Naughty Marietta

Naughty Marietta
Nan Ryan

She looks like an angel, acts like a vixen and sings like an alley cat.Marietta Stone had big dreams–to sing opera, to be famous, to see the world. And if her rich gentleman benefactor was a tad overprotective, well, it was a small price to pay. She had a glorious future ahead.But it did not include being kidnapped by Cole Heflin, who seemed to be the only man on earth she couldn't wrap around her delicate finger. He was a ruthless, conniving scoundrel who'd literally been unstrung from the gallows and paid to bring her back to the one place she'd vowed never to set foot again–home.Cole had never met a woman he didn't like, nor one he wasn't happy to love. Until now. Sure, Marietta was a little wildcat who drove him crazy with desire, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing it. They had a lot of miles to cross on the way back to Texas, with her benefactor's hired gunmen on their trail and a dangerous frontier ahead. But the trip home was not nearly as dangerous as the temptation naughty Marietta inspired….

At Marietta’s gentle touch, Cole felt a quick rush of sexual excitement. He brushed her hand away and turned his back on her.

“Sing some more, Marietta,” he said, knowing that her singing would quickly dampen his desire. “I do so like to hear you sing.”

“Really?” she asked, eyes shining.

“You have no idea,” he said as he picked up his chambray shirt.

Marietta was thrilled. Her singing had had the desired effect. She would use it as her chief tool to tempt him. And once she had seduced him, had given herself to him, he would surely fall in love with her. So much in love he would not force her to go to Galveston to her grandfather. He would take her wherever she wanted to go. And she wanted to go back to Central City and the opera!

Marietta inwardly shuddered at the prospect of allowing Cole to actually make love to her. She didn’t really know what to expect. Wasn’t sure she would know what she was supposed to do when the time came.

She was worried. But she had no other choice. If she was ever to be free of him, then she would have to let Cole make love to her. It would, she knew, be quite a sacrifice on her part.

But it would be worth it.

Also by Nan Ryan

THE SCANDALOUS MISS HOWARD

THE SEDUCTION OF ELLEN

THE COUNTESS MISBEHAVES

WANTING YOU

CHIEFTAIN

Naughty Marietta

Nan Ryan

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

For seven of my favorite writers

who are also valued friends

Marsha Canham

Lori Copeland

Heather Graham

Virginia Henley

Kat Martin

Meryl Sawyer

Christina Skye

Contents

Chapter One (#ua64bfe18-060e-5754-8a4b-d273c626e5d1)

Chapter Two (#u8d56919d-9e81-5388-a529-dba60c1f3790)

Chapter Three (#u264c4304-2147-5617-a7e4-5427059b7eab)

Chapter Four (#uee3d00c7-989a-5d52-9c0b-97f9f9ced40a)

Chapter Five (#u00da7d40-e0e9-59c7-99e9-1358844f103b)

Chapter Six (#u5092533e-f87a-5b2d-8f4b-7b21dbe9c0c6)

Chapter Seven (#ua4214311-65bb-5ef2-b8c1-2f00d03d46b0)

Chapter Eight (#ud9b1f30e-5065-5668-a155-443fd302f750)

Chapter Nine (#u4c925a9f-446d-56c2-b498-0c8952e75fe7)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)