“I wondered why you never got married. You’re more’n pretty enough.”
Eliza’s cheeks grew warm. The cover of night coaxed words into the open. “There was one special someone once. But he just…disappeared.”
“Man was a damned fool,” Jonas said with enough conviction to bring tears to her eyes. He must have noticed her reaction, because he pulled her closer, releasing her hand so he could envelop her in his warmth and strength. She didn’t resist, didn’t even want to.
She had no reason on earth to deny herself this pleasure, nothing more to lose, so she met his kiss.
She savored the warmth of his mouth, loved his hands on her waist. Eliza was starving for affection, for attention…for someone to recognize and want her for who she was. This was her moment. Her tiny dash at satisfaction, and she meant to grab it.
Her Montana Man
Harlequin®Historical
Praise for Cheryl St.John
“Ms. St.John knows what the readers want and keeps on giving it.”
—Rendezvous
“Ms. St.John holds a spot in my top-five list of must-read Harlequin Historical authors. She is an amazingly gifted author.”
—Writers Unlimited
His Secondhand Wife
Nominated for a RITA® Award. “A beautifully crafted and involving story about the transforming power of love, this is recommended reading.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
Prairie Wife
Nominated for a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Reviewers’ Choice Award. “Prairie Wife is a very special book, courageously executed by the author and her publisher. Her considerable skill brings the common theme of the romance novel—love conquers all—to the level of genuine catharsis.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews [41/2 stars]
The Tenderfoot Bride
“Cheryl St.John once again touches the hearts of readers…Not many readers will be able to hold back their tears as they reach the conclusion.”
—Romance Reviews Today
HER MONTANA MAN
CHERYL ST.JOHN
Available from Harlequin®Historical and CHERYL ST.JOHN
Rain Shadow #212
Heaven Can Wait #240
Land of Dreams #265
Saint or Sinner #288
Badlands Bride #327
The Mistaken Widow #429
Joe’s Wife #451
The Doctor’s Wife #481
Sweet Annie #548
The Gunslinger’s Bride #577
Christmas Gold #627
“Colorado Wife”
The Tenderfoot Bride #679
Prairie Wife #739
His Secondhand Wife #760
Wed Under Western Skies #799
“Almost a Bride”
The Lawman’s Bride #835
The Preacher’s Daughter #851
A Western Winter Wonderland #867
“Christmas Day Family”
The Magic of Christmas #915
“A Baby Blue Christmas”
Her Montana Man #923
Other works include:
Silhouette Special Edition
Nick All Night #1475
*Marry Me…Again #1558
Charlie’s Angels #1630
Million-Dollar Makeover #1688
Montana Mavericks
The Magnificent Seven
The Bounty Hunter
With thanks and appreciation to the ladies who can’t eat as much chocolate as I can, but who definitely help me out of the jams I write myself into and know how to celebrate a birthday in style. Smooches to Bernadette Duquette, Barb Hunt, Donna Knoell, Debra Hines, Lizzie Starr, Chris Carter, Sherri Shackelford and Julie Breese.
And thanks to Heartland Writers Group
for honoring my RWA milestone!
DON’T MISS THESE OTHER NOVELS AVAILABLE NOW:
#924 AN IMPROPER ARISTOCRAT—Deb Marlowe
The scandalous Earl of Treyford has no time for the pretty niceties of the ton. He has returned to England to aid an aging spinster facing an undefined danger. But Miss Latimer’s thick eyelashes and long ebony hair, her mix of knowledge and innocence, arouse far more than his protective instincts…. A scandalous Earl becomes the gentleman she’s dreamed of!
#925 THE MISTLETOE WAGER—Christine Merrill
Harry Pennyngton, Earl of Anneslea, is surprised when his estranged wife, Elise, arrives home for Christmas—especially as she is still intent on divorce! But when Harry and Elise find they are stuck with each other under the mistletoe, the magic of Christmas is just what they need to reignite their love! Mistletoe works its magic as passion is rekindled in this festive Regency story….
#926 VIKING WARRIOR, UNWILLING WIFE—Michelle Styles
War drums echoing in her ears, Sela stood with trepidation on the shoreline. The dragon ships full of warriors had arrived—but it wasn’t the threat of conquest that shook Sela to the core. It was her heart’s response to the proud face of Vikar Hrutson, leader of the invading force—and her ex-husband! Now the warrior must conquer his woman’s heart!
Contents
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
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter One
Silver Bend, Montana, May 1885
Jonas Black looked up from his ledgers and flipped open his ornately engraved gold pocket watch. Nearly three already. In preparation to leave his desk, he blotted the numbers he’d just tallied, then rubbed his ink-stained fingers