Barn Dance: Love's Pursuit, #0.5

By Jules Radcliffe

Ash's secret lover left him heartbroken and alone. But neighboring farmers Seth and Dougal know all about forbidden love. They make him a sinfully sensual offer, one no red-blooded man like Ash can resist… 

A steamy hurt/comfort standalone story in the gay historical Love's Pursuit series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sinnamon Press
• Release date: Jan 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201436933

Jules Radcliffe

Jules Radcliffe writes historical MM and MMF romances. Published works include the Love’s Pursuit series, the Pirates of Port Royal series, the Chevaliers and Charlatans series, and a collaboration with Stephanie Lake.  Currently living near the beach in the sub-tropics of Australia, Jules shares a house with an unconventional family and misses cold winters.

Book preview

Barn Dance

Copyright © 2015 by Jules Radcliffe

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This copy of Barn Dance is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please visit your favorite ebook retailer to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This edition published January 2022

Editor: K Michaels

Cover art: Dumneavoastră

Published by Sinnamon Press

www.sinnamonpress.com

This book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Sinnamon Press books are for sale to ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

Disclaimer: Please do not try any new sexual practice without the guidance of an experienced practitioner. Neither Sinnamon Press nor its authors will be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles.

Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

Table of Contents

Barn Dance

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Epilogue

Also by Jules Radcliffe

Preview: A Summer Pursuit

Also by Jules Radcliffe

THE PIRATES OF PORT ROYAL

Pirate’s Promise

Pirate Booty (coming soon)

THE PIRATES OF PORT ROYAL: MASTER & MATE

The Puritan Pirate

Pirate Master

The Penitent Pirate

CHEVALIERS AND CHARLATANS

A Chevalier in Deed

A Scoundrel in Silk

Castaways in the Caribbee (exclusive to VIP newsletter subscribers)

LOVE’S PURSUIT

Barn Dance

A Summer Pursuit

The Winter Trail

STAND ALONE STORIES

Renegade Widow

Florian’s Garden (with Stephanie Lake)

Chapter One

Vermont, 1852

ASH REFUSED TO dance at his lover’s wedding. He was damned if he was going to be a hypocrite.

Looking across the barn, Ash could see the bridal pair mingling with their guests, the bride animated, the groom resentful. Fiona Livingston and Robert Buchanan had been man and wife for only a few hours, and already Robbie was in a huff. Though he was ostensibly the groom’s best friend, Ash thanked God Robbie had plenty of brothers; there had been no need for Robbie to ask him to stand as best man. He would certainly have refused if such a request had been made—there was no way Ash could have descended to that level of farce, whatever his mother would have expected from him.

Robbie glanced at Ash several times, and Ash threw glowering looks back. The two friends had not exchanged a word throughout the entire day, and if anyone had noticed, no one had thought it particularly odd. Robbie had always been moody, and Ash was known for his reticence.

Staring aloofly upon the assembly, Ash watched the colorfully dressed couples whirl around the dance floor. More than one eye was cast at him, for he made quite a picture propping up the wall. He was considered one of the most handsome young men in Arisaig, a small settlement in northern Vermont. He had inherited his mother’s rich chestnut locks as well as eyes of a fine sapphire hue, his physique was lean but muscular, and like most of the local men, he was tall. His eyes often sparkled with wicked humor, and his generous mouth, turned up at the corners, gave him a perpetually good-natured expression. To add to his attractions, his father had left him a goodly inheritance when he had died several years ago.

The unmarried maidens of Arisaig had been acquainted with Ash since childhood, but none could claim to know him really well. While sanguine enough with his male friends, he was uneasy with the girls who, since they had grown into young ladies, all too often left him tongue-tied. It was beyond him to pay flattering compliments, and he was truly dismal at flirting, but most of the girls knew him well enough to take no offense at his laconic tongue. When engaging Ash in conversation, a lady knew she would take the lion’s share of any talking.

Under other circumstances, he enjoyed dancing and holding a girl in his arms—there was little need to speak, and he was a good dancer—but tonight he could not face touching anyone like that. It was too intimate