I was a virgin.
Vic felt dizzy at the realization of what hed done. Hed taken something from Angela through deception. If hed knownhe never would have come on so strong.
Why didnt you tell me? he asked in a hoarse voice.
I didnt want you to change your mind. Men like you run from virgins. Im sorry.
You dont have to apologize for giving me an incredible gift. He was the one who should be apologizing. But to do that, hed have to confess this night started off as a setup.
Dear Reader,
Come join us for another dream-fulfilling month of Harlequin American Romance! Were proud to have this chance to bring you our four special new stories.
In her brand-new miniseries, beloved author Cathy Gillen Thacker will sweep you away to Laramie, Texas, hometown of matchmaking madness for THE LOCKHARTS OF TEXAS. Trouble brews when arch rivals Beau and Dani discover a marriage licensewith their names on it! Dont miss The Bride Said, I Did?!
What better way to turn a bachelors mind to matrimony than sending him a woman who desperately needs to have a baby? Mindy Neff continues her legendary BACHELORS OF SHOTGUN RIDGE miniseries this month with The Horsemans Convenient Wifewatch Eden and Stony discover that love is anything but convenient!
Imagine waking up to see your own wedding announcement in the paperto someone you hardly know! Melinda has some explaining to do to Ben in Mollie Molays The Groom Came C.O.D., the first book in our HAPPILY WEDDED AFTER promotion. And in Kara Lennoxs Virgin Promise, a bad boy is shocked to discover hes seduced a virgin. Will promising to court her from afar convince her he wants more than one night of passion?
Find out this month, only from Harlequin American Romance!
Best wishes,
Melissa Jeglinski
Associate Senior Editor
Virgin Promise
Kara Lennox
www.millsandboon.co.uk
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For my husband, Rob
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Texas native Kara Lennox has been an art director, typesetter, advertising copy writer, textbook editor and reporter. Shes worked in a boutique, a health club and has conducted telephone surveys. Shes been an antiques dealer and briefly ran a clipping service. But no work has made her happier than writing romance novels.
When Kara isnt writing, she indulges in an ever-changing array of weird hobbies, from rock climbing to crystal digging. But her mind is never far from her stories. Just about anything can send her running to her computer to jot down a new idea for some future novel.
Dear Reader,
I cant imagine any career more satisfyingor more funthan writing romance novels. After writing dozens of books over the past few years for different romance lines and different publishers, Im especially happy to have found a home with Harlequin American Romance, a line Ive been reading since its launch.
Virgin Promise was a fun story to write, probably because my cautious, organized heroine, Angela, who plans every detail of her life, is nothing like me! I always wondered how such people cope when they fall crazy in love. Here, at least, is one theory about what might happen. Poor Angie doesnt know what hit her, and Vic, the steady, reliable cop she falls in love with, doesnt fare much better! Eventually, of course, they figure it all out. But I tortured them a bit along the way. (Authors get to do that.)
I hope you enjoy Virgin Promise, and I look forward to sharing more fun stories with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Prologue
It was in the back seat of my mothers station wagon at the local lovers lane.
Angela Capria listened to her friend Phoebes sordid confession with a mixture of discomfort and fascination. Fascination because her friends looked so normal, yet each one shocked her anew with their tales of painful embarrassment. Discomfort, because shed already heard three humiliating anecdotes during the past half hour. Her turn was rapidly approaching.
She wasnt sure how the subject had come up, but over pasta salad and diet Cokes at their favorite deli, Angelas co-workers had spontaneously started confessing how theyd lost their virginity, sparing no details.
I was sixteen, Phoebe, a bouncy physical therapist, continued in a hushed voice, and he was the biggest nerd in the entire school. But he was crazy about me, and, you know, when a guys crazy in love with you, its really an aphrodisiac.
Angela was appalled. So, you didnt have any feelings for this guy, but you had sex with him anyway?
Well, I felt sorry for him. You know how that goes.
The other three women nodded their commiseration, much to Angelas confusion. Why would anyone, even a sixteen-year-old, have sex with someone out of pity? Sex was such aa personal thing. A powerful and special gift that a woman gave to a man after careful consideration. Or at least that was how it worked in Angelas universe. Anyway, she thought so.
So, how was it? someone asked Phoebe.
Terrible, of course. The guy needed a flashlight and a guide book.
Everyone laughed, including Angela. Phoebe had a way with words. As the laughter faded, however, Angela realized four pairs of curious eyes were riveted on her. She cleared her throat and looked down into her salad, playing with an olive she had no intention of eating.
Well, Angie? Phoebe prompted. Your turn.
No, thanks, Angela said politely.
Aw, cmon, said Victoria, a refined blond nurse who fifteen minutes ago had admitted shed been so drunk during her deflowering she didnt even remember it.
It couldnt be worse than mine. The usually shy Sarah, their clinics office manager, piped up. She was the only one in the group who was married, and shed turned bright red as shed confessed that shed been an awkward virgin bride.
We wont laugh, said redheaded Terri, the clinics receptionist, who only minutes earlier had sent the whole table into hysterics with her tale of whipped cream and a rubber spatula.
Angela daintily blotted her mouth with her napkin. All right. You asked for it. But I think youll be shocked.
