Hopeless Romantic

The Highland Duke (Highland Lords Novel Book 1) by Amy Jarecki  

Date of Publication: March 28, 2017

SYNOPSIS

She'll put her life on the line for him…

When Akira Ayres finds the brawny soldier with a musket ball in his thigh, she has no qualms about doing whatever it takes to save his life. Even if it means fleeing across the country to tend his wounds while the English redcoats are closing in. Though she's never been in battle, Akira is just as fierce and brave as any of her Scottish kinsman. But even she's intimidated by the fearsome, brutally handsome Highlander who won't reveal his clan name.

Yet she can never know his true identity…

Geordie knows if Akira ever finds out he's really the Duke of Gordon, both her life and his will be forfeit in a heartbeat. The only way to keep the lass safe while his enemies are on the hunt is to make sure she's by his side day and night. But the longer he's with her, the harder it becomes to think of ever letting her go. Despite their differences in class, despite the danger, he will face down death itself to make her his.

Akira has carved out a musket ball in Geordie’s thigh, but the redcoats are after them:

She slung his arm over her shoulder. A lot of good that did. The lass might make a useful crutch for a lad of twelve. “If they didn’t ken you were here before, they do now.”

“Ballocks!” he cursed, trying not to fall on top of the woman. Then he looked at the damned nag. “No saddle?”

She held out a few copper farthings. “There wasn’t enough.”

“Damnation.”

The urchin narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ll not be cursed at like a doormat whilst I’m merely trying to help you.”

Geordie grumbled under his breath and removed his arm from her shoulder. He took quick note of the surroundings. They needed more cover for certain. He pointed deeper into the wood. “Lead the beast to the fallen tree, yonder.”

She didn’t budge. “Oh my,” she said with a gasp. “Your leg is bleeding something awful.”

He swayed on his feet. Good God, he couldn’t lose his wits. Not until he had ridden to safety. “Can you stanch it?”

“Give me your belt.”

He slid his hands to his buckle, when a twig snapped behind them.

“Who goes there?” demanded a stern voice.

Akira’s eyes popped wide.

The beat of Geordie’s heart spiked. With a wave of strength, he grabbed the lassie’s waist and threw her atop the horse. Taking charge of the reins, he urged the beast into a run, steering it beside the fallen tree. Agonizing pain stabbed his thigh, but the pressing need to escape gave him herculean energy.

Haste.

In two leaps he landed astride the gelding, right behind the lass. Slapping the reins, he kicked his heels into the horse’s barrel as he pointed the beast down a narrow path. Stabbing torture in his thigh punished his every move.

Musket fire cracked from behind.

Geordie leaned forward, demanding more speed. He pressed lips to Akira’s ear. “Hold on, lass, for hell has just made chase.”

About Amy Jarecki

A descendant of an ancient Lowland clan, Amazon Bestselling Author Amy Jarecki adores Scotland. Though she now resides in southwest Utah, she received her MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Winner of the prestigious RONE Award, she found her niche in the genre of Scottish historical romance. Amy loves hearing from her readers and can be contacted through her website at www.amyjarecki.com (where you can also sign up for her monthly newsletter).