Mistletoe Marriage

By Vanessa Vale

Julia Belmont dreams of being married, but she never thought it would take place in a jail to the man she hates. But being forced to the altar through trickery doesn’t diminish her feelings for the man who truly has her heart. When Garrett Rivers discovers the woman he loves has married a dangerous criminal, he is determined to save her. But can he heal Julia’s heart and awaken her deepest passion now that they’re back together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vanessa Vale
• Release date: Oct 21, 2018

Vanessa Vale

SIGN UP FOR VANESSA'S MAILING LIST FOR LATEST NEWS and get a FREE book!Just copy and paste the following link into your web browser: http://freeeroticbook.comUSA Today Bestseller of steamy historical westernsWho doesn't love the romance of the old West? Vanessa Vale takes the sensual appeal of rugged cowboys a step further with her bestselling books set in the Montana Territory. They are much more than just sexy historical westerns. They're deliciously naughty reads that sometimes push the boundaries of fantasy. It's pure escapism with quite a few very hot, very alpha cowboys.When she's not writing, Vanessa savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. She considers herself to be remarkably normal, exceedingly introverted and fairly vanilla, which does not explain her steamy stories and her fascination with cowboys, preferably more than one at a time. If that weren't enough, she also writes under the pen name, Vanessa Dare.She lives in the Wild Wild West where there's an endless source of 'research' material.To learn more about Vanessa Vale:Web site- www.vanessavaleauthor.comFollow her on Twitter: @iamvanessavaleKeep up with Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessavaleauthor

Book preview

1

JULIA

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I am bewitched, Julia, Garrett said. He'd just taken my hand and was leading me around the side of the small schoolteacher's house out of the view of any passerby.

He'd held my hand before, but with the cold, mine had always been covered by thick wool mittens so I had never felt his skin. I longed to feel the callouses that were visible.

Placing a hand on the wall beside my head, he leaned in close. Our breaths came out in puffs of white. His dark eyes pinned me in place and I couldn't help but lick my lips at what I could see in those depths. I saw the truth behind his words.

We'd met just before the school term began, after the harvest had been brought in. Since then, he'd come upon me here and there around town; the mercantile, church and even the fall dance. At first I considered it coincidence, but I learned from others that the man rarely came to town functions. Instead, he worked—perhaps a little too diligently—at the mine he owned.

I felt my cheeks heat, but in the darkness, I doubted he could see.

Garrett, I replied, not knowing what to say to such a bold statement.

He ran the knuckles of his free hand down my cheek. I want to kiss you.

My mouth fell open at the bold admission.

Garrett, I repeated.

I love hearing you say my name. Soon enough, I will hear it uttered from your lips in an entirely different way.

I frowned in confusion. I...I don't understand.

Ah, precious. I will show you. I promise. But first we must be married. I am an honorable man and will wait to claim such a precious liberty.

Ah, now I knew why he gave me the endearment. At first I’d thought it a little too...too something, but he saw me as something truly special and it warmed me more than any fire or mulled cider ever could.

Married? I whispered. Oh, the idea had such immense appeal.

Married. Then I will take all the liberties we desire.

It was my wedding day. It was also the worst day of my life.

Had it only been a week before when I’d waved goodbye to the children from the schoolhouse door? They'd happily waved back knowing it was almost Christmas and there would be no schoolwork for a week. I hadn't known then that would be the last time I would stand in that doorway as their teacher. Come the New Year, it would be Miss Simpson instead.

In that week, my life was very quickly destroyed. First, it was whispers accompanied by disappointed looks as I passed people on the street. Then came rumors I overheard in the Mercantile. Those rumors became outright accusations against which I could offer no defense. While none of the horrible statements were true, it was Gregory Simpson's word against mine.

Gregory Simpson was a rich lawyer in town while I was just a simple schoolteacher. He was a mean, bitter, miserable man who had instituted a simple plan to see me wed to him, and on Christmas Eve, no less.

"Why didn't you just ask me to marry you?" I prodded, standing in the dirty, smelly jail waiting for the sheriff to return from some type of mischief at the local saloon. I looked down and around the bottom of my skirt to confirm a rodent wasn't sneaking underneath.

The man smiled coldly. He would have been attractive if he weren't so cruel. Because you would have said no.

That was absolutely true, for he was probably the last man in the Montana Territory to whom I'd say yes. The man