| Sample
Chapter For THE WRONG MAN by Bonnie Clarke
Northern California, 1904
The slap echoed across the room, and as Avia Rockwell
pulled her arm back to repeat the blow, his hard hand grabbed hers with
a relentless grip. Cade’s eyes narrowed, telling her without words
to try it again and feel his wrath. He had a mind to shake away that smug
grin. It was ridiculous how such a tiny woman would assume her puny little
slap would deter him!
“Jesus, Cade! Are you going to put up with that?”
The chuckling voice from behind forced him back to reality.
“I guess I don’t have much choice, considering
she’s your daughter.”
Avia glared at him, his hard hold still bruising her wrist.
“Tease me like that again, you rake, and I’ll
punch you in the groin next time!”
“Take it easy honey! You know Cade is just bugging
you.” Bradley smiled at his beautiful stubborn daughter, then laughed.
“You two better calm down before somebody loses an eye.”
“He’ll lose it before I do, that much I can
promise!” She yanked her trembling hand away from Cade’s,
smiling with fake remorse and walked away, leaving him to stare at her
with a crooked grin.
That little chit always got her way; it irritated him
to no end. If he was a sorcerer, Cade would surely beat his staff over
her stubborn head, then suddenly disappear in a puff of smoke. How else
could he possibly react to the most beautiful woman in the world? Especially
one who looked innocent on the outside, but caged a red hot seductress
within. He’d never met a breed such as her. Light blond, like her
father, but all dark-skinned and golden eyes, like her mother. Impossible
features. Enchanting, really.
She knew exactly what she did to men, but Cade was immune
to love. Women were all the same. Give them something to fuss over, and
they were the meanest beasts around. Give them a flower or jewelry and
they would relent right on cue. Molasses in your hands...vixens in your
bed. Cade knew everything about women. He remembered every pitiful face,
the tears, the whimpering when he grew tired of them. The puppy dog eyes
begging for one last feeding of his bone, shameless jezebels. He didn’t
stick around for long, it wouldn’t be worth giving up a simple bachelor’s
life for the prison of a woman’s needs.
No sir, that was no kind of life at all.
* * * *
He was totally full of himself. Avia hated him. But why
did his eyes sparkle like crystals when he looked her way? And why did
those blue diamonds always seem to shake her nerve? He was the only man
who did that to her.
His one dimple puckered when he smiled that devilish grin...his
black brow arched in mocking salute...he always raked his hair with his
hands in frustration; these were the unforgettable things of Cade Kildare.
He was so damn handsome; no wonder she couldn’t ignore him. She
had a mind to slap him first, kiss him sorry, then slap him again. It
was unbelievable how pathetic she acted over such minor physical things.
She hated him as much as she wanted to know what it would be like to have
him in the dirtiest of ways. How his muscles would feel when she skimmed
her hands across his taut flesh.
A lightly bronzed complexion accentuated by all that wavy
black hair often kept her up at night, dreaming of wrapping her fingers
in that wild jet mass. Then he would hold her captive, teasing her with
exotic strokes...slowly destroying the barrier wall. There would be a
fight of course, because she always put up a fight. She often wondered
how he would react to find an agreeable Avia Rockwell.
Lately there was tension lurking around their usually
cool friendship. A tension that had her wondering what was going on in
the remarkable blue depths of his eyes, reflecting mischief and something
else, something deep. Avia had no idea what the hell those looks were
supposed to mean. But sometimes they made her wet with longing.
She watched him from the dining table an hour later, as
lover boy was in deep conversation with her father. They didn’t
seem to notice her.
Not only was Cocky Cade, as the women called him, one
of the most confirmed bachelors in the district, it seemed he had the
pick of every woman who had the good fortune to lay eyes on him. He was
invited to all the social events, the parties. You name it and he had
a woman to escort him anywhere. They flocked around him like starving
mutts, for Christ’s sake! It was quite enraging! Was it easy for
all men in this world? Did they not know how it feels for a woman, to
yearn for something more in life, to be loved like the most precious stone
on earth? No, they couldn’t possibly understand that. Men were only
aware of a woman’s outer beauty, her physical charm, how eager she
would be in bed, and of course, how well she could maneuver between his
legs. All of these things, Avia knew well, and her mother wasn’t
afraid to warn her only daughter.
