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CHAPTER ONE

Cole

I'd never seen Tessa Bowersmarried She was stunned, panicked and nervous Her cheeks, bright pink with vitality, had drained of color Her mouth, often turned up into a contrary little sue darted out to lick her full lips Needless to say, esture

Ever since she'd developed her woman's body, she'd tested her feminine wiles on every hts on lances, an inappropriate brush of a hand, a brief, yet planned ain my attentions Instead of themiss, she was brazen, bold and devious and I'd been bewitched froain my attention, however, the more I rebuffed her every effort That didn't mean I