âAh, Meg, do you know how hard this is?âJoe groaned
âYeah, I think I do.â Meg pushed seductively against him. âThat is, unless you have a gun stuffed down your pantsâa rather large-caliber gun, too, I might add,â she added, grinning wickedly.
He stared at her, speechless. Then he found his voice. âWhat I meant was, feeling the way I do about you and not being able to act on itâ¦do you know how hard that is?â
âSo show me,â she dared.
Joeâs breath caught. âAre you sure, Meg, really? I mean, with everything going on and how crazy itâs all beenââ
âJoe, I sent out an invitation. Are you telling me no?â She pulled back to look into his eyes.
Joe gave up trying to reason and pressed into her. âWhat can I say, Meg? Its too hard to resist you.â
Note from the editorâ¦
An Evening To Remember⦠Those words evoke all kinds of emotions and memories. How do you plan a romantic evening with your guy that will help you get in touch with each other on every level?
Start with a great dinner that you cook together. Be sure to light several candles and put fresh flowers on the table. Enjoy a few glasses of wine and pick out your favorite music to set the mood. After dinner take the time to really talk to each other. Hold hands and snuggle on the sofa in front of the fireplace. And maybe take a few minutes to read aloud selected sexy scenes from your favorite Harlequin Temptation novel. After that, anything can happen.â¦
Thatâs just one way to have an evening to remember. There are so many more. Write and tell us how you keep the spark in your relationship. And donât forget to check out our Web site at www.eHarlequin.com.
Sincerely,
Birgit Davis-Todd
Executive Editor
Dear Reader,
On August 25, 2004, wonderfully talented Harlequin Temptation author Cheryl Anne Porter passed away after a valiant struggle with cancer. As her friends, weâthe other âTemptressesââwished to share a few of our fond memories of this vibrant, witty woman.
Without fail, all of us remember laughing with her. Whether because of her outrageous stories, the devilish gleam in her eye, or, as Wendy Etherington remembers, a name tag saying âQueen of the Universe,â Cheryl Anne inspired a feeling of genuine happiness from the moment you met her. Carly Phillips recalls meeting Cheryl Anne in a hotel lobby, and says everyone was roaring with laughter within moments of her arrival. Jacquie DâAlessandro distinctly remembers the first time she heard Cherylâs voiceâsort of husky, and filled with humor. That warm, softly accented voice was something Leslie Kelly will never forget, as her first interaction with Cheryl Anne was in a phone call.
If youâve read Cheryl Anneâs books, you probably know her a little yourself. Her voice shone brilliantly through her written words. Julie Kistler was struck by how much Cheryl reminded her of her books, being smart, fresh, genuine and totally original. And Kimberly Raye calls Cheryl one of those people who lives life âout loud,â pointing out that, like her books, she made people feel good. Julie Kenner finds comfort that Cherylâs voice, humor and wit will continue to live on through the readers, old and new, who discover her books.
Several of us first met her at writersâ conferences, where she was a sought-after speaker. Joanne Rock credits Cheryl Anne with helping her learn to tap deeply into her emotions while writing. Vicki Lewis Thompson fondly recalls the way Cheryl Anne would whip out those pictures of her grandchildren whenever they ran into one another. And every one of us still laughs when we think of Cheryl Anneâs âLarry the hotel employeeâ story.
Jill Shalvis and Julie Elizabeth Leto were fortunate enough to work closely with Cheryl on the MEN OF CHANCE miniseries in Harlequin Temptation, and Jill loved getting to know her. Julie, who lived close to Cheryl Anne, says that on the day Cheryl died, their hometown experienced an awe-inspiring rainstorm that lasted all nightâand no one who knew Cheryl was the least surprised that she could influence Mother Nature.
But even those of us who didnât know her personally felt touched by her. Emily McKay is thankful for Cheryl Anneâs gifts to the writing community, through her brilliant workshops, her wonderful books and her insightful articles. Rhonda Nelson says that whether you were a good friend, met her but once, or had simply read her wonderful books, the mere thought of Cheryl Anne always evoked a smile.
Finally, Cheryl Anneâs editor, Brenda Chin, admits that sheâs firmly in denial. Sheâs not yet willing to imagine not having the pleasure of collaborating on another book with Cheryl. Cherylâs wit, her irreverence and her outrageousness will be greatly missed by her Harlequin family.
We hope you enjoy this last book by our very dear friend Cheryl Anne Porter. She crafted her stories with love, laughter and genuine emotionâ¦the same way she lived her life. The humor, charm and warmth youâre about to experience is her last, personal gift to all of us. One weâre all very grateful to have received.