Title: Dark Stranger
Author: Carolina Valdez
Published in June 2004 by Amber Quill Press, LLC
Genre: Short Historical Erotica
IBSN: 1-59279-240-5
When Jenny Dalton hired on at the ranchero as the companion to Lucita Allende a few months ago, she was grateful to find such a good job. Recently jilted by her fiancée and left virtually penniless, she is not sure what she would have done if she had not found this position. Widowed at a young age and then left at the altar by another man, Jenny has not had an easy life up to this point. Jenny knows about loneliness, but she is hopeful that her situation is about to change with her new employment. She loves her life at the hacienda now. The only thing that is not perfect about her job is dealing with the Allende cousins, though for very different reasons. Soltero is a man that has lets his eyes and hands wander and will do anything to get out of putting in a full day’s work. On the other hand, Rafael is the perfect gentleman and works hard at keeping the ranchero running.
When Jenny met Rafael, the first things that drew her to him were his eyes, which are fringed with dark, thick lashes. She almost lost herself in their depths. Jenny is skilled at hiding her true feelings from Rachael. Although he drives away the loneliness, she has avoided being around him ever since the fiesta and the dance they shared. Her feelings are just too strong and she knows her place is not at his side. She is only a hired companion, not a wealthy neighbor. The night of the big storm changes things though. His family has given him up for dead after the stampede, so Jenny takes it upon herself to save him. The threat of mudslides will not keep Jenny from searching the foothills for the man she loves. Finding herself stranded with Rafael in an old 2-room house, she does the only thing she can to help ensure his continued health. She strips him and warms him up with her own body.
Rafael Allende is destined to marry someone of his own status. Rachael is wealthy and young and has earned the respect of the other ranchers around his holdings. He does not shirk his duties and takes running the ranchero very seriously. He is an extremely skilled rider. His touch is gentle whenever he works with the livestock on his ranch. He has always puts up with his cousin Soltero because he is family, but seeing him with Jenny brings out feelings in him that he has never had before. He is not sure what to do about the situation, but he knows that he cannot wait much longer to make his move.
The night of the storm, Rafael fought for his life during the stampede, but the darkness took him over. When he wakes from the terrible darkness that had engulfed him, the first thing that he is aware of is Jenny’s face so near his own. The only thing that he can do at that point is to let his feelings rein. The slide of her flesh against his is more than a saint could handle and he is for sure not a saint. His fantasy is coming true or so he thought. When she pleads for him to stop, he does the honorable thing and lets her walk away. It is the hardest thing he has ever had to do.
Dark Stranger by Carolina Valdez is a short tale of intense emotion. Jenny has found her place in the world until her feelings for Rafael overcome her common sense and she realizes that he could never love her. Jenny is the hired companion of his frail aunt and Rafael is destined to marry another. To save her honor, Jenny flees the ranchero in the dead of night, only to find herself abducted by a dark stranger riding a gray horse. Rafael has spent his life running the ranchero and doing the right thing. Well, he has had enough of doing the right thing and is going to follow his heart and the woman he loves and bring her back, no matter what it takes.
There is nothing like the dream of having a tall dark stranger ride in and sweep you off your feet. Well, that happens to Jenny, but she at least has the sense to know that being abducted by a stranger is not the best way to end the day. Rafael might start out as the strong silent type, but he game plan soon becomes known. He is a man accustomed to winning and this time the stakes are high. Get a copy today from Amber Quill Press, LLC to find out just who the dark stranger is and how their lives will be changed forever.
Yours Sincerely,
Annmarie
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