Avia enjoyed her quiet little life. She enjoyed her secret
rendezvous with Andreas, the packer boy. But then again, it was getting
very boring. She needed a challenge!
Cade seemed to sense her nosiness and suddenly winked
at her with a ruthless grin. His hawk eyes raked her body, stopping to
gaze at her tits. It obviously didn’t occur to him that her father
was across from him, and could very well see what Cade was doing. Fool!
She wouldn’t be surprised if Bradley jumped him from across the
table.
God, those full lips of his were enticing! Oh, she could
forget about his arrogance, if only she could really know the taste of
him just once, and if he would kiss her like he kissed those other girls.
She wanted to feel them caress her satiny skin as he trailed them down
to the heat of her pussy. Would he be hard and demanding? Soft and teasing?
Would he be just like Andreas, panting excitedly all over her, as he rubbed
his hands all over her tits, eager to fondle like a little school boy?
Is that how men were? She was supposed to hate him, but at the same time,
she wondered if Cade could make her scream with arousal, indulge her own
desires as he molded into her between the grape vines.
God, it was so damn hot in here!
Cade and Bradley both turned to peer at her suddenly red
face, as Avia realized she was thinking aloud. Cade grinned, and Brad
looked...well, like Brad. Always serious, always accusing.
Avia refrained from eye contact and returned to eating
her meal, suddenly losing her appetite over the rush of anxiety from her
naughty thoughts. The spoon rattled against the delicate china bowl when
she dropped it. Food was the last thing on her mind.
“The harvest is nearly complete and ready for shipping.
Maybe you should go with your father to ensure everything runs smoothly,”
Bradley repeated when Cade’s attention was suddenly averted to his
daughter, yet again. “Hello? As I was saying. You go with your father,
and Andreas and I will handle things here.”
Cade lifted the flute of wine to his lips, stared at Avia
for a brief second, and answered casually. The hard set of his jaw twitched
under Brad’s gaze. “If that’s what you want.”
“Yes, that is what I want. Is there something about
my daughter you’d like to talk about, Cade?” Brad narrowed
his eyes. Cade knew Brad would never like the idea of his daughter wandering
too closely to him. He also couldn’t deny that Brad knew of Cade’s
numerous escapades, and would surely be convinced that Cade would only
use her. Then again, Avia was not a girl to listen to reason. She was
as stubborn as a mule, that one, and did as she pleased. Poor Bradley
didn’t have a hope in hell on teaching his daughter about love and
lust, and what a woman’s role was in a relationship. Cade didn’t
want to think about what Melina probably forced into the chit. Female
nonsense, no doubt. He faced Brad head on.
“As a matter of fact, yes. She’s getting on
my nerves.” Cade said that bit only for Brad to hear, but in his
mind, he sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him the truth. And he
wasn’t going to tell him that his little angel wasn’t as angelic
as he thought. He had to respect Brad’s wishes, although at times,
he wondered what it would be like to have Avia in a physical way. A very
hard...sweaty...physical way. He winked at Avia, though no sign of teasing
or any emotion showed on his face. As expected, she gave him that usual,
I’ll kill you look. It was hard not to laugh.
* * * *
Avia forced her thoughts to more safe things. She stared
at her father, thoroughly ignoring Cade.
She knew Bradley was once a dangerous man, until he met
Melina Salvador and fell madly in love. He withdrew his fists for a fist
full of flowers to show her exactly how sweet he could be. Her father
had dreams, and although being from a poor family, he didn’t give
up hope that the beautiful Spanish lady would notice him, and she did.
Surprisingly, her grandparents were ready to hand down their family business
to their only daughter and newfound husband as a wedding present. Their
reputation for solid grapes meant to last through the harshest of weather
and the longest of journey’s blossomed into a vast empire. Avia
was born two years after the rejuvenation of Melina’s Vineyard.
Shortly after the new expansion, her father hired a man
specifically for shipment of the grapes. Somebody he could trust, who
knew how to handle the merchandise, and also, a man strong enough to deal
with any consequences that came from such an opportunistic business.
