Lady Be Bad (29 page)

“We’re not sharing this room!” she
hissed.

“Do you prefer to sleep in the stables?” he
asked in an awful voice. “I can tell you, I do not.”

“Of course, not. Just obtain another
room.”

“There are no other rooms, Amanda. In case
you hadn’t noticed, we are in the middle of a storm, and we are not
the only travelers seeking shelter. We’re fortunate this room was
still available. It was the last one.”

She stared at him, flustered. “Why didn’t
you tell me?”

“We’re married. I suppose I didn’t regard it
as an issue.” James took off his wet coat. “Think of it as adhering
to the contract,” he said, tossing it to the floor.

“The contract?”

“You will be warming my bed. Naturally, you
don’t have to like it.”

“Absolutely not.”

He stopped in the middle of removing his
shirt, his expression disdainful. “Amanda, do not assume. Turn down
my advances
when
I’ve given you reason.”

“But you’re taking off your shirt.”

“I’m sorry if I embarrass you but I am
drenched. I’ll be damned if I will stay in these clothes simply
because it makes you uncomfortable. I suggest you change as well.
You are going to fall in that skirt.”

“I-I’ll wait until you leave.”

He made a sound of disgust and, despite her
protests, peeled down to his skin.

Amanda turned away, but her awareness of him
only a few feet away was intense. Despite her discomfort, she gave
in to curiosity and peeked over her shoulder.

He was as naked as the day he was born, tall
and broad-shouldered, muscles working in his back as he rummaged in
his bag. His skin was browned from years in the tropical sun. He
must have spent a lot of time outdoors undressed, because the rich
golden color covered him from head to foot. She was shocked by a
sudden throbbing in her throat, desire washing over her in a
seductive wave.

If James was aware of her furtive
inspection, he chose to ignore her, going about the business of
getting dressed, no wasted movement—or modesty, for that matter—as
he stepped into trousers and buttoned a clean shirt. He slipped
into another coat, combed his hair and moved to the door. Only then
did he look at her as she quickly looked away.

“I leave you to your privacy,” he said, the
words clipped and ironic, considering he’d had none. The door
snapped shut behind him.

Amanda stood in the middle of the room,
feeling lost and very much alone. She had antagonized James, which
she regretted now that it was too late. She was drawn to him in an
almost compulsive way, attraction so strong at times, she wondered
if she were going mad. She was ready to damn her pride and take
what he offered, ultimately unsatisfactory though it might be.

She wasn’t comfortable with the passion.
What she was feeling seemed excessive, more the territory of randy
young men than ladies of refined sensibilities. She thought of her
husband sating his needs on her while she remained aloof. Possible?
Not bloody likely if her past responses were any indication. What a
fool she was to have challenged him.

At last she removed her gown, struggling
with the hooks in the back, frustrated as she heard the ripping of
stitches. On the verge of a temper tantrum, she threw the soddened
garment next to her husband’s clothes, wishing Betty were here to
help her dress. But James had done well on his own and she could do
no less.

Amanda put on one of her simpler frocks, one
with buttons down the front, eschewing stays and the perennial
hoop, which was a fashion blunder of major proportions. She did not
care, for who was here to see? She did what she could to restore
her hair and drew a shawl over her shoulders.

She assumed her husband was expecting her
downstairs. They had not eaten since early morning, and she was
starved, her stomach protesting audibly. She could request a meal
in her room but knew that would be the final insult where James was
concerned. Maybe they could have a pleasant meal together and
repair some of the damage. Not that she intended to thaw in her
initial attitude, but she did hate the open warfare.

Amanda refused to acknowledge that she might
be inspired to ease the friction by the memory of splendid man, his
naked body sun-kissed and virile, an invitation on his lips that
was hard to resist.

In a torment of indecision, her heart
warring with more earthy needs, she left her room and descended to
the dining room.

In the Garden of Deceit by Cynthia
Wicklund

Coming summer 2011 wherever eBooks are
sold

EBOOKS By JOAN REEVES

The Lingerie Covers

Most women love beautiful lingerie. That
idea is what inspired the covers of these sassy, sexy romantic
comedies. All of these books were previously published and were
well-received by critics and readers. I think they're fun books and
provide the perfect escape from the daily grind. Treat yourself to
one today!

Just One Look

Still The One

Jane (I'm-Still-Single) Jones

Beauty and The Geek, Spring 2012

Texas One Night Stands

You may be surprised by the one night stands
that kick off these stories. They're not exactly what you might
expect. What you can expect is lots of sparks, sensuality, and
bubbling desire. In other words, these Texas women are headed for
all kinds of trouble.