Im a nurse, Victoria said. You cant shock me.
Angela took a deep breath. Ive never had sex with anybody. Im still a virgin.
Phoebe dropped her fork. It rolled across the floor with a cherry tomato still attached, but no one bent to retrieve it. They all just stared, mouths gaping.
Angie, honey, thats impossible, Phoebe said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Youre twenty-six years old!
And youre soso Sarah couldnt find the word.
Earthy, I think is what shes trying to say, Terri put in. Sensual. I mean, youre a massage therapist, for gosh sake.
Angela waited for their objections to die down and the inevitable question to arise. Why? they asked, almost as one.
Cause Ive never met a guy who made me so crazy with lust or desire or pity or whatever that I was willing to risk pregnancy, disease, or the emotional vulnerability that goes with sex. There, Ive said it.
Terri sighed. You mean youve never felt carried away by the moment? Like where you just dont give a flip about the consequences of your actions?
Angela shook her head. Never. She took a small bite of her brownie, savoring the rich chocolate indulgence and hoping the subject would drop. No such luck.
So, like, do you think itll ever happen? Phoebe asked cautiously. I mean, you do like guys, right?
Oh, honestly. Did they think she was frigid? Yes, of course I like guys, and of course itll happen. When I meet the right man, and I have a long-term, secure relationship, thats when Ill be ready to take the appropriate steps.
Honey, its not line dancing, Phoebe said with a wink. And believe me, if you sit around waiting for the right guy, youll be a virgin when youre eighty. Just what qualities, exactly, does this mythical paragon of yours possess?
Angela gave the question serious consideration. He would have to be psychologically mature. Responsible and reliable. Stable, with the kind of job I can respect. A hard worker. Open and, most important, completely honest.
Bo-o-o-oring, the others said in unison.
Phoebe got a thoughtful look on her face. Ill bet, she said slowly, waiting until she had everyones attention, Ill bet thats your problem. Youve been looking for all the wrong things. If the right guy came alongtall and dark, dangerous and mysteriousand he pushed all the right buttons, youd be putty in his hands.
The others nodded in agreement.
Angela shrugged. Maybe so. She almost wished it were true. She was a passionate, sensual person. Deep down, she knew that. She reveled in all of her senses, but particularly touch. That was why she was such a good massage therapist. Still, shed never experienced that all-consuming lust her friends raved about. Maybe it was just bad luck. Maybe the right guy hadnt come along.
And maybe she wouldnt have any idea what to do if he did. It was a sobering thought.
Chapter One
Angela cursed three times, stamped her foot and beat on the windshield glass with her fist, but her temper tantrum did nothing to change the situation. First her car had refused to start. Then, when shed stomped off to find a phone to call her motor club, shed locked her keys inside the car. She was out here in the clinic parking lot at a quarter past nine in the evening, and everything she owned was locked inside, including her purse. She didnt even have thirty-five cents on her to make a call from a pay phone. All she had going for her was that things couldnt get worse.
As the full wretchedness of her situation dawned on her, she became aware of a rumbling that grew louder. Whirling around, she saw a man on an awesomely big motorcycle slowly approaching. Suddenly her situation seemed a whole lot worse than it had just seconds ago.
She should run, she thought, though her feet remained stubbornly planted to the asphalt. Her eyes were riveted on the broad shoulders of the biker, the way his faded denim shirt stretched across his chest. His powerful thighs, covered by yet more denim, gripped the bike, and his black-leather-gloved hands held the handlebars in what looked like a gentle caress.
A tinted visor across the front of his helmet hid his face, but Angela knew he was looking at her. Staring, in fact.
Though a stranger in a dark parking lot represented unspeakable danger, Angela was fascinated. She couldnt turn her gaze away, much less run. A tightness claimed her chest and a slight queasiness assaulted her stomach. The feeling reminded her of riding the Ferris wheel at the State Fairexhilarating, but scary.
The bike pulled up beside her. The rider pulled off his helmet, revealing a full head of thick, black, wavy hair, a bit shorter than shed expected. He smoothed it off his forehead in a fluid gesture, all the while staring at her.
Then she saw his eyes. They were a piercing blue, so vivid she could easily detect the color even in this dimly lit scenario. They almost glowed, as if they had a light of their own. They were topped with steeply angled, dramatic eyebrows and rimmed with thick lashes. His long nose might have been aquiline once, but it looked as if it had been broken a few times. His cheekbones were razor sharp, his lips full and sensual, his chin square as a brick and just as stubborn looking.
She took in all of his features instantaneously, though for a moment it seemed time stood still as they stared at each other.
Problem? he asked in a deep, almost gravelly voice. A whiskey voice. Shed read that in a book once, but only now understood the meaning of the phrase.
Somehow she found her own voice. It even managed to come out sounding fairly normal. It wont start. Then I locked my keys inside.
Double trouble, he said, turning off the bike. He swung one leg behind him and dismounted. His innate animal grace made Angelas mouth go dry. In two strides he was very close, and for one agonizing moment she thought he was going to grab her. Instead he stepped around her, leaned down and peered into the drivers window.
Yeah, there they are, all right.
You didnt believe me?