Gavin Kildare, the daring Irish captain who had an eye
for distilling, had connections as well that sparked Brad’s interest.
Connections to markets and wineries across the world from his many excursions
on the sea. The two men became friends very quickly.
Avia remembered like it was yesterday, the day Cade began
working alongside his father. He didn’t like it here at first, until
he set eyes on her. That was when everything changed. He would throw sticks
at her...pinch her when she was walking by...and embarrass her in front
of her friends. It was horrible then. But over time, those tricks became
teasing words...subtle words of a sexual nature. He still caused her blood
to stir after all this time. No man challenged her the way he did. Avia
liked a challenge, though she would never admit to the feelings he evoked
in her soul, in her body. They were dangerous feelings.
Cade was a lanky adolescent then with a wicked grin, the
devil in his eyes, and his attention on almost everything with two legs
and a heart beat. Although she was just twelve when he first arrived,
somehow their bond became thick as mud. She watched him grow into a broad
muscular man, towering over everybody who stood near, which was funny,
because not too many people stood near. They were terrified of him. He
also knew how to fight, boy. She saw it with her own eyes, that day one
of the workers called his lady friend a whore, which was true, but he
pummeled him black and blue anyway. The guy never showed his face again.
He was probably scarred for life.
Cade was a dashing and daring man who could charm the
curls out of an experienced woman; forget about her the next day, and
completely ruin her life. Avia longed to shove his arrogance in his face
and turn the tables, but she didn’t know how. Lust was his game,
and he easily grew tired of the same body. It probably wouldn’t
be possible for him to stay faithful.
With this in mind and a heavy heart, Avia left the cold
atmosphere of the dining room to bother the harvesters. Maybe Andreas
would be lurking around some building, waiting to please the boss’
daughter. Andreas was a handsome young man as well, who admired her, which
was a needed boost to her ego. She loved the attention he showered her,
although in her eyes, what they did was just a game.
She felt Cade’s blue gaze on her as she left the
room.
* * * *
Black-eyed Susans and lupines of every color lined the
path into the garden behind their home. Deep blue delphiniums swayed in
the gentle breeze, sweeping one into the fantasy of walking on the bottom
of the ocean. She wanted to walk on Cade’s heart for being so callous
to the women in his life. Why did he have to be so attractive? How did
he get away with being such an arrogant ass? If a woman behaved as he
did, she would be shunned from society and family. It was ridiculous.
A deep sigh released some of her pent-up anger. She’d
give anything to be the experienced one. Sure, she played around with
Andreas, but that was just a lesson. More than once Avia made Andreas
lose his boys into his pants, just from her kisses and a little fondling.
She knew she was an excellent kisser. She knew what to do with a man’s
weapon, too. If only her mother knew what she found in her trunks in the
attic! Avia didn’t realize then what the leather shaft was all about,
but she learned quickly. She learned that thrusting that thing into her
pussy brought an enormous amount of pleasure, although it couldn’t
be the same as the real thing. Nobody would ever know that she lost her
virginity to a leather dick. Nobody.
She stood motionless, watching the waves splash against
the rocky shoreline of the river which bordered their property. The wind
whipped her long locks, and wisps tickled her face as the breeze tossed
it about like a billowing cape of golden silk. She scanned the vineyard,
taking in the sight of the many workers harvesting the grapes, hauling
the crates back to the warehouse to start the cleansing. Then the crush
would begin.
A grouping of rocks formed a natural tub along the shore,
it was a perfect place to swim, and it was very private. Large redwoods
canopied the pool, and she sat on a flat rock to watch a boat slowly drift
by. She lowered herself to the edge of the pool, untied her boots, and
dangled her bare feet into the water. It was more refreshing than she
could ever imagine. She twirled her fingers around, causing ripples to
invade the placid water, and the reflection of a tall handsome man suddenly
vanished.
“Lovely view.”
His voice hissed through the breeze as it carried along
to caress the lobes of her ears. A familar rush swept through her body.
“Yes.” She ignored the way he stood there
watching her, or at least she thought she could ignore the way his stare
raked over her. He casually stuck his hands in his pockets and just stood
there, eyeing her up, making her more vulnerable by the moment. She must
never let him see how he affected her. No. Avia was determined to be much
smarter than most girls. She did not fall under any man’s charms,
just to be used and tossed away.
“How’s your cheek?” she teased, hearing
his chuckle.
“How’s your wrist?” Cade retaliated.
“Fine, I suppose. Maybe you should kiss it better
or I’ll be forced to hurt you.” She didn’t know why
that suddenly came out, but it made the corner of his wicked mouth curve
up through his reflection in the water. Avia continued to stare into the
basin surrounding her, pretending she didn’t feel this connection
to him. He was the wrong man to have feelings for. A friendship was all
that she needed with Cade Kildare. What she wanted, didn’t matter.
Short slender fingers traced water along her forearms,
causing goose bumps on her flesh, Cade had a hard time not imagining being
those bumps. He wasn’t speaking of the river being lovely, and if
she wanted him to kiss her wrist better, he’d do that and much,
much more. He couldn’t help but notice how tiny and cute her toes
looked. What the hell was he thinking, being caught up in her toes? Her
platinum hair was down too. Long perfect ringlets dangling just above
her waist. He wanted to smell that hair. Wrap it around his fingers, pulling
her head back while he fucked her from behind. But she was Brad’s
daughter, so he forced his erotic thoughts to the back of his mind. Far
back.
If Bradley knew the extent of his feelings for his gorgeous
daughter, he would throw him out on his lustful ass. Bradley had high
hopes for his only child. Pity. They may have experimented with this playful
teasing to a much more interesting degree.
“What are you thinking?” Her velvet voice
interrupted his baser thoughts.
“Hm? Oh, nothing. Well actually, the harvest bash
will be taking place at the Sheffields this evening. Would you care to
join me?”
His question sent warning signals through her head, making
her back stiffen in response. She had purposely ignored his usual attempts
throughout the years for fear of being embarrassed. It would not be easy
getting through the night with women swarming all over him. The cad.
“I’m sure the waiting list is already a foot
long, to be with you.” Sarcasm was the best way to deal with him.
“I’ll pretend you’re not jealous. So?
You can’t ignore me forever. If I have to stoop so low to tell your
father that there is a respectable gentleman eager for your affections,
he will gladly make you go. We both know how anxious he is to marry you
off!” he teased. Cade so loved to tease his Avia. He swallowed hard,
turning serious again. If she only knew what really went on in his mind,
maybe she wouldn’t be so stubborn and let him have her; whatever
that meant, he wasn’t quite sure.
“Well if you’ll stoop so low, then I guess
I have no choice but to accept. We can’t leave this ‘respectable
gentleman’ waiting should we? What shall I wear?”
“Whatever my stubborn little mule desires!”
He turned with a wicked grin, leaving her to watch his powerful body walk
away. Her gaze stared at the hard perfect cut of his ass, the way his
lazy walk made those hips sway so fluidly, and all she could think about
were those hips fluidly pumping her. The tall stretch of his lean form
made her feel so tiny, so vulnerable. And those shoulders...God, she could
imagine holding onto them for security...digging her nails into that hard
flesh...as he whispered endearments so sweetly in her ear. She sighed,
leaning against a rock that wasn’t there and nearly fell into the
water.
* * * *
He looked edible.
All that wavy black hair hung over his forehead and curled
around his ears, like a devil’s halo. Her gaze trailed over the
dark locks as they rested just above his broad shoulders. She loved it
when he dressed all in black. It made him look so mysterious, enchanting.
Avia looked away, focusing her eyes on the beat-up old mat at the front
door, not wanting him to sense her reaction to his appearance. A nerve
jumped somewhere in her neck. Why was she so nervous all of a sudden?
Cade nearly choked on his drink when Avia descended the
stairs. She wore his favorite dress. The deep, midnight blue accentuated
all that light blond hair, and the gold shimmer of her eyes. He couldn’t
help but stare at her bouncing breasts, as that dress seemed to push them
up even further, threatening to strangle that delicate little neck of
hers. If she had to run anywhere, they’d be bouncing off her chin.
They could run together. He imagined the possibilities.
He focused on her hair instead, cooling the heat rising
up in his pants from staring at her tits. It made no difference. She left
all that wild hair hanging over her shoulders, caressing her flawless
golden skin, curling down to her hourglass hips. He wondered suddenly
if all those curls were real. How could anyone with such long hair, have
such perfect curls? Would it bounce back if he curled it around his fingers?
Would it feel like silk draped across his naked chest? Jesus Christ! Why
did she have to wear that fucking dress?
“Before I whisk you away on a night in paradise,
I regret to inform you, my dear lady, that we will not be alone. Such
a pity. I had plans on seducing you!”
“Don’t even think about it, you arrogant ass!”
she teased back.
“You still haven’t explained why I saw Andreas
leave the barn yesterday shortly after you. Is there something I should
be angry over?” He took her arm, leading her to the doorway. Right
outside that door, her parents waited. He wanted to stop and kiss her,
crush her against him and show her...what? He wasn’t allowed to
touch her. It was not easy dealing with the knowledge that he wasn’t
considered good enough for Bradley Rockwell’s daughter, when every
other parent in this town practically shoved their daughters in his arms.
“What I do with whom is none of your concern, bachelor
friend of mine. Need I say more?”
Cade let that one go for now, looking deeply into her beautiful golden
eyes. “I don’t trust that weasel. I think I’d enjoy
twisting his little neck.”
“You wouldn’t! He’s done nothing wrong.
We happen to be friends, Cade. You leave him be.”
“Fine. Now let’s get out of here, I’m
anxious to twirl you around the floor. You’re mine tonight, don’t
ever forget it!” Cade noticed her confused look, but kept his wicked
thoughts to himself.
* * * *
Avia shot back all of the wine in her glass. Cade arched
a brow in response. “Are we planning to get drunk tonight?”
His mocking tone almost forced her to ball up a fist and
punch him in the guts, but under the circumstances, it would be rude,
considering they were at a social event.
“I’m just bored, that’s all,”
she replied bitterly.
“Well, let’s have some fun!” Cade walked
away for a brief moment to speak to a member of the band. He returned
just as a slow, seductive song filled the air. He held out his hand, a
wicked grin on his sexy lips, coaxing her to cause some trouble with him.
Why not? Somebody had to make this party interesting.
She did a spin on her heels, landing gracefully into his
arms. The blue dress twirled around her ankles, billowing like a blanket
around her feet. She looked up into his eyes, which were focused on her,
and something changed between them in that brief moment. It was as if
Avia belonged to him, like he wanted her to be his only woman. It was
just a dream she knew, but a wonderful one. To have such a handsome, admired
man want only her, must be the best feeling in the world. She smiled at
his questioning look, and those lovely thoughts vanished when he winked
at her, like he did with every other woman.
There was a hush in the crowd as Cade led her out to the
floor. All eyes were on them. His eyes never left hers. The azure blue
of his gaze trapped her in a heated pool. It would be impossible to ignore
this man. Suddenly, she hated every woman who had the pleasure of touching
him, and being touched by him.
The beat rang through his ears, called to his hips. He
loved to dance, but only had the pleasure of dancing with Avia at home,
her parents watching the whole time—Bradley making damn sure his
daughter didn’t get too close. Dancing with Avia could turn out
to be compared to a night of raw sex. Hot and invigorating. No other woman
compared. This was going to be an interesting night. His cock was already
on the prowl. Too bad she was the boss’ beautiful daughter.
He spun her around him, holding her hand...then at the
cue of the beat, he pulled her into his arms, and felt the beating of
her heart. Her gorgeous face angled up, knowing the intensity of the song.
A long, lithe leg lifted up past his face, his hand trailed down her thigh
to cup her ass. She seemed to enjoy the closeness between them. Her eyes
sparkled with gold and green highlights, which told him she was excited.
His blood boiled. The crowd was quiet.
Cade knew they looked amazing together on that floor.
The stunning petite blond in his arms was the envy of all the women, and
secret wish of all the men. They moved so gracefully together, and Cade
couldn’t begin to deny how beautiful Avia looked. Beautiful enough
to make him want to take her as his own. Almost.
Avia stomped her foot back down to the ground, moving
away from Cade, whipping her dress around her legs making every man in
the room long to know how it would feel having legs like hers wrapped
around them. She thrust her chest forward, angled her arms above her head
and swayed her hips to the fast rhythm of the music. Cade swung around,
grabbing her into another twist, sailing her in a long circle around the
room, his gaze never leaving her once.
Avia floated across the floor. Everything and everyone
around them, became a blur in the background. It was so magical dancing
with him this way, so different than at home. Cade conveniently ignored
their rules by stealing her onto the dance floor when there were other
men anxious to dance with the master’s daughter...men her parents
would prefer to catch her attention...men she wanted nothing to do with.
Cade thought he held a gypsy tonight. Their practicing
was all part of his plan. He wanted this night to hold her, to know how
she could really move. Every man was longing to have her; he sure as hell
wasn’t the only one. But Cade wasn’t offering marriage, he
just wanted to taste, or so he tried to convince himself. Was that love?
He had no idea. Either way, he couldn’t help himself.
“I want your body,” he murmured, not recognizing
his own voice.
Avia’s shoulders tightened. For some reason, her
hand squeezed his, betraying what her mind thought, and he squeezed back.
He held her so closely, her mind whirled. Her eyes found Gavin and he
was smiling, though there was still a hint of uneasiness about his only
son getting mixed up with the master’s daughter.
The dance finally ended, shouts of applause and encores
filled the room.
Cade didn’t say a word after that last comment,
feeling the delicate curves of her body tight against him. Hot against
his cold heart.
There was no mistaking it when his eyes fixed on him.
That dark wavy hair, the intense light blue eyes. The look of pure arrogance.
It was the same as his son’s. Well, not his son, but the son of
the bastard that fucked his wife all those years ago. He didn’t
know who the culprit was, but by looking at the young man taking charge
of the dance floor with that woman, looked just like him. As it should
be. They were brothers after all. He could feel it in his heart. He couldn’t
bear to look at him any longer. The same strong square jaw, straight cut
nose. It was all too much. Then he looked down at his beautiful wife,
sensing her own reaction to the sight of him. He imagined her heartbeat
quickening, her blood warming with the knowledge. But he would not accept
it. No longer would he allow his wife to stew in her everlasting love
of the man she cheated with. He wanted revenge. He wanted the bastard
to pay for ruining his life and embarrassing him. Twenty-six years it
took for him to discover the truth, not that his hatred died down in the
least, but finally, finally he could act out what he had dreamed for so
long. And now he knew where to start, because he left the girl with another
man, then made his own way to the older couple standing by the bar. His
parents! Yes, it had to be. The older man was very tall, broad, just like
him, though the facial features were much different. He must look like
his mother. Perfect. Now he knew who the culprit was. He looked down at
his wife again. She stared across the room, but he couldn’t see
for the groups of people dancing. She was trying not to cry, he could
tell, and once he took her home, she could cry all she wanted. He’d
even give her a reason, the bitch!
Somebody tapped his shoulder. He spun around to meet with
the eyes of an old friend. All thoughts of revenge nagged at him, needing
to know what that man’s name was. He had to try. He needed vengeance.
Reviews For
THE WRONG MAN by Bonnie Clarke
"The chemistry between these two will set your senses
on fire if not your heart...it's quite explosive yet tender, sweet and
moving as well. Hats off to Bonnie Clarke for keeping me glued from beginning
to end." From Two Lips Reviews
5 stars!
"I loved this book so much that it took my breath away for Bonnie
Clarke did a remarkable job in bringing so much love, sadness and heartache
to two people." Lena C. Fallen Angel Reviews
"It is rare to come across such a well written story
and I have to say that Ms. Clarke has created a masterpiece. With delightful
characters, compelling drama, historical highlights, and hot passion,
this is definitely a book not to miss." Jasmina, TCM Reviews
4 Champagne Flutes:
This book has romance, intrigue, deception, kidnap, subterfuge, drama,
I could go on…I really enjoyed it; must have, I read it in one sitting.
Cranberry Kiss, Cocktail Reviews
"Ms. Clarke pens a romance that's sure to please
with THE WRONG MAN. From beginning to end, it flows smoothly with twists
and turns that keep the reader on her toes."
Sinclair Reid, RRT Erotic
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