Excerpt: 'The Best of Both Rogues' by Samantha Grace

Samantha Grace joins us to share a scene from her new historical romance, The Best of Both Rogues, book three in her Rival Rogues series.

About the book (courtesy of Sourcebooks Casablanca):

The worst thing Mr. Benjamin Hillary ever did was leave his bride-to-be on their wedding day.

The hardest thing he will ever have to do is watch her marry another man.

After two long years abroad, Ben finds Eve every bit as captivating as she was the first time he saw her, and he vows to set things right.

Lady Eve Thorne has a new man in her life, and Ben is nothing but trouble. She is no longer a starry-eyed young woman, and now that he's back, he can go hang for all she cares. At least that's what she keeps telling herself...

Rival Rogues series:

One Rogue Too Many

In Bed with a Rogue

The Best of Both Rogues

Samantha sets the scene for us …

Samantha: Hi, everyone. I'm Samantha Grace, RITA-nominated author of the historical romance series Rival Rogues. I'm thrilled to be back at HEA, and I can't wait to share a peek at my newest release, The Best of Both Rogues.

I've really enjoyed writing this series because I'm a sucker for a good Bromance. My two younger brothers were the best of friends and sometimes the worst of enemies, but they were always there to defend each other. My husband and his brother are close in age, great friends, AND they used to make up little ditties about the other's buckteeth to the tune of John Mellencamp's Jack and Diane. (I'm happy to report both men grew into their teeth.) Guys are fun! They can be irreverent, argumentative or downright vulgar at times, which makes them especially fun characters to write.

In the scene I'm sharing today, the hero Benjamin Hillary and Miss Eve Thorne's fiancé have reached an agreement to encourage her to call off the wedding by making it her idea. Sir Jonathan Hackberry has a pressing need to break their engagement, so he decides colluding with Ben is the best option. Of course, in those days if a man broke the marital agreement, the woman's reputation suffered. Everyone assumed the prospective groom had discovered something bad about her. The men are trying to make Eve regret having accepted Sir Jonathan's proposal.

EXCERPT

The neighborhood was quiet except for the occasional delivery cart traveling the narrow street, the incessant clack of Hackberry's walking stick striking the ground, and the grating call of a starling from the window ledge of a town house they passed. Neither Ben nor his companion spoke until they turned the corner onto Floral Street.

"Miss Thorne's brother isn't fond of you, you know," Hackberry said, slowing his pace.

Ben smiled wryly. "Whatever gave you that impression?"

"It's no secret. Everyone talks about your duel with gloves. I hear it was quite the spectacle and Thorne outsmarted—"

"Do you have a point?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"I do. Thorne will not welcome you into his home, so how do you suppose you will be part of today's dance instruction?"

Sebastian Thorne was the least of Ben's troubles. "He is a slave to his duties. It is a rare occurrence when he misses a meeting with the Lords." Ben was more concerned with Eve barring him from Thorne Place. After their encounter in the foundling hospital nursery, she had refused to look at, much less speak with him the remainder of the day. A real possibility existed she would turn him away. "I need you to convince Miss Thorne you and I have become friendly, and that you requested my assistance."

Hackberry scoffed. "And why would I request assistance from her former beau? Even I cannot pretend to be that lamebrained."

"I am certain you are capable of rising to the occasion."

"God's blood," the man grumbled and shook his head as if questioning Ben's sanity. Not that Ben blamed Hackberry. Ben hadn't considered how they would convince Eve to let him stay. He only knew he must be there, because the thought of Hackberry and Eve alone together left Ben's insides twisted in knots.

When Covent Garden came into view, they headed toward the crowd of vendors selling goods in the square. The first flower monger they reached had a basket of white daisies with cheerful yellow centers.

"I will take a dozen," Hackberry said as he pulled a coin from his pocket.

After the exchange, the girl—no older than eleven, if that—performed an awkward curtsey and bid them a good day.

Ben arched his eyebrow at Hackberry. "May I?" The man passed him the daisies with a puzzled frown. Plucking one from the bouquet, Ben returned it to the girl. "For you, miss."

Her face puckered in bewilderment, and she hesitantly accepted the flower when Ben continued to hold it out to her. She tried to return a penny, but he and Hackberry insisted she keep it.

Ben smiled at her. "That one is for you, miss."

A bright blush swept over her face as she placed the flower in her basket, then scurried to a spot several feet away.

"Now the bouquet looks—" Hackberry slanted his head to the side— "lopsided."

"Exactly. " Ben thrust the flowers back into his hands.

Hackberry scratched his head and didn't press him for an answer. Ben was beginning to like that quality about him. Perhaps under different circumstances, they might become chums.

"Come this way. We have one more purchase to make." Ben headed toward a vegetable cart without waiting to see if Hackberry followed. He searched through the carrots, potatoes, and cabbages until he found what he wanted, then handed the old man a coin. Ben presented his offering to Hackberry. "Eat it."

Ben's companion balked. "An onion? I politely decline."

"I question your commitment to the cause, Hackberry." He held the white bulb higher, noting he'd probably chosen an unnecessarily large one.

Hackberry's eyes narrowed. "Very well, but you will owe me. This goes beyond the call of duty." He snatched the onion from Ben's hand and shoved the flowers against his chest. "Hold these."

After peeling off the outer skin, Hackberry grimaced then sank his teeth into it. Juice dribbled down his chin. The fumes from the onion formed tears in Hackberry's eyes. "Damnation, you really owe me, Hillary."

"Stop crying, you overgrown baby. I'm already paying you handsomely and tossing a ship into the pot."

The vendor cackled under his breath as they walked away. Hackberry only finished half the onion before he tossed it in the gutter. "Let me have those fla-howers," he said, purposefully breathing in Ben's face, then ducked to the side when Ben playfully swung at him.

Ben handed over the bouquet with a chuckle. He hated to admit it, but he could better understand the reason Eve would enjoy Hackberry's company. He seemed like a good-natured gent not afraid to laugh at himself.

Find out more about Samantha and her books at samanthagraceauthor.com.