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!
Something About Ewe
The Purrfect Man
Ruth Jean Dale
Contents
“Shacking up is not my thing,” Thalia insisted.
“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
Books by 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!
1
“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