Skyler Hawk: Lone Brave

Skyler Hawk: Lone Brave
Sheri WhiteFeather

Like the bold hawk that had flown by her window, the Native American called Skyler was a mystery for Windy Hall. He was only to stay for the summer, a temporary housemate who'd be gone once September came. But even knowing that Sky was bound to move on, Windy couldn't stop her need to lose her innocence to this man who claimed he'd never had any.For a brave loner whose destiny was still unknown, falling for soft-touch Windy could only mean heartache. And yet, as he made sweet Windy his own, Sky felt his defenses crumble. Was she the sign he'd been waiting for–the ultimate destination his weary soul could finally call home?

“You Have Bedroom Hair.”

“Excuse me?” Windy asked, surprised.

“Your hair looks like you just tumbled out of bed.” Sky wiggled his eyebrows. “Nothing’s sexier than a thoroughly loved woman with tangled hair.”

For Pete’s sake. What a thing for him to say, especially after she’d been fantasizing about sleeping in his arms. “My hair always looks like this.” And she’d never been thoroughly loved. Windy tried not to blush.

She knew her lack of experience was showing. Although plenty of men found her attractive, she’d never lost her heart, made earth-shattering love or even cuddled in masculine arms all night. Call her old-fashioned, but she didn’t mind waiting for the real thing.

Sky clanked a spoon against his cup. With a start, Windy looked up to find him watching her, a knowing look in his eye.

Dear Reader,

Please join us in celebrating Silhouette’s 20th anniversary in 2000! We promise to deliver—all year—passionate, powerful, provocative love stories from your favorite Desire authors!

This January, look for bestselling author Leanne Banks’s first MAN OF THE MONTH with Her Forever Man. Watch sparks fly when irresistibly rugged ranch owner Brock Logan comes face-to-face with his new partner, the fiery Felicity Chambeau, in the first book of Leanne’s brand-new miniseries LONE STAR FAMILIES: THE LOGANS.

Desire is pleased to continue the Silhouette cross-line continuity ROYALLY WED with The Pregnant Princess by favorite author Anne Marie Winston. After a night of torrid passion with a stranger, a beautiful princess ends up pregnant…and seeks out the father of her child.

Elizabeth Bevarly returns to Desire with her immensely popular miniseries FROM HERE TO MATERNITY with Dr. Mommy, about a couple reunited by a baby left on a doorstep. Hard Lovin’ Man, another of Peggy Moreland’s TEXAS BRIDES, captures the intensity of falling in love when a cowgirl gives her heart to a sweet-talkin’, hard-lovin’ hunk. Cathleen Galitz delivers a compelling marriage-of-convenience tale in The Cowboy Takes a Bride, in the series THE BRIDAL BID. And Sheri WhiteFeather offers another provocative Native American hero in Skyler Hawk: Lone Brave.

Help us celebrate 20 years of great romantic fiction from Silhouette by indulging yourself with all six delectably sensual Desire titles each and every month during this special year!

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

Skyler Hawk: Lone Brave

Sheri Whitefeather

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

To my husband, Dru, for teaching me to appreciate all of God’s creatures, including the ones that slither.

To Raven, for letting me borrow your son.

And to my own son, Nikki—you’ll always be my baby, no matter how big you get.

SHERI WHITEFEATHER

lives in Southern California and enjoys ethnic dining, summer powwows and visiting art galleries and vintage clothing stores near the beach. Since her one true passion is writing, she is thrilled to be a part of the Silhouette Desire line. When she isn’t writing, she often reads until the wee hours of the morning.

Sheri also works as a leather artisan with her Native American husband. They have one son and a menagerie of pets, including a pampered English bulldog and four equally spoiled Bengal cats. She would love to hear from her readers. You may write to her at: P.O. Box 5130, Orange, California 92863-5130.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

One

A nice, quiet young man?

Tall, dark and gorgeous would have been more accurate. Windy Hall gazed at the stranger standing on the other side of her front door. Edith Burke, her elderly landlady, had described him as a “nice, quiet young man.” So upon Edith’s recommendation, Windy had agreed, sight unseen, to share her two-bedroom rental with him, at least temporarily.

Maybe she had mistaken this man for her new roommate. Maybe he was selling something or collecting for a charity. Yeah, right. Hunks of America. “You aren’t Skyler Reed by any chance, are you?”

“Sure am.” He flashed a slightly crooked smile complete with a set of twin dimples. “But just Sky will do.”

Okay, no mistake. She extended her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Windy.”

“Hello, Windy.” As he clasped her hand, he spoke her name in a husky baritone. “The pleasure’s mine.”