Heaven Scent

By Virginia Alison

Blown in on the breeze from the woman who haunts his dreams, the scent of Jasmine drives the cowboy to the brink of insanity in this compelling trilogy set in modern day Texas. When the lovers manage to be in the same place at the same time, their lives are overshadowed by the entrepreneur, Jethro Riles, who has his sights set on buying Creek Ranch along with the entire town for his own gain no matter what the cost. Encompassing strong family bonds within a powerful, yet light hearted romantic saga, from the first lost note and missed telephone call, Evan and Ginny fight against the odds to find their own little piece of heaven. However, fate conspires against them as they rush headlong towards their destiny, which waits just around the corner, over the hill...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Virginia Alison
• Release date: Nov 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311627490

Virginia Alison

Born in Bournemouth, England, Virginia’s gypsy heritage led her to a rather unusual childhood. Her father worked within the oil industry and she spent much of her younger years travelling, finishing in Canada, where she attended, and graduated from St John High school in New Brunswick. Her love of the English language was due partly to the inspiration of her English Tutor. An Oxford Don, he despaired of the American/English idioms, and as she was the only English student in the school, found her a delight to teach.Spending another year in working in Canada, life then returned her to England and on to the remote Shetland Isles for three years. Following her return to the UK, she threw herself into Floristry for fifteen years, and her artistic talents took another turn when she picked up a pen for the first time to write her first dragon fantasy novel. It took another ten years and the passing of her artistic father, to discover her talent for painting. Setting out on a new path, she now paints celebrity portraits to raise money for charities. Through Face book in 2010 she met a friend who encouraged her to take up writing again, shortly after this inspiration which rekindled her spiritual beliefs, she met her (writing collaborator and co-conspirator) Keith David. They now combine their sensual words drawn from the depths of their souls, to captivate the imagination, and entice the reader to discover their innermost desires.Virginia, now residing on Madeira Island, Portugal, soon intends a final move to a small town in Texas where inspiration for the Heaven Scent trilogy originated.

Book preview

For Kelly

I would like to thank several people who have stuck with me through a roller coaster year:

Joel Nelson for the inspiration I found in your beautiful poem, and to both you and Sylvia for your support and friendship.

My conscience and awesome writing partner Keith David. If not for your continuous nagging, love and support, I could not have come this far.

My mother Jean and beautiful daughter Lauren. I am so grateful you stuck by me throughout, and for sharing the ups and down with undying love and affection.

My friends Brian, Lynne and Michael for your friendship and encouragement, and to Glenys for your undying enthusiasm, which found me writing three books, instead of just one.

Last but by no means least, Emma and Harley. I could not have realised my dream without your kind help and expert advice with the editing and publishing.

Thank you to all who have supported both myself and Breathless Nights over the years, I am forever in your debt.

On Finding Someone

If on some better than average day

I should be riding along

Observing—not expecting—well maybe

And should see just as hoof swept by

One flawless arrow point—

If on that bright shining morning

I should step down to lift this point

Turning it delicately—feeling its smoothness

Beneath my fingertips

I would marvel at its perfection

At the way some ancient one

Had tempered and crafted such beauty

At how it came to lie there

All these centuries—covered—uncovered

Re-hidden—re-exposed

Until it came to me

To happen by this place

On this day made now more perfect.

And I would ponder such things

As coincidence and circles and synchronicity,

And I would pocket this treasure near my heart,

And riding on I would recall

Having seen such treasure as this elsewhere

But not this one—not this one.

And for one brief moment I would stiffen with fear

At how one quick glance in another direction

Could have lost this to me forever,

And I would touch my shirt over my heart

Just to make sure.

With permission of

© 1998, Joel Nelson

PROLOGUE

The arrowhead, lovingly made by the Indian brave on his twenty-first birthday, touched many lives through the years. Its crafting was traditional, the metal itself was nothing special however, while the young buck sat gazing at the work of art beneath the starlit sky, the heavens showered their blessings upon the glinting weapon in his hand. Only fate would decree how it reached its destiny, which always waited just around the corner, over the hill...

CHAPTER 1

A COWBOYS TALE

His family thought he was insane, his friends decided it was a mid life crisis; ‘Insanity, thy name is woman’ Evan mused while pulling the Stetson from his head, slapping it against his chaps and gazing up at the deep blue cloudless sky. Squinting in the glare of the sun, he wiped his shirtsleeve across his furrowed brow in an effort to push the dripping black hair away from his eyes. The dusty shirt clung to his perspiring skin and he was quite aware of the stench exuding from every pore; he could even feel his brain frazzling in the unrelenting heat. Riding across scrubland for three days and nights the cool mountain forests, now in the far distance, seemed like a lifetime away as he forged forward with one aim in his mind and one thought in his heart; his love for her.

Shaking the half-empty canteen, knowing that it would not last the day, and looking at the dry riverbed, Evan wondered if he would come across another watering hole before nightfall. His horse was in more need of water than he was, and his consternation about Midnight’s well being grew by the hour. Even though Evan had not ridden the horse for the last few miles, the black stallion was well lathered and panting heavily. Bending down to pick up a handful of dust from the dried creek, the crystalline deposits glinted in the sun as he let the fine sand run through his fingers. This was a sure sign that it originated from the range to the East, where stories of diamonds ran rife among the locals. They were of course only quartz, but over the centuries, many had travelled to seek their fortune in the inhospitable terrain however, few returned to tell the tale. He patted his shirt pocket as a thought suddenly crossed his mind. Satisfied that ‘it’ was still there he rose to his feet.

He returned his attention to Midnight. They needed to find some shade before long to shelter from the late afternoon sun or they were not going to survive, then this streak of lunacy would have been a waste of time. Evan was beginning to wonder if he needed his head seeing to, and it was all her fault. Even the dry and dusty arid desert air could not get her sweet perfume out of his nostrils. That one night was all it took. She stole his heart; he could do nothing about it, but accept his fate.

***

That day started like any other. Rising before dawn, he downed some coffee and went straight to work. The air was warm even before sun up and by early morning he had stripped to the waist while repairing the fencing on the upper pasture. Although his youth was long past, years of working on the land kept his body well toned. His tanned skin, with a sprinkling of freckles over the shoulders, glistened in the light as he placed the final post and damped the earth around it. Finishing the wiring, he took a final look at his handiwork and satisfied he had ticked another one of those spring chores off the list; Evan mounted the horse and turned for home. Following the trail downhill, over the rocky incline and onto the dry parched land that lay at the bottom of the bluff, a glint on the ground caught his eye. Pulling on the reins, he dismounted, knelt down and brushed away the earth to reveal an arrowhead.

Turning it over in his fingers, he examined the pitted metal, which had obviously seen its share of action. Briefly wondering where it came from he placed it in his shirt pocket and headed to the ranch. The rest of the day was uneventful. Nothing stuck out in his memory to suggest that it was different from any other working Friday. The end of the week always heralded a rowdy night out with the boys, so after a quick dinner, shower and fresh duds, Evan threw himself at the mercy of the night.

The usual drunken crowd packed the bar. The noise was deafening amidst the music from the jukebox, the rowdy revelers and along with a fight ensuing in the corner Evan could hardly hear himself speak. Beer in hand, he wandered over to the pool table, slapped some money on the edge and booked a game. Too many misspent hours as a youth usually meant his time on the table was short, and after swiftly pocketing six of the seven balls, it was obvious tonight was no exception, that was until the saloon door opened and a woman walked in. The crowd surrounding the table laughed as the long legged blonde drew his attention. He missed the shot, conceded defeat with a wave of his hand, and mesmerized, followed her to where she stood gazing at the music choices on the Wurlitzer.

Her steel blue eyes captivated him at first glance and along with the alluring scent of jasmine surrounding her presence, he lost all sense of time and rhythm, and barely remembered the ensuing conversation. Thinking he had died and gone to heaven, the only thing that stuck in his memory, as they found themselves pressed urgently against the wall of her hotel room, was her name; Ginny.

Her breasts strained at the white shirt begging for attention. Ripping at the buttons, he buried his head between the heaving mounds while pulling her skirt up and cupping her round butt cheeks, lifting her off the ground. Struggling with the button on his jeans she eventually exposed his raging hard on, and seconds later, welcomed him into her warm moist depths.

Fate took her part as they joined in lust’s dance and as the woman captured his heart, Evan knew this moment would somehow shape his destiny. Her soft lips sought his and gasping at the first taste of her sweetness as he thrust his tongue into her mouth, he savored the visions of delight, which flooded his thoughts.

Stroking in and out, he controlled the rise and flow of her body’s desires. Hands grasped at his skin. Nails clawed welts across his back, and her moans grew louder as his plunging became erratic with the surge of adrenaline through his veins. Ginny’s screams filled the air as she climaxed and Evan - squeezed between her rippling muscles - and with one final thrust, he shuddered as his body drained deep into her depths. Staggering backwards, they fell onto the bed in a heap amidst pants and gasps of delight.

Holy shit, what was that? Ginny laughed as she caught her breath.

What, you a virgin or something?

Ginny giggled. Certainly not now!

Evan smirked, turned to her and slowly removing her skirt began to discover the delights of her body. Savoring the hardened nipples on her pert breasts and tasting the perfumed curves over her hips to the shaven mound that glistened with loves nectar, his tongue slipped into her moist crevasses and languidly twirled around her sweet pearl that pulsed in his mouth until she cried for him to stop.

One moment fluidly coalesced into the next as Ginny climbed onto his legs, closed her mouth around his hardened shaft and slid her tongue over the silken skin. Evan moaned softly until he could take no more and pushing her onto the damp sheets, slowly, and with reverence, he took her in his arms and they moved together until dawn broke in the early hours.

Sleep overtook him, and on awakening, he immediately became aware of being alone. Burying his head in the crumpled sheets, he inhaled deeply in an effort to remind himself that he had not been dreaming. The soft scent of jasmine still drifted around the room in the gentle breeze, but of Ginny, there was no trace. A little confused, Evan threw his clothes on, and headed for the hotel reception. No one saw her leave and with more investigation around the town, it seemed no one even remembered her. With a heavy heart and aching limbs, by the time he reached to the ranch the dream was no more than a sweet memory.

Dressing the following morning, the arrowhead on the nightstand caught his eye. Picking it up a faint whiff of jasmine blew in through the window and without thinking, placed the metal in his left shirt pocket. Strangely comforted by its presence, life went on.

Days all ran into one and work took over as the weeks passed. Catching occasional whiffs of her perfume, he sorrowed alone in bed at night, stroking an erection that refused to give him satisfaction, and arose every morning from unsettling dreams. Still Evan kept the small arrowhead close to his heart. That was until he picked up the metal two months later and reeled at the overwhelming scent that invaded his senses. He knew the time had come; he had to find her. Packing the necessities and amidst a barrage of questions, he left the ranch in capable hands and set out to follow the jasmine road, which over the days led to the predicament he now found himself in, trailing the whispers of a dream.

The riverbed wound through the gorge, and rounding a bend, he saw in the distance a small outcrop with a few trees; mounting the horse, he headed for the shade. Deciding that he would continue once the sun sank below the horizon, Evan tethered Midnight to graze on a patch of grass while he got his head down.

***

It was dark when Evan stirred from his exhausted slumber. The short nap left him groggy, with blurred vision, and a dry throat.

What the hell was I thinking? I must be insane, and you let me do it. He rasped while saddling the stallion. The horse whinnied and nudged Evan’s leg.

I know, I know, not your fault. Damn women!

Looking around the dim clearing as he climbed into the saddle, Evan picked out a trail that led up the hill through the Aspen trees. A million stars twinkled in the clear sky while the moon shone brightly onto the valley floor below as they exited the forest into the open. The path led along the ridge and then dipped down to a small village built alongside a small flowing river.

The lush fertile ground bordering the riverbank and the thirst quenching icy cold water was a welcome relief from the arid desert air of the past three days. Finally refreshed, and with the scent of jasmine permeating the air, Evan rode along the dirt road and past the silent buildings, paused at the whitewashed church for a minute, then continued a mile or so out of town where the path narrowed and turned sharply right. On rounding the corner, a small cottage set into the forest, came into view. Dismounting and hitching the horse, he inhaled deeply and smiled on seeing the jasmine growing around the porch. With his heart pounding, he knocked on the door. His entire frame slumped with relief as Ginny’s gentle smile greeted him.

You found me. She stated matter of factly.

More by good luck than good management. Evan stammered.

Holding out her hand, she led him inside. Evan’s mouth refused to work as she silently stripped him of his dusty clothes and lay down beside him on the fur rug in front of the fire. He had so many questions, but feared to utter them should she disappear again. His eyes closed and a peaceful aura spread through his soul as she draped her body over his. Ginny leaned over to kiss him - weary as he was - one stroke of her hand down over his chest and stomach brought a surge to his loins.

Sliding onto his body she straddled his hips. Leaning towards him, she put her finger against his lips to silence him and as her breasts brushed against his skin, his body jolted to life. The pleasures he sought came flooding back and grasping her hips he arched his body and slid into her. Enclosed within her soft folds his shaft throbbed while she rose and fell in wild abandon. Faster she rode him, moaning and panting as her blonde hair swished from side to side until he grasped her hips and with an ecstatic cry, unleashing his weeks of frustration and gratification into her body.

While they basked in the glowing embers of the fire, Evan considered voicing the questions that raced through his mind, but thought better of it. His hand scrabbled around in his discarded clothes until he found the arrowhead. It felt warm and comfortable in his hand, just the way she felt in his arms. All he cared about was that he had found his Xanadu and she was indeed heaven sent.

***

A sharp pain jolted him awake and as his eyes cleared, he saw the horse standing over him. Looking at his hand, he realized that what awakened him so suddenly was the arrowhead clutched tightly in his palm. Reality dawned as the dream faded from his thoughts and looking up, he saw the moon was still on the rise. Feeling like death warmed up but with renewed hope, Evan swung into the saddle and followed the path up through the Aspen trees.

CHAPTER 2

GINNY’S STORY

She was sick to death of all the travelling. Six states in as many days and Ginny felt it was getting her nowhere, Texas was the last one, and she arrived a day early for her appointment, in the vain hope of a little time to herself. Booking into the hotel after a long early morning flight, she threw her case in the corner and flopping down on the bed, drifted into a dream-filled sleep of open roads, wind in her hair and an unknown man who had filled her night visions for weeks.

It was ten past seven when she awoke. The room was unbearably hot; Ginny rolled off the bed to close the curtains against the glare of the late afternoon sun and made a beeline for the shower. The bathroom was dated, with linoleum flooring and old fashioned chrome taps, but drawing the shower curtain aside, she was pleased to see it had been modernized enough to have a decent shower head fitted over the old cast iron bath. A minute later, she stepped beneath the steaming water and stood while the aches and pains of the last week washed down the drain. Ginny’s dreams unsettled her; she could not understand why this faceless man invaded her thoughts, why he travelled through the landscape of images that flitted through her mind every night, or why it made her extremely horny. Subsequently, endless nights found her half-awake, stroking her desire attempting to relieve the tension that invaded her body.

Unhooking the showerhead, she adjusted the flow. The sudden gush of water over her engorged pearl caused her legs to buckle and giggling, she slid down into the tub. Readjusting her position, Ginny returned the jet onto her soft folds, rapidly shuddering with orgasmic pleasure beneath the hard stream of warm water. Regaining her breath, she clambered upright, washed quickly and threw a white fluffy towel around her body.

The heat in the room had not dissipated, and fiddling with the thermostat, she felt relieved when the air conditioning unit kicked in, but this was short lived when it spluttered and whirred to a standstill minutes later. After hitting it a few times, she realized it was a hopeless cause, opened the windows, and lay naked on the bed allowed the warm breeze to dry her skin.

Her rumbling stomach eventually forced her from the bed. Throwing on a jean skirt, white blouse and boots, she ran a brush through her damp hair, and wafted through her favorite jasmine perfume. Ginny shrugged resignedly as her quick check in the mirror, before heading for the door, showed her blonde hair needed a cut and she had bags beneath her eyes. Not having spent much time in the sun this year she was grateful that she had less freckles across her nose however, her slim figure was looking too slim, due to her disgraceful eating habits, and she sighed deeply; she really was getting too old for all this.

Dropping by reception, Ginny mentioned the air conditioning. The scruffy youth promised to look at it immediately and suggested she go to the bar across the street for some food. Dusk was settling when she waltzed through the door into the busy saloon. Many hours on the road meant Ginny was accustomed to being the stranger in town, so took little notice of the turning heads as she strode over to the jukebox. She always judged a bar on its music tastes, and it seemed was one of the better ones. Smiling, she slipped a couple of coins into the