Book 1: The Trouble With Love

Book 2: Romeo and Judy Anne, July 2011

Book 3: TBA, Spring 2012

Book 4: TBA, Spring 2013

The Good, The Bad, and The Girly

Every woman makes mistakes in life. Meet
Stormy Clarkson and her three daughters. Stormy made three whoppers
of mistakes that changed her and changed the lives of her three
daughters. Love never fails though. Stormy discovers that sometimes
you get another chance to live the life you want, not the one with
which you're stuck, and that's a lesson she intends to pass on to
her daughters.

This Novella Series begins with Stormy's
story in Book 1: Old Enough To Know Better, Haley's story in Book
2: Good Girl Conspiracy, Courtney's story in Book 3: Bad Girl
Complex, and Austen's story in Book 4: Girly-Girl Conquest.

Book 1: Old Enough To Know Better, July
2011

Book 2: Good Girl Conspiracy, Fall 2011

Book 3: Bad Girl Complex, Spring 2012

Book 4: Girly-Girl Conquest, Summer 2012

San Antone Two-Step

San Antonio, Texas, is the home of the
Alamo, the Riverwalk, and a delightful blend of Anglo and Hispanic
cultures. Two-stepping is a way of life on Saturday nights, and
celebrations often feature luminaries, small paper bags filled with
sand, with a lit candle placed in the middle of the sand. That tiny
flame can illumine or burn out of control if one isn't careful. So
can repressed desire when enkindled by love.

With love, sometimes it's two steps forward,
two steps back, and, sometimes, dancing around love is like playing
with fire. You risk getting burned.

Wish on a Texas Star, November 2011

San Antone Blue, Summer 2012

Nonfiction

Written Wisdom: Quotation-Inspired
Essays

A Best of SlingWords Collection,
2005-2010

Excerpt, Old Enough To Know Better

Book 1: The Good, The Bad, and The Girly
Series

By Joan Reeves

You know what they say about the best-laid
plans of mice and men going astray? Well, Stormy Clarkson decided,
the best-laid plans of women old enough to know better didn't just
go astray. They went into some kind of hyperspace wormhole, and,
when they came out the other end, they landed on your unsuspecting
head like Dorothy's house crushing the wicked witch.

What was she going to do? She was in over
her head, and she knew it.

Her hands shook as she pulled the shimmering
red silk dress from the hanger. She stepped into the dress and
pulled it up, slipping her arms through the straps. A lot of women
her age avoided showing their arms, but sagging triceps were the
least of her problems tonight.

Besides, she'd made exercise her addiction
of choice years ago. Not only was it a way to deal with stress but
also it helped fill the empty hours of the life she'd chosen.

Chosen?

No. Stop it!

With fierce determination, Stormy reminded
herself of certain truths. Now was not the time to fall into that
old mental debate. Not tonight. She owned her decisions. She'd
moved on. She liked the person she'd become when she'd finally
grown up.

You're just scared.

When she got scared, the temptation to brand
an L for loser on her forehead was overpowering. Put a sock in it,
she scolded herself.

Stormy zipped her dress then studied her
reflection in the full-length mirror. She was lucky. Sure, she had
some tiny lines around the corners of her eyes, but her throat was
still firm, as were her legs, and the aforementioned arms. Her
boobs didn't droop. Yet. And her stomach was still flat. Not bad
for a woman who turned fifty today. But was it good enough to be
naked later with a man younger than she?

No, she couldn't do it. She was insane to
even be thinking about it.

Her hands shook as she pulled the pins from
her hair. If only she hadn't let Libby talk her into this Wine
Country Weekend. If only she was at home, alone. Like all the other
nights for as long as she could remember. If only she could stop
thinking about sex.

Sex with
him
. With his large hands
touching her. Everywhere.

If only she hadn't kissed him. But the heat
in his eyes had drawn her. She felt like a moth that had already
made the acquaintance of the flame and was over-heated from the
encounter.

Stormy groaned. Heaven help her, but she
wanted to be naked in his arms.

What was she going to do? If she had a brain
in her head, she'd pack up and leave. Or at least stay in her
bungalow and not answer the door.

Run away or stay?

The mirror reflected her indecision. Stormy
sighed and smoothed the red silk over her breasts and down her
body. A body that seemed to have grown a few million more,
ultra-sensitive, nerve endings since she'd met Jack Butler, the
owner of the winery.

What would it feel like if Jack touched her
like this? A shiver of sexual awareness raced up her spine. The
dress made her look as blatantly sexual as she felt.

A knock on the door made Stormy jump. A
heavy pulse beat between her legs. Decision time.

Hide or open the door?

Old Enough To Know Better

Book 1: The Good, The Bad, and The Girly
Series

By Joan Reeves

Available July 2011