Carla Susan Smith takes you through the next step in the Corsets and Carriages Trilogy of Rian and Catherine's true love and the obstacles in their way. RESOLVE picks up where MISCHANCE leaves off with the journey to Rian's ancestral home. This is a trilogy that must be read in order, each book is just part of the story.
Catherine and Rian grow closer, but Isabel, Rian's former mistress, throws a wrench in the works. She connives to steal Rian for herself, while revealing tidbits of Catherine's forgotten past.
This new addition only brings more questions. Will Isabel get Rian back and revenge on Catherine? Can she remember the person who so brutally attacked her? Is Catherine safe from the person who abused and could've killed her? Is Catherine's attack and the resulting trauma going to affect her relationship with Rian? Is Rian truly the man for Catherine and, if he is, can they live happily ever after? All will be answered in the final book in the Corsets and Carriages Trilogy. I can't wait to find out what happens next to Rian and Catherine. I may have to reread MISCHANCE and RESOLVE to reacquaint myself with what went on.
βI am not so naΓ―ve that I donβt know what happens
between a man and a woman when they are lovers.β
In the sanctuary of Rian Connorβs magnificent ancestral
estate, Catherine Davenport struggles to remember who she
was before he found her wandering practically naked on the
docks of London. She has little memory of the vicious
attack
that brought her there, but she canβt deny the feelings
Rian
awakens in her. In danger of losing her heart to a man
tormented by the dark secrets of his own past, Catherine
questions what an innocent like her has to offer such an
experienced man of the world.
βYou have no idea what you are doing to meβhow much I
want you, how much I need you!β
On the night of his brotherβs wedding ball, Rian proves
exactly how much he wants his beautiful young protΓ©gΓ©, only
to be lured by his former mistress into committing the
ultimate betrayal. For Isabel Howard will stop at nothing
to
do away with Catherine and destroy her future with the man
they both desire above all others . . .
Catherine had no way of knowing that the bright cornflower
blue of her eyes had deepened, becoming a darker, richer
color. But she felt the unexpected heat in her cheeks as
her gaze was drawn to his mouth. Rian's lips were slightly
parted, and she felt the warmth of his breath on her face
and saw the even white teeth behind the sensuous curve of
his lips. It was temptation and distraction combined in one
and savoring the feel of his body as he held her, the
delicious tightness of the arm that imprisoned her, she
closed her eyes tightly ... and kissed him.
To say Rian was surprised would have been a marked
understatement. The softness of Catherine's lips as she
pressed her firmly closed mouth against his amazed him.
Unfortunately, the kiss was over before he had time to
appreciate it as she jerked her head away, burying her face
in his shoulder, refusing to look at him.
In itself, her kiss told him nothing at all, but its
execution told him everything he wanted to know. Reaching
up with his free hand, he gently stroked her hair, waiting
patiently for her to raise her head and look at him once
more. After a few moments she did so, and Rian noted her
face was now a delightful shade of pink.
"I-I don't know why I did that," she stammered.
"Yes, you do," Rian told her. "You did it because you
wanted to."
"You must think me terribly forward."
"Must I?" Continuing to stroke her hair, he asked "Would
you be disappointed if I chose not to?"
"You're not shocked by what I did?"
"Shocked?" Rian arched a brow. "No, but I am surprised."
"Oh."
He didn't know it was possible for such a small word to
carry so much anguish.
βDid you like kissing me?β He made no attempt to move,
keeping his arm firmly around her waist, and enjoying the
feel of her lying on top of him.
βMmmm, wellβ¦β She wrinkled her nose. βIt really wasnβt how
I thought it would be.β Her head sought the comfort of his
shoulder again, and she worried she had hurt his feelings
by saying the wrong thing.
βCatherine, look at me.β Rianβs voice was a low, warm,
seductive whisper in her ear. Hesitantly she obeyed, and
now her heart began to pound wildly. She felt as if she
were prey, only she had to wonder, how often did prey want
to be caught by the hunter? βHave you ever been kissed?β
Rian asked her.
βI donβt know. Perhaps ... Iβm not sure."
βAnd is that how you think a kiss is supposed to feel?β
She had no idea, but as the question was being asked she
reasoned perhaps there was more to kissing than the way she
had pressed her mouth against Rianβs. Although what else
could possibly be involved she couldnβt begin to imagine.
With nothing else to go on, she nodded in answer to Rianβs
question, only to wince when he sighed in exasperation.
βWould you like me to kiss you?β he asked.
She didnβt answer because she didnβt trust her voice, but
Rian read the response in her eyes easily enough. Framing
her face with his hands, he pulled her down to him and
gently covered her mouth with his. Catherine would never
know how much self-control it took for him not to simply
take her. Taste all that she had to give and let himself
become lost in her. Instead, he kept his kiss light, his
tongue gently sweeping over her closed lips, and when he
felt her beginning to surrender to him so he could taste
the sweetness of her breath, he stopped and lifted his
mouth from hers.
Her eyes had turned glassy, her voice husky with desire as
she asked, "Is it always like that?β
βNo β¦ it usually gets better.β
βIt does?β She positively glowed at his nod. βThen β¦ will
you kiss me again?β
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