Profiling Nathan: Romancing the Guardians, Book Five Read online

  Josie drew her attention again, saying, “I’d like to drive you and Nate through the canyon in daylight. There’s a lot to see, but I think we’d better put that off until you’re fully healed.”

  “Definitely,” Nate agreed. “But we could go for a little walk if you’re up to it, honey.” He gave Tally a questioning look.

  After a hesitation, she nodded. “Good idea. I could use some exercise.” True enough, but she also meant to find out once and for all how he really felt about her.

  They bundled up in borrowed wraps, not having brought any cold weather clothes with them, and set out for a leisurely stroll along the path cutting through Leon Tseda’s property. Talia didn’t protest when Nate wrapped his hand around her arm, realizing he meant it as a safety precaution in case she stumbled on the rutted ground.

  “I guess all of this, the strange place and people you don’t know, who prattle about battling Hellhounds, must seem like some crazy b-movie, hmm?”

  “Kind of,” she admitted, thinking herself crazy for coming here with him.

  “It’s all real, though. You’ll see just how real if you give it time.”

  She jerked her arm free and halted to face him, furious. “Like I’m supposed to give you time to decide if you love me or not? You know, it’s a simple question, Nate. Either you do or you don’t. I want an answer, now!”

  “I do, sweetheart,” he said softly, a smile playing across his lips.

  She stared at him, open-mouthed. “What did you say?”

  “I said I do love you, Talia Werner. I’ve known for days, weeks, but I was too damn scared to admit it to you or myself.”

  “Oh!” she gasped.

  He framed her face with his hands. “You hooked me the first day you walked into my shop all prim and proper. If you hadn’t come back, I would have gone looking for you. I couldn’t get you out of my head. Now you’re in my heart, woman.” His voice turned deep and gravelly. “Don’t ever leave me because I’d die without you.”

  Tears collected in her eyes. “I won’t leave you, Nate. I love you so!”

  “I’ll love you for as long as we live and beyond,” he whispered, sealing his vow with a kiss that warmed her body and soul.

  The End

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for taking time to read Profiling Nathan. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.

  Don’t miss the other books in the Romancing the Guardians saga. Find all of my books here: http://www.amazon.com/LynHorner/e/B004CY506Y

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  Have questions or comments? I’d love to hear from you!

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  Now, please continue reading for a glimpse of Romancing the Guardians, Book Six.

  BEGUILING DELILAH

  Romancing the Guardians, Book Six

  By

  Lyn Horner

  Coming in Spring 2017

  Preview on next page

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Sir, stop! You cannot go in there!” the young, red-haired receptionist cried in accented English. Jumping up from her desk, she rushed to intercept Leon Tseda as he approached an imposing door that led to the inner office. She didn’t get there in time to stop him.

  Ignoring her, he turned the gilded doorknob, opened the door and stepped across the threshold. He stopped there to take in the impressive room. He could fit his Navajo hogan and half of his modern house inside it.

  Book cases lined the side wall to his right. Against the opposite wall, stood an antique-looking table between a pair of upholstered chairs. Tucked in the far corner was a bar with glasses and bottles of liquor on shelves above it. Across from him, stretched a wall of windows curtained with gauzy white material.

  With her back to the windows, a woman – Delilah Moreau, Leon assumed – sat typing on a computer at a large, elaborately carved desk with curved legs. Two more chairs stood at angles to the desk. The woman looked up at his entrance and frowned, speaking sharply in French, a tongue he did not know.

  Pushing past him, the receptionist replied rapidly to her boss in the same language, wringing her hands. “He speaks only English,” she added in that language, shooting him a resentful glance.

  “I also speak Spanish and Navajo,” he corrected her mildly.

  The seated woman rose and stepped around her fancy desk. She wore a black dress with long sleeves and a wide belt that clung to her slim figure. Approaching him, her footsteps made no sound on the thick carpet. She halted a few feet away and crossed her arms, dark eyes snapping angrily.

  “Esme informs me she asked you to make an appointment to see me, but you refused. Instead, you come barging into my office unannounced. What is the meaning of this, sir?” she demanded in English with barely any accent. Then she pressed her red-painted lips into a tight line.

  She was tall for a woman, only an inch or two shorter than his five-foot-ten. He knew her to be in her forties but she could easily have passed for ten years younger. Her hair was black as midnight, as his had once been. Cut short, it hugged her head like a shiny silk cap, framing her face with feathery points that made him think of a raven’s wings. The style showed off her high cheekbones and those big, dark eyes. Her up-tilted nose and chin matched her haughty glare.

  Patches of angry color stained her cheeks as he looked her over, goading him to reply. “I apologize for my rudeness, Miss Moreau, but this cannot wait. I am Leon Tseda. I have come to bring you to America for a conclave. You know of what I speak.”

  Her eyes widened and her pale olive complexion lost its heated glow. She dropped her arms to her sides. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I am certainly not going to America or anywhere else with you. Now please leave.”

  Leon sighed. Turning to young Esme, he said, “I must speak with Miss Moreau alone. Leave us, please.”

  The redhead darted an uncertain glance at her boss.

  “How dare you give orders to my employee?” the Moreau woman barked. “Get out of here before I call security.”

  “Call them if you want to,” Leon said curtly, tired of her snooty attitude. “But know this, Malcolm Flewellen is dead.”

  She gave a wordless cry and staggered, almost collapsing. Leon rushed forward to grab her arm and steady her, damning himself for announcing the news so heartlessly. She stared at him, dark eyes huge with shock.

  “Get water for her,” he told Esme.

  The girl nodded and ran to the bar. She poured water from a pitcher into a glass and brought it to him. He took it from her shaking hand and touched it to Miss Moreau’s red lips.

  Delilah parted her lips and took a sip, hardly knowing what she did. Stunned, she continued to stare at the man who’d just dropped a bombshell on her head. Malcolm dead? No, he couldn’t be. She refused to believe it.

  Collecting her wits, she tugged her arm from his grasp and looked at her young, recently hired receptionist. “It’s alright, Esme. You can go.”

  “Are you certain, Madame?” The girl eyed the odd looking stranger fearfully.

  “Oui, I will be fine. Close the door on your way out.”

  Esme complied with a worried backward glance. As soon as the door closed behind her, Delilah faced her uninvited visitor, who looked to be past fifty, judging by his creased face and his long, steel-gray hair, tied back in a ponytail. His copper skin indicated Native American blood. He’d said he spoke Spanish and Navajo, no doubt the tribe he belonged to. They lived in the southwestern United States, she recalled. His geometrically patterned wool jacket also looked like it came from that part of the country.

  “How do y
ou know Malcolm is dead?” she demanded, stomach churning. “And how do I know you are not lying?”

  His black eyes held her gaze unswervingly. “I know because his niece Lara told me. He was killed in an accident after someone tampered with his car. Lara was also hurt. She walks with a limp now and has a scar on her face here.” He ran a fingertip down his right cheek.

  Delilah caught her breath, but she was not ready to believe him. “Who are you? Why would Lara confide in you?”

  “As I said, my name is Leon Tseda. Lara and her protector came to me seeking a place to hide from those who caused her uncle’s death. Since then, more Guardians and their mates have joined them.”

  He knew too much. Either he was telling the truth or he had learned of the Guardians’ existence and was attempting to capture them, herself included. Frowning, she said, “Again, how do I know you aren’t lying through your teeth?”

  “Lara gave me something to show you.” He reached into his jacket pocket and drew out an object. When he held it out for her to see, she gasped. It was the Celtic knot pendant Malcolm had given Lara at her initiation as his apprentice.

  “She also told me to say she knows you and Malcolm loved each other.”

  “Mon Dieu! How could she know that?”

  “He told her not long before he died. He wanted her to understand why you did not like coming to the conclaves. It hurt to see him after he broke off with you.”

  Delilah tried to speak but couldn’t. Sick with grief, she crossed unsteadily to her desk, sinking onto one of the side chairs. “I can’t believe he’s really gone,” she mumbled, covering her face and sobbing brokenly. To her surprise, a hand gently came to rest on her shoulder. Looking up through a veil of tears, she saw Leon standing beside her.

  “I am sorry for bringing you such bad news.” His obsidian eyes and sad smile conveyed sympathy. “I, too, lost someone I loved. Perhaps we can comfort each other.”

  She stared at him in disbelief. Was he suggesting what it sounded like?

  *

  About the Author

  Lyn Horner resides in Fort Worth, Texas – “Where the West Begins” – with her husband and several very spoiled cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn worked as a fashion illustrator and art instructor before she took up writing. She loves crafting passionate love stories, both historical and contemporary. Lyn also enjoys reading, gardening, visiting with family and friends, and cuddling her furry, four-footed children.

  Celtic myth and folklore, as well as unusual powers of the mind fascinate Lyn, influencing most of her writing. Recently, she has also become interested in Native American mythology.

  The author’s award-winning Texas Devlins series blends authentic Old West settings, steamy romance and psychic mysteries. Her ongoing romantic suspense series, Romancing the Gaurdians, combines her trademark flashes of psychic phenomena with Irish folklore and a chilling apocalyptic sub-theme. Along the way, readers are treated to thunderous action, terrifying suspense and sizzling romance.

  **See next page for Review Excerpts**

  Praise for Lyn Horner’s Novels

  Rescuing Lara

  Romancing the Guardians, Book One

  “It’s so wonderful to pick up a romantic suspense-filled novel and fall in love with both main characters … the plot is brilliantly set up as it slides across genres and takes on its own life! … Picture a vibrant, multi-colored braided ribbon, each color being a subplot and you can visualize how well Ms. Horner has woven this tale together withs depth and precision, while creating a masterful work of art through words.”

  —Amazon TOP 500 Reviewer

  “It was easy to imagine the Irish countryside with the author’s descriptive prose…Ms. Horner does a good job weaving the tension and suspense of the main story arc of Lara’s mission with the ancient Druid scroll…with Lara’s own emotional dilemmas.”

  —BigAl’s Books and Pals

  “This book had it all, it was a fast read and I read it in less than one day. Lara and Conn are wonderful characters, as well as Dev who I hope to read more about. The book has love, sex, suspense, prophecies and violence. Although the book does not end in a cliffhanger, there is no doubt there is more to come. There are six more Guardians out there and I can’t wait to read the next story in the series.”

  ––Linda Tonis, Paranormal Romance Guild

  Decoding Michaela

  Romancing the Guardians, Book Two

  “DECODING MICHAELA includes romance, adventure, psychic gifts, and mystery to keep readers engaged until the last word. The Guardian series by Lyn Horner is a must read.”

  —Caroline Clemmons, Best selling Romance Author

  “Once again, Lyn Horner showcases her unique style, infusing intrigue and the psychic call of one heart to another, creating another tale that begs to be savored cover to cover.”

  —Dianne Bylo, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

  Capturing Gabriel

  Romancing the Guardians, Book Three

  “This is a great book. I love the depth of research that the author put into this book and the story content is awesome and kept me engrossed until the end.”

  —Kay Hamilton, Amazon Customer

  “Capturing Gabriel by Lyn Horner is part romance, part action, part paranormal and 100% entertainment as she creates a hard scrabble world and brings two souls together at a most inconvenient time! …Definitely not heavy or dark reading, this has heat, tension and a great author behind a wonderful plot!”

  —Dianne Bylo, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

  Touching Charlotte

  Romancing the Guardians, Book Four

  “Lyn Horner proves that a light touch of the paranormal blended with the human emotion of true love makes for an exciting and romantic read … her characters come to life and their true multi-faceted personalities are born! A fabulous read …”

  —Tome Tender

  White Witch

  Texas Devlins, Book One

  “Lyn Horner weaves a tantalizing tale of a young girl beset by visions … the story is short, but sets the stage well for the next installment, with great characters and a tempting story line. The descriptions of the Chicago fire are spellbinding.

  —InD’Tale Magazine, September 2013

  “I have to say I’m a great admirer of Lyn Horner’s effortless writing…This is a great short story that introduces Jessie Devlin, a feisty Irish immigrant living in Chicago…Ideally read this before moving onto her druid [Texas Devlins] books.”

  —Mel Comley, international bestselling author

  Darlin’ Irish

  Texas Devlins, Book Two

  (formerly Darlin’ Druid)

  “It blends a compelling romantic story line … with a coming-of-age story line for the heroine, Jessie … Fans of historical romance and possibly even those who are into westerns, sans romance, should find much to like in Darlin’ Druid.”

  ―BigAl’s Books and Pals

  “DARLIN’ DRUID by Lyn Horner should be made into a movie! It has all the right ingredients: wild west setting, lots of fast-pace action, a feisty heroine, a truly nasty villain and a hero-to-die-for. It’s a real page-turning tale, historically accurate, beautifully written and lots of romance to make your heart race.”

  ―Tori Phillips, Harlequin Historical Author

  “This is an engaging, page turning, can’t put it down, don’t know where the time went, read… . The characters, love triangle and compelling plot line compete with the best in this genre. This is a full force romance novel with some unique twists readers are sure to enjoy.”

  ―Todd Fonseca, Reviewer

  Dashing Irish

  Texas Devlins, Book Three

  (formerly Dashing Druid)

  “I enjoyed Darlin’ Druid, the first book of this series. It’s combination of a solid western romance storyline with a unique twist on the formula provided by the infusion of a significant amount of the supernatural was a fun read that was very different. Dashing Druid continues the story,
this time focusing on Tye Devlin, the brother of the heroine in the first book … In the final analysis, I enjoyed this book even more than the first.”

  ―BigAl’s Books and Pals

  “Dashing Irish” is a stunning story set against the backdrop of the not-so-civilized state of Texas in the second half of the 19th century. Tye and Lil are a couple that will prove hard to forget … sparks between them almost set the pages on fire… . amazingly drawn characters, adventure, friendship and, of course, romance.”

  ―InD’Tale Magazine, September 2013

  Dearest Irish

  Texas Devlins, Book Four

  (formerly Dearest Druid)

  “… combines both the good and bad of the American Frontier… . tackles prejudices, not only between the white man and the Indian, but toward anyone who is different… . a tall order for a romance novel! Fortunately it is one Ms. Horner fulfills beautifully… . the romance - now that’s another story altogether and one that will make every lover sigh!”

  —InD’Tale Magazine, July/August 2013

  “Lyn Horner has done an outstanding job … This story has it all. The fact that she has brought Irish immigrants, with a Druid history into the melting pot just makes it that much more interesting. The plot is realistic and the characters were wonderfully portrayed.”

  ––Big Al’s Books and Pals

  “Can two people with troubled pasts find the one thing they have been without, love? … This was a beautiful romance and it was a book filled with amazing characters. I loved this book and although there is no need to read the series in order you would be missing out on two other wonderful love stories.

  ––Paranormal Romance Guild