette Desire spotlights the kind of pure passion that can erupt only in that sizzling summer climate. Get ready to fall head over heels for August’s MAN OF THE MONTH, a sexy rancher who opens his home (and his heart?) to a lost beauty desperately hoping to recover her memory in A Montana Man by Jackie Merritt. Bestselling author Cait London continues her hugely popular miniseries THE TALLCHIEFS with Rafe Ralladin: Man of Secrets. Rafe is an irresistible takeover tycoon with a plan to acquire a Thallchief lady. Barbara McMahon brings readers the second story in her IDENTICAL TWINS! duo—in The Older Man an exuberant young woman is swept up by her love and desire for a tremendously gorgeous, much older man. Plus, talented Susan Crosby unfolds a story of seduction, revenge and scandal in the continuation of THE LONE WOLVES with His Seductive Revenge. And TEXAS BRIDES are back with The Restless Virgin by Peggy Moreland, the story of an innocent Western lady tired of waiting around for marriage—so she lassos herself one unsuspecting cowboy! And you’ve never seen a hero like The Consummate Cowboy, by Sara Orwig. He’s all man, all-around ornery and all-out tempted...by his ex-wife’s sister! I know you’ll enjoy reading all six of this sultry month’s brand-new Silhouette Desire novels by some of the most beloved and sexy authors of romance. Regards, Melissa Senate Senior Editor Silhouette Books Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3 Title Page Peggy Moreland The Restless Virgin www.millsandboon.co.uk PEGGY MORELAND PEGGY MORELAND published her first book with Silhouette in 1989, and continues to delight readers with stories set in her home state of Texas. Winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a nominee for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and a finalist for the prestigious RITA Award, Peggy has appeared on the USA Today and Waldenbooks bestseller lists. When not writing, she enjoys spending time at the farm riding her quarter horse, Lo-Jump, and competing in local barrel-racing competitions. She, her husband and their three children make their home in Round Rock, Texas. Dedication Sisters aren’t always created by blood; sometimes they are formed by the heart. To my sister of the heart, Becky Kennedy, and to Skeeter...the closest thing to a “lap” horse that I’ve ever known. Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Copyright

Nash Rivers Was Sexy As Hell. Why Would He Even Bother To Look Twice At A Woman Like Her?

Still, the images played through Samantha’s mind at night. Images of Nash. Only Nash. He was with her in bed, his arms wrapped tightly around her, his body pressed close to hers. He would kiss her, whisper sweet seductive words in her ear. She’d touch him, kiss him, glory in the feel of him. Locked safely in the web of her dream, she could love him.

Then she would wake up and find herself alone, with nothing but a yearning growing stronger every day.

So what was the point of torturing herself by dreaming about him?

“Because that’s all I have,” she whispered sadly against her pillow. “And probably all I’ll ever have.”

She closed her eyes, waiting for him to come to her in the hazy cloud of a dream.

Dear Reader,

August predictably brings long steamy days...and hot sensuous nights. And this month Silhouette Desire spotlights the kind of pure passion that can erupt only in that sizzling summer climate.

Get ready to fall head over heels for August’s MAN OF THE MONTH, a sexy rancher who opens his home (and his heart?) to a lost beauty desperately hoping to recover her memory in A Montana Man by Jackie Merritt. Bestselling author Cait London continues her hugely popular miniseries THE TALLCHIEFS with Rafe Ralladin: Man of Secrets. Rafe is an irresistible takeover tycoon with a plan to acquire a Thallchief lady. Barbara McMahon brings readers the second story in her IDENTICAL TWINS! duo—in The Older Man an exuberant young woman is swept up by her love and desire for a tremendously gorgeous, much older man.

Plus, talented Susan Crosby unfolds a story of seduction, revenge and scandal in the continuation of THE LONE WOLVES with His Seductive Revenge. And TEXAS BRIDES are back with The Restless Virgin by Peggy Moreland, the story of an innocent Western lady tired of waiting around for marriage—so she lassos herself one unsuspecting cowboy! And you’ve never seen a hero like The Consummate Cowboy, by Sara Orwig. He’s all man, all-around ornery and all-out tempted...by his ex-wife’s sister!

I know you’ll enjoy reading all six of this sultry month’s brand-new Silhouette Desire novels by some of the most beloved and sexy authors of romance.

Regards,

Melissa Senate

Senior Editor

Silhouette Books

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Peggy Moreland

The Restless Virgin

www.millsandboon.co.uk

PEGGY MORELAND

published her first book with Silhouette in 1989, and continues to delight readers with stories set in her home state of Texas. Winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a nominee for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and a finalist for the prestigious RITA Award, Peggy has appeared on the USA Today and Waldenbooks bestseller lists. When not writing, she enjoys spending time at the farm riding her quarter horse, Lo-Jump, and competing in local barrel-racing competitions. She, her husband and their three children make their home in Round Rock, Texas.

Sisters aren’t always created by blood; sometimes they

are formed by the heart. To my sister of the heart,

Becky Kennedy, and to Skeeter...the closest thing to a

“lap” horse that I’ve ever known.

Prologue

Double-Cross Heart Ranch

1988

Sam backed her horse trailer up to the dark barn, using her brake lights for illumination, then climbed wearily from the cab of her truck. Groaning, she pressed her hands to her lower back and stretched out the kinks placed there by the seven-hour drive from Oklahoma. With nothing but her horse and a radio for company, the trip had been long and lonely.

But Sam was used to going it alone. When her driver’s license had arrived in the mail shortly after her sixteenth birthday, designating her a legal driver, her father had handed her the keys to a truck along with the news bulletin that he wouldn’t be hauling her butt—or her horse’s either for that matter—across the country anymore. If she wanted to try for a national barrel-racing title, he’d told her, she’d be doing it alone. He didn’t have the time.