Silent Surrender

By Alexa Bourne

Meggie MacDougall often dreams of Quinn O’Connell, the sexy Irish football coach who swept her off her feet in Dublin. But what happened in Dublin must stay there. She has responsibilities at home, and she refuses to fuel the gossip fires in Glenhalish.

Quinn has never forgotten Meggie and the explosive weekend they shared. Overwhelmed by memories of her passion, beauty, and zest for life, he jeopardizes his cushy career to find her and test the connection between them.

When Quinn arrives in her Highland village, Meggie is determined to ignore him. However, she isn't prepared for the claim he lays on her heart with his sexy charm and his tender soul.

Will pride and fear keep Meggie from embracing possibilities, or will Quinn's gentle persistence break down her defenses and lead her to a silent surrender?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Jul 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781613335505

Alexa Bourne

Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romance writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance for Decadent Publishing and is thrilled to have the chance to share her love of Great Britain with readers everywhere. When she's not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. She loves to interact with readers, so visit her web page, hang out at her blog, follow her on Twitter or drop her a note at : www.alexabourne.com or http://alexabourne.blogspot.com, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaBourne or follow her on Twitter @AlexaBourne.

Book preview

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement (including infringement without monetary gain) is investigated by the FBI and punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Silent Surrender

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 by Alexa Bourne

ISBN: 978-1-61333-550-5

Cover art by Tibbs Designs

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Look for us online at:

www.decadentpublishing.com

Decadent Publishing Recent Releases

Blade Dance by Danica St. Como

Sweet Cravings by Eva LeFoy

Cursed by Cate Masters

Two Men by Kate Richards

Lorelei’s Song by Maureen O. Betita

Home to Hellas by Stephanie Beck

Something to Howl About by Azura Ice

Mergers and Acquisitions by Sorcha Mowbray

Escape to My Arms by Heather Thurmeier

Crow Magic by Mary Quast

Rugged Hearts by Amanda McIntyre

Pajama Party by Kelli Scott

One Night with the Bride by Sara Daniel

The Midnight Masquerade by Monica Corwin

The Perfect Sub by Jayson Locke

The Governess and the Beast by Karyn Gerrard

Alice’s Dragon by Stephanie Beck

Burning Sage by Deena Remiel

A Marine Affair by Heather Long

Also by Alexa Bourne

Her Highland Champion

Fractured Paradise

Simple Treasures

Carry Me Home

Silent Surrender

By

Alexa Bourne

~DEDICATION~

For Kelli Johnston, the sister I never had and the friend I’ll always treasure.

Chapter One

Quinn O’Connell’s players and fellow coaches were prepping for their football match next week, and he had taken a six-hour train ride to chase after a woman. This had to be the absolute dumbest decision he’d ever made.

What was he expecting? They’d sleep together again and then she’d send him on his way, off to maneuver young lads through football techniques and strategies?

When he bought the train ticket the day before in Langtonshire, England, this had been a grand idea. Standing in the woman’s Highland village of Glenhalish with no way of searching her out and nowhere to stay the nights…. What a fool.

A cool breeze brushed across his face. He tossed his knapsack over his shoulder and stared around the village. It was a small place, with one main road in the center of the village and rich green mountains on the outskirts, much like those in his Irish hometown. Behind him, the train he’d left whistled and raced on toward Mallaig. Sunshine fought for attention behind thick, gray clouds. Groups of teenagers giggled as they walked around him. Bollocks. He turned back to the small box Glenhalish residents used for a train station. Maybe there’d be hotel information tacked to a board.

A vehicle slowed in front of him. Sitting in the back was a middle-aged couple he’d seen on the train. The young, female driver rolled down the window and flashed him a smile. You look a little lost, she said with an American accent. Can we help you?

I’m afraid I didn’t make any reservations here, and now I don’t know where to stay.

Well, it just so happens my husband and I run a bed and breakfast, and you’re welcome to come stay with us. We have a couple of rooms still available.

Thanks. He grabbed the handle, slid into the passenger seat, and closed the door.

Are you on vacation? the older woman behind him asked with an Eastern European accent.

Just up for a long weekend. I’ve got to be in England on Sunday.

And what brings you to our lovely little village? the American asked.

Hope for a long weekend in the bedroom with a woman who had rocked his world eight months ago? No, he couldn’t mention that. He’d watched his players get into trouble with their comments on plenty of occasions. He would not do the same. Professional. Always. I’m looking for a friend.

Someone from the village? It’s pretty small. I probably know him.

Her, actually. Meggie MacDougall.

The American slapped her hand on the steering wheel. How convenient. Meggie works in our kitchen part time.

Oh, that’s grand. Quinn’s gut tightened. In Langtonshire, a perfect plan. In Glenhalish, daft, daft, daft.

While the couple behind him engaged the local in conversation, he glanced out the window and studied the scenery. The car traveled on a single-lane road and passed a stunning loch with more mountains flanking it. In the distance stood a huge building with spires, sitting several yards from the loch.

He’d come to find a woman, but he’d bought the train ticket before he could think the scheme through. What if she didn’t remember their wild, sex-filled weekend when she’d come to Dublin?

Oh, not likely. He had enough faith in his ability to charm and satisfy a woman. But what