The Lightkeeper's Woman

The Lightkeeper's Woman
Mary Burton

Their Grand Passion Had Burned Too Brightly To SurviveBut faced with wedding another, Alanna Patterson was determined to reignite any smoldering embers of desire Caleb Pitt might still harbor for her. Would her brawny captain, now a solitary lighthouse keeper, rescue her from a sea of regrets? Or had tragedy both public and private sunk any hopes for a lasting love?Caleb Pitt had once believed love was eternal as the sea, for Alanna Patterson had promised him forever. But despite her vow, she'd left him to drown in disgrace. Now, years later, she'd reappeared on a storm-tossed wave, beautiful as a siren…and just as seductive!

“Hating you was pure and simple,”

she whispered. “It was black and white, no room for pain. But I can’t hate you anymore. I don’t want us to be enemies.” Unshed tears burned the back of her throat.

He pulled his hand away from hers and laid it on her shoulder. Through the sweater she could feel the warmth of his skin. “You want me to be your friend?”

“You make it sound so awful!”

He laughed as if he were teetering on insanity. “I can’t wish you good fortune and watch as you marry another.”

“Why not?” Liquid flames shot through her veins, making her dizzy.

“Because my thoughts aren’t the least bit friendly toward you.” His gaze pinned her. “Every time I look at you, I want to strip you down naked and make love to you.”

Acclaim for Mary Burton’s recent books

Rafferty’s Bride

“Ms. Burton has written a romance filled with passion

and compassion, forgiveness and humor; the kind of

well-written story that truly touches the heart because

you can empathize with the characters.”

—Romantic Times

The Perfect Wife

“Mary Burton presents an intricate theme that

questions if security rather than attraction

defines the basis of love.”

—Romantic Times

The Colorado Bride

“A heart-touching romance about love, loss

and the realities of family. In her finely crafted

historical, Mary Burton manages to vibrate some

sensitive and intense modern issues.”

—Romantic Times

“This talented writer is a virtuoso, who strums the hearts

of readers and composes an emotional tale.

I was spellbound.”

—Rendezvous

The Lightkeeper’s Woman

Mary Burton

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For Cathy Maxwell and Pamela Gagne,

wonderful critique partners and friends.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve