ABOUT HELLO STRANGER
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas delivers a scintillating tale of an unconventional beauty who finds passion with the spy who can’t resist her
A woman who defies her time
Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man—why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again.
Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man—why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again.
A man who breaks every rule
As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett. Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet. When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett’s skill and courage to save him. As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he’s ever known.
He heard her
muffled chuckle. She continued to lean against him while the trio of constables
expressed sympathy for the unfortunate patient. Eventually the men departed
with a chorus of hearty farewells. Ethan discovered that his other arm had
stolen around Garrett. Making himself let go of her was like trying to uncoil a
steel spring.
“You should go
up to your father now,” he said with difficulty.
“Eliza will look
after him while I take a few minutes to show you some slides. I have insect
wings . . . pollen grains . . . flower petals . . . What would you like to
see?”
“The inside of a
hansom cab,” he said softly. “I can’t be alone with you, darlin’.”
Garrett touched
the edges of his vest, fingers clamping on the thin leather. “Ethan.” A blush
rose in her face, like light glowing through pink frosted glass. “I don’t want
to end this. We . . . we could meet in secret, now and then. No one would have
to know. We would make no claims on each other. We’ll just . . . do as we
please.”
The way she
fumbled with the words, so unlike her usual precise way of speaking, devastated
Ethan. He could only guess what it cost her to lay open her pride like this. He
wasn’t certain what she was offering, or even if she knew. Not that it
mattered. He wanted, craved, needed anything she was willing to give. But he
had to make her understand that it was impossible. And even if it were, the
idea was beneath her.
“Have you had
that kind of arrangement with a man before?” he brought himself to ask.
Her eyes were the
green of deep summer and lush growing things. “I’m a woman who makes her own
decisions and handles the consequences.”
“That means no,”
Ethan said softly. At her silence, he continued, “You’d be risking your
reputation. Your career.”
“Believe me, I
understand that better than you.”
“Have you ever
shared a bed with a man? Even once?”
“Why is that
relevant?”
Her evasive
response sent a pleasure-pang down to the pit of his stomach. “That means no,”
he said again, his voice even softer than before. He took a slow breath, trying
to steady himself, while his blood sang with the knowledge that she’d been
waiting for him. She was meant to be his. God, he wanted her beyond any
reckoning of earth or heaven. But her well-being mattered a thousand times more
than his own desires.
“Garrett . . .
I’m a man full o’ trouble. When I vowed to let nothing harm you, I included
myself on that list.”
A frown crimped
her forehead. She closed her grip on his vest until her fists were tight as
pine knots. “I’m not afraid of you, or your trouble.” Her green eyes were
narrowed and intent as she tugged him closer. “Kiss me,”
she urged in a whisper.
“I have to go,”
he said shortly, and pulled back while he was still able.
But Garrett
moved with him, her hands reaching up to grip his head on either side, the way
he’d taught her at Baujart’s. The strength of her fingers electrified him.
“Kiss me,” she
commanded, “or I’ll break your nose.”
The threat
startled a ragged laugh from him. He shook his head as he looked at her, this
fearsomely capable woman who loved geese and was afraid of spaghetti, and could
either wield a scalpel in a complex surgical procedure or use it as a
throwing-knife.
There had always been a cold streak in him,
but he couldn’t seem to find it now, when he needed it most. He was breaking
apart inside. He would never be the same after this.
“Christ, you’ve
ruined me,” he whispered.
His arms went
around her, one hand gripping the heavy silken mass of her braided chignon. She
guided his head down, and he lost the battle, all his will vanquished as he
began to kiss her as if the world were about to end.
For him, it was.
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She is a RITA award winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women’s fiction. Her novels are published in fourteen different languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.
Connect with Lisa Kleypas
Facebook: @LisaKleypas
Twitter: @LisaKleypas
Instagram: @lisakleypas
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