Erin Yorke: Devlin

Cover Page

Praise Acclaim for Erin Yorke Desert Rogue “High, exciting adventure a la Erin Yorke!” — Romantic Times “Another winner from one of the greats. 5 s.” — Affaire de Coeur “…grabs your imagination from page one… Five-star reading.” — Rendezvous The Honor Price “Another Yorke Elizabethan masterpiece.” — Affaire de Coeur “…a tumultuous era, a tempestuous love story, a wondrous romance.” — Romantic Times “…an unforgettable tale filled with adventure and love.” — Rendezvous Counterfeit Laird “Erin Yorke at her very best.” —Bestselling author Barbara Bretton “…a romantic comedy filled with wonderful characters…” — Romantic Times “…an incredible reading experience.” — Affaire de Coeur

Excerpt “Don’t play with me, lass,” Devlin growled, his words harsh. “It could lead to serious business.” “But I’m entirely serious,” Alyssa countered. Her inviting smile transformed her into the most desirable woman Devlin had ever encountered. She ran splayed fingers along his broad shoulders and was satisfied with the shudder she felt beneath her touch. “I’ll not steal anything that should, by rights, belong to your husband,” Devlin ground out, the cords of his neck bulging and prominent as he fought for self-restraint. “You cannot steal what is freely given, Devlin Fitzhugh.” The words were a whisper on the wind. “But there can be no future for us, Alyssa. Surely you understand that.” “All the more reason to enjoy the present,” she murmured, her lips seeking his once more. At the firm pressure of her mouth, Devlin’s resolve began to crumble…

Dear Reader Dear Reader, The team of authors who write as Erin Yorke returns to one of their most popular settings this month with Devlin, an emotional tale set in Ireland and England. It’s the story of an Irish rebel who saves the life of an Englishwoman and is captured by the English for his efforts. The young woman rescues him from prison, but the two of them must battle distrust and betrayal before finding the happiness they deserve. Deborah Simmons also returns this month with The de Burgh Bride , the sequel to her steamy adventure, Taming the Wolf. This book is the story of the scholarly de Burgh brother, Geoffrey, who has drawn the short straw and must marry the “wicked” daughter of a vanquished enemy, a woman who reportedly murdered her first husband in the marriage bed! A city banker forced to spend a year recuperating in the country goes head-to-head with a practical country widow and learns that some of life’s greatest pleasures are the simple ones, in Theresa Michaels’s next book in her new Western series, The Merry Widows—Catherine. And corruption, jealousy and the shadow of barrenness threaten the love of a beautiful Saxon woman who has a year to produce an heir, or be separated forever from the knight who holds her heart, in Shari Anton’s stirring medieval tale, By King’s Decree. Whatever your tastes in reading, we hope you enjoy all four books this month. Keep an eye out for them, wherever Harlequin Historicals® are sold. Sincerely, Tracy Farrell Senior Editor

Title Page Devlin Erin Yorke www.millsandboon.co.uk

About The Author ERIN YORKE is the pseudonym used by the writing team of Susan Yansick and Christine Healy. One half of the team is married, the mother of two sons and suburban, and the other is single, fancy-free and countryfied. They find that their differing lives and styles enrich their writing with a broader perspective.

Dedication For Gary—You were really patient with this one And for Chris and Dave, who learned to fend for themselves Thanks for understanding. You’re the heroes in my life. And For Natasha Antonova Smith Who went from “a wonderful life” to “pretty woman” in three weeks. May the happiness you found here follow you home to Russia.

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

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Copyright

Desert Rogue

“High, exciting adventure a la Erin Yorke!”

— Romantic Times

“Another winner from one of the greats. 5 s.”

— Affaire de Coeur

“…grabs your imagination from page one…

Five-star reading.”

— Rendezvous

The Honor Price

“Another Yorke Elizabethan masterpiece.”

— Affaire de Coeur

“…a tumultuous era, a tempestuous love story, a wondrous romance.”

— Romantic Times

“…an unforgettable tale filled with adventure and love.”

— Rendezvous

Counterfeit Laird

“Erin Yorke at her very best.”

—Bestselling author Barbara Bretton

“…a romantic comedy filled with wonderful characters…”

— Romantic Times

“…an incredible reading experience.”

— Affaire de Coeur

“But I’m entirely serious,” Alyssa countered. Her inviting smile transformed her into the most desirable woman Devlin had ever encountered. She ran splayed fingers along his broad shoulders and was satisfied with the shudder she felt beneath her touch.

“I’ll not steal anything that should, by rights, belong to your husband,” Devlin ground out, the cords of his neck bulging and prominent as he fought for self-restraint.

“You cannot steal what is freely given, Devlin Fitzhugh.” The words were a whisper on the wind.

“But there can be no future for us, Alyssa. Surely you understand that.”

“All the more reason to enjoy the present,” she murmured, her lips seeking his once more.

At the firm pressure of her mouth, Devlin’s resolve began to crumble…

Dear Reader,

The team of authors who write as Erin Yorke returns to one of their most popular settings this month with Devlin, an emotional tale set in Ireland and England. It’s the story of an Irish rebel who saves the life of an Englishwoman and is captured by the English for his efforts. The young woman rescues him from prison, but the two of them must battle distrust and betrayal before finding the happiness they deserve.

Deborah Simmons also returns this month with The de Burgh Bride , the sequel to her steamy adventure, Taming the Wolf. This book is the story of the scholarly de Burgh brother, Geoffrey, who has drawn the short straw and must marry the “wicked” daughter of a vanquished enemy, a woman who reportedly murdered her first husband in the marriage bed!

A city banker forced to spend a year recuperating in the country goes head-to-head with a practical country widow and learns that some of life’s greatest pleasures are the simple ones, in Theresa Michaels’s next book in her new Western series, The Merry Widows—Catherine. And corruption, jealousy and the shadow of barrenness threaten the love of a beautiful Saxon woman who has a year to produce an heir, or be separated forever from the knight who holds her heart, in Shari Anton’s stirring medieval tale, By King’s Decree.