Excerpt: 'The Tempting of Thomas Carrick' by Stephanie Laurens

Nicole Brebner, executive editor at Mira, introduces an exclusive excerpt from Stephanie Laurens' latest, The Tempting of Thomas Carrick, which comes out tomorrow (Tuesday).

Nicole: Hi, everyone! My name is Nicole Brebner and I have the pleasure of being the first to read the latest novels by the incomparable Stephanie Laurens. As her editor, I see her manuscripts long before anyone else, so it is always exciting for me when the books are finally on-sale and my enthusiasm can finally be shared. The Tempting of Thomas Carrick follows the next generation of Stephanie Laurens' much-loved Cynster family and tells the story of Lucilla Cynster. Lucilla is the daughter of Richard and Catriona and has a twin brother, Marcus. Although I am lucky enough to already know how things turn out for Marcus (A Match for Marcus Cynster is on sale May 26), you will have to wait. Lucilla's story comes first and Lucilla is a woman after my own heart. She is smart, strong, passionate and a little impatient. She knows that Thomas Carrick is fated to be hers, but she must bide her time until Thomas comes to the same realization. Thomas is determined to set his own course away from the Carricks—and Lucilla—but, when something terrible happens within his clan, he is called upon to return home. To make the situation more difficult, he is then forced to turn to Lucilla for help. Lucilla wastes no time turning the situation to her advantage. Lucilla and Thomas share a passion that cannot be ignored. Reading about their growing attraction is thrilling and I know these two characters will capture your hearts the way they have mine. Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from The Tempting of Thomas Carrick below and happy reading!

EXCERPT

Thomas stood to one side of the hearth and watched Manachan talk with the pair. Lucilla came to stand alongside him. After a moment, he murmured, "I'd forgotten how good he is with children." His uncle was frequently testy, sometimes belligerent, always calculating, but when it came to children, he seemed instinctively to know what to say and how to say it.

Lucilla regarded the group on the sofa. Her lips curved in subtle appreciation. "Your uncle is a cunning old soul with a big heart."

The Forresters were in the kitchen, preparing a sustaining luncheon for the Bradshaws. Manachan and the children were absorbed with their conversation.

Thomas seized the moment and quietly said, "About you coming to Carrick Manor—we can't ask you to leave those in the Vale without your…services, not with your mother absent, too. I was thinking I should escort you back there, and perhaps tomorrow you could ride over." And bring Marcus with you. Thomas was fairly certain her twin would act as an effective barrier to any contact between them. Especially as Marcus would be nursing a sore head, most likely in more ways than one.

Lucilla shifted her gaze from Manachan and the children to him. She met his gaze; her emerald eyes narrowed fractionally, then her chin firmed. "That won't be necessary. Casphairn Manor is only an hour from Carrick Manor. If, as seems likely, I need to stay for a few nights, I'll send a note to Marcus. If anyone in the Vale needs me, he'll send for me, but we have no sickness there at present." She glanced at Manachan, then met Thomas's eyes again. "As I told your uncle, I have a duty toward those on the Carrick estate, too, so at this time, my path is clear, and it leads to Carrick Manor."

There was nothing he could say to refute that, and given her focus on Manachan—despite the raging awareness she ignited in his blood, simply by standing close, by being there—he wanted her to help his uncle.

Clan trumped personal considerations.

He repeated that like a mantra as, Manachan's visit with the children concluded, he and Lucilla, with Sean's help, got Manachan back into the curricle. Forrester and Sean had shrouded Joy Burns's body in a canvas sheet, and strapped the wrapped body to the curricle's boot.

Thomas saddled and fetched his, Joy's, and Lucilla's horses. With Joy's and her saddlebags in her arms, Lucilla was waiting by the curricle when he led the horses around to the front of the farmhouse. Approaching, he steeled his senses against the contact necessary to lift her to her saddle—saw her gaze grow distant and realized she was doing the same thing.

Which made his life not one whit easier.

He released Phantom's reins and tied Joy's horse to the rear of the curricle. Accepting Joy's saddlebag from Lucilla, he secured it to the saddle while she did the same with her own saddlebag, setting her horse prancing. He turned and steadied the black mare, then stepped to where Lucilla now waited—holding her breath.

He gripped her waist and lifted her. Felt again the suppleness of her slender form between his hands. He deposited her in her side-saddle, then had to force his fingers to ease, to let her go.

Inwardly cursing, he swung on his heel, grabbed Phantom's reins, and swiftly mounted.

Sean was already turning the curricle. Nudging Phantom in the curricle's wake, Thomas settled to ride alongside Lucilla.

All the way back to Carrick Manor.

Some part of him—the rational, logical part that knew spending time with her was inimical to the future he wanted—wondered how it had come, so inexorably, to this.

Another part of him, a part he normally kept well suppressed, didn't care. Not in the least.

Find out more about Stephanie and her books at www.stephanielaurens.com.