Heiress Katherine Fleming chose her future husband with the utmost care. After watching her parents' disastrous marriage, in which her mother turns a blind eye to her philandering husband, Katherine promises it will not happen to her. Katherine believes she's found the perfect husband. FiancΓ© Cole Mallory is a calm, placid man who will be her friend and not an all-consuming love. At Katherine's engagement party, Cole surprises her with the announcement that his dead wife is alive. Stunned by the revelation, Katherine finds herself embroiled in a scandal that could ruin her.
Black-sheep Dominic Mallory arrives at his older brother's engagement party wishing he were anywhere but at the ancestral home. Dominic's childhood was a nightmare. Locked in a loveless marriage, Dominic's mother fell in love, and the result of the secret affair was Dominic. His father claimed him as a Mallory, but hated his existence, and his mother couldn't bear to look upon him, as he was her fall from grace. Following his father's lead, Cole despises Dominic and makes his life as difficult as possible. The real reason Dominic is home is to buy Lansing Square from his brother.
Knowing how much Dominic wants Lansing Square, Cole uses it to blackmail him into marrying Katherine. It's the perfect solution for Cole. He'll obtain Katherine's money from Dominic and once again beat Dominic. What Cole doesn't bargain for is the passion and the beginnings of a real marriage between Dominic and Katherine. Jealousy eats away at Cole, and he tries to sabotage their marriage.
Debut author Jenna Petersen pens a vibrant romantic tale filled with passion, betrayal and revenge. SCANDALOUS teams with strong secondary characters, which gives the story added vibrancy and depth. This tale belongs on readers' keeper shelf.
The man was so stubborn. Bullheaded. Even so, she felt a
nagging need to comfort him. Sadness was buried in his
stormy eyes, no matter how both of them pretended it
wasnβt. It only seemed to deepen the longer they stayed at
Lansing Square. Whether or not he admitted it, the house he
wanted so desperately to get rid of meant something to him.
And whatever βbusinessβ he had there had something to do
with his strange searching.
What could he be looking for?
She found herself bundling a second ball of packed snow
into her fist. She took aim at a tree branch a fair
distance away and let loose, pretending it was her
husbandβs head as a target. It hit squarely and she
couldnβt help but smile.
βYouβve a good arm. Perhaps youβd like to practice on a
better enemy.β
Katherine spun around with a start to find Dominic crossing
the lawn toward her with arms outstretched as if offering
his broad, muscular chest as a mark. She blushed. Sheβd
been caught. Thank goodness he couldnβt read her thoughts.
βYou want me to throw a snowball at you?β she asked with a
giggle she couldnβt suppress.
He gave her that half-grin that melted her every time. βThe
birds are easy marks, my lady. And anyone could have hit
that tree branch. I am simply offering you a challenge.β
Yes, he certainly did that. A challenge to her resolve.
He stooped and scooped up a handful of wet snow. With
flourish, he rubbed a target on the breast of his dark
woolen greatcoat, then stood back. βThere, now Iβve made it
even easier for you.β
She couldnβt hold back another burst of laughter. βJust
remember you asked for this.β
She wound up and was pleased when she hit him squarely in
the middle of the chest, despite his last-minute sidestep.
He smiled. βDecent.β
βDecent? I hit you full on!β she said in mock outrage
before she balled up another snowball and threw again.
But he was just as quick and she found herself dodging as
much as throwing. His aim was as good as hers and more of
his missiles hit her than missed. As she straightened up
for one last throw, she was pleased to see his coat was
dotted with white marks. At the exact moment she let loose,
he stood up and the snowball connected squarely with his
face.
She squealed in delight as he sputtered and wiped snow away
from his eyes. Eyes that came up to meet hers with
playfully murderous intent.
βOh, you liked that, did you?β he asked as he dug into his
pocket for a hopelessly damp handkerchief.
βI-Iβm s-so sorry,β she managed between giggles.
βHmmm. It doesnβt sound like it.β He grinned. βBut you will
be.β
With that, he dove toward her. She let out a small scream
as she scurried away. Laughing, she ran across the snow
with him hard on her heels. Just when she thought she would
escape, he jumped. They both went down on the soft snow in
a heap of red coat and laughter.
βNow youβre going to get it,β Dominic chuckled as he
shifted his weight to pin her laughing, struggling
form. βNow youβre mine.β
Something in his voice shifted and Katherine stopped
fidgeting to look up into stormy gray eyes. Eyes that
pulled her in bit by bit until laughter was forgotten,
snowball fights were forgotten, everything was forgotten
except how much she wanted him.
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