❝ Whatever happens, ❞ he said, his voice barely above a whisper, ❝ I'm not going to let them pin this on you. ❞ I felt a wave of warmth spread through me, despite the cold of the room. But I couldn't focus on that right now. I couldn't afford to.
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In the midst of a murder investigation that threatens to tear their lives apart, John Laurens finds himself caught in a different kind of struggle-the battle for his heart. Framed for the murder of their close friend Maria, John and Peggy Schuyler are forced to work together to uncover the truth and clear their names. But as the investigation deepens, so does their connection, and John's quiet, intense infatuation with Peggy becomes impossible to ignore.
While Peggy remains guarded, keeping her emotions hidden behind a wall of strength, John's feelings for her grow with every stolen glance, every moment they spend together in the chaos of their lives. With the weight of the case pressing down on them and danger lurking at every turn, John finds himself drawn to Peggy in ways he can't control, and the lines between duty and desire blur.
As the truth about Maria's death begins to unravel, so too do the walls around Peggy's heart. But can they both navigate the storm of their emotions and the tangled web of lies they're trying to uncover, or will their love-and their lives-be sacrificed in the process?
Marcus Thorne wears several masks in his life-playing retired pirate, Captain Hawk, is his favorite, but if his secret is discovered, he could die. Captivated by his enemy's daughter, Marcus kidnaps her, but in turn, she captures his heart... until he discovers Isabelle is one of Napoleon's spies with the power to endanger his life and the lives of his friends.
After her release, Isabelle can't stop thinking about her masked abductor and how he'd stolen her heart before ridding her of his presence. Betrothed to a man who strangely reminds her of the man whose kisses set her ablaze, she marries him, only to discover he's not who he seemed to be and is withholding secrets. But then, so is she.
Content warning: This story contains a mild amount of violence and kidnapping... along with plenty of falling in love.