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Winter suddenly stopped walking and looked up at Matt. “Do you always analyze your dates?”
“Only when I’m trying to distract them.”
“You’re trying to distract me? From what?”
He smiled. “From realizing that I have every intention of kissing you tonight. Want to get it over with now, or would you like to spend the evening savoring the prospect?”
Her mouth opened and closed, but not a sound emerged as she blinked up at him. Matt was quite pleased to see two flags of color darkening her cheeks.
He’d intended to wait, and he would have followed through with his plan, but the tiny wood sprite nervously licked her lips. Matt let go of her hand and carefully cupped her exquisitely fine face.
“Now, I think,” he whispered, bending down and gently pressing his lips to hers.
Winter’s small, strong hands immediately wrapped around his wrists, but they didn’t push him away or pull back. Instead Winter went utterly still, as if testing his—or her own—intentions.
She was hesitant at first, maybe even shy. But then he felt Winter’s grip on his wrists relax as she moved ever so slightly toward him and parted her lips.
And that was when he got his first taste of that energy he’d seen in her paintings; it hummed through his body with the force of intoxicating passion.
Yes, he was definitely tasting the sweet promise of Winter’s magic.
Praise for Janet Chapman
“Magic, humor, and Scotsmen abound in this time-travel series.”
—Old Book Barn Gazette
Charming the Highlander
“Splendid. We can expect great things from Janet Chapman.”
—The Oakland Press
“Time travel, tragedy, temptation, along with desire, destiny, devotion, and, of course, true love, are all woven into Janet Chapman’s romance.”
—Bangor Daily News
“Terrific…A real gem of a story!”
—Romantic Times
“Dazzling…one of the best books you will ever read. Charming the Highlander is just magnificent.”
—ReaderToReader.com
Loving the Highlander
“Janet Chapman has hit another home run with Loving the Highlander. It’s a fresh take on time travel, with both humor and drama. She’s a keeper.”
—Linda Howard
“Just as delightful as the first.”
—Old Book Barn Gazette
Wedding the Highlander
“Her most emotional, touching, and powerful novel to date.”
—Romantic Times
“Exciting…Janet Chapman writes a refreshingly entertaining novel.”
—TheBestReviews.com
Tempting the Highlander
“A wonderful addition to Chapman’s Highlander trilogy.”
—Booklist
“Chapman breathes such life and warmth into her characters, each story is impossible to put down.”
—Romantic Times
The Seductive Impostor
“Sensual and suspenseful.”
—Booklist
“[Her] skills as a storyteller just keep getting better. Great reading!”
—Romantic Times, 4 ½ stars, Top Pick
“One of the best books I’ve read in a long time…. A fun, sexy read!”
—Old Book Barn Gazette
“Janet Chapman has created magnificent characters that sizzle…extraordinary…impossible to put down.”
—ReaderToReader.com
“Engaging romantic suspense…surprising twists…Janet Chapman seduces her audience.”
—TheBestReviews.com
Books by Janet Chapman
Charming the Highlander
Loving the Highlander
Wedding the Highlander
The Seductive Impostor
Tempting the Highlander
The Dangerous Protector
Published by Pocket Books
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS
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Copyright © 2005 by Janet Chapman
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 1-4165-1606-9
POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Visit us on the World Wide Web:
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For
Grace Morgan,
Whose friendship is the true stuff of magic
With Heartfelt Thanks
To Liz Lima, for helping to keep my life on track while I was so involved writing this book. Always know that I treasure your friendship. And I must say, you certainly throw a great party!
To Liam Gavin, for giving me the wonderful gift of awareness. Whenever you see a crow, think of me.
To the wonderful folks at Acadia Zoo in Trenton, Maine, for giving me an up-close look at your big cats, especially your magnificent leopards. Your knowledge of the animals in your charge is surpassed only by your obvious love of them. The few hours I spent in their presence was awe-inspiring and mystical.
To Ping, for braving the snowdrifts in the wee hours before dawn to follow me to work, and for somehow knowing when I need a purring cat hug. You have the heart of a mighty panther, my little friend, and the spirit of a most unusual muse.
And to Lisa and Nick, for giving Robbie and me a most precious and perfect grandson. Welcome to the world, Alex!
Chapter One
W inter MacKeage lost the thread of the conversation the moment the large male figure stepped into view. Rose continued talking, however, oblivious to the fact that the most gorgeous man ever to set foot in Pine Creek had just stopped to look at the painting hanging in the front window of Winter’s art gallery.
“Tell her I’m right,” Rose demanded, nudging Winter’s arm. “Tell Megan that no one is whispering behind her back. Hey,” Rose said more loudly, grabbing Winter’s sleeve to draw her back into the conversation. “Your sister thinks everyone in town pities her.”
Winter looked away from the divine apparition in the window and blinked at Rose and her sister, Megan, trying to remember what they had been talking about.
Rose sighed. “Darn it, Winter, help me out here. Tell Megan she’s not the center of town gossip.”
Winter finally looked into her sister’s tear-washed eyes. “Oh, but everyone is talking about you, Meg,” she said, nodding. “But only because you walk down the street looking like a rag doll that’s been left out in the rain all summer.”
“That’s not helping,” Rose snapped, using her grip on Winter’s sleeve to nudge her.
Winter stepped away, crossed her arms under her breasts, and ignored Rose in favor of glaring at Megan. “You always have such a long face, it’s a wonder you don’t trip on your own chin. You scuffle along like a beaten puppy.” Winter reached out and touched her sister’s hunched shoulder. “Pregnancy is not a disease, Meg,” she continued more gently. “Nor is it the end of the world. The only one pitying you around here is you. And if you don’t soon quit, your bairn will be born with a permanent pout.”