Book Excerpt
It was a dark
night, but the moon and stars played a game of peekaboo through the clouds and
teased him with their reflections in her sapphire eyes. Up close, Lachlan could
see a pink flush on her cheeks. He wanted to stay angry, but as he studied her
bewildered gaze and took in how her fingers trembled in his, he lost his
resolve.
“What was that with
Brodie?” His jaw ticked.
Maggie pursed her
lips and didn’t reply right away. Now he wished he had taken her somewhere
better lit—he could usually tell if she was lying, but in this light, could he
trust his senses? Thankfully, the clouds rolled away and he had a clear view
into her eyes, her soul. She blinked. “We were dancing. Ye were off with
Arabella.”
She had the
audacity to roll her eyes and tug her hand free from his. Was that jealousy in
her bitter reply? “Why do ye even care?” she finally bit out, then turned back
toward the keep.
Catching her wrist,
he twirled her to face him and said tersely, “Ye are mine. Ye willnae let
another touch ye.”
“I belong to no
one. I amnae wed,” she retorted as she pulled out of his grasp and crossed her
arms. She stamped her foot. It was strangely amusing until the words
registered.
Aye, her view had
merit, but Lachlan wouldn’t accept it. “Ye are on my land.” It was weak, but
she couldn’t argue with it.
“I will leave if ye
wish,” she countered as her eyes narrowed into slits and her lips tightened.
How could she
consider leaving him after last night? Could he make her stay? “Nae, ye
willnae.”
“Why? Ye have
Arabella.” Her lip quavered.
He saw it for
certain now—she was jealous. His chest swelled, and a primal pride eclipsed his
anger. He had left the hall with Arabella to tell the woman to leave him be,
and she had gotten the wrong impression. His heart leaped. Maggie was jealous,
just as he had been about her, and he couldn’t help when one side of his mouth
curved up in satisfaction.
About the Book
Title: Highland Deception
Author: Lori Ann Bailey
Genre: Historical Romance
Scotland, August 1642
Maggie and Lachlan must fight their
growing attraction, battling suspicion and intrigue as religious and
political turmoil threaten to tear their clans apart.
He has sworn he will never marry.
Lachlan Cameron is honor bound to see a
wounded lass to safety, although he has well learned women are
deceivers, and this lovely maid harbors a wealth of secrets. But
Maggie’s free spirit and charms enthrall him while he works to discover
if she is innocent…or a spy scheming with his enemies to destroy his
clan.
She has sworn she will never fall in love.
Maggie Murray fled her home to avoid a
political marriage to an abusive man. Salvation comes when the Cameron
laird, unaware of her identity, protects her as she escapes. His
kindness slowly warms her, and she’s tempted to confess her real name.
But his strong sense of honor would force him to return her to her
father…and torment at the hands of her scorned betrothed.
Author Bio
Lori Ann Bailey has a romantic soul and
believes the best in everyone. Sappy commercials and proud mommy moments
make her cry. She sobs uncontrollably and feels emotionally drained
when reading sad books, so she started reading romance for the Happily
Ever Afters. She was hooked. Then, the characters and scenes that ran
around in her head as she attempted to sleep at night begged to be let
out. Looking back now, her favorite class in high school was the one
where a professor pulled a desk to the center of the room and told her
to write two paragraphs about it and the college English class taught by
a red-headed Birkenstock wearing girl, not much older than she, who
introduced her to Jack Kerouac. After working in business and years as a
stay-at-home mom she has found something in addition to her family to
be passionate about, her books. She lives in Northern Virginia with her
real life hero, four kids that keep her on her toes, two dogs determined
to destroy her house and two cats secretly plotting the demise of those
dogs.
Author links:
Website: http://loriannbailey.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/labaileyauthor
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/labaileyauthor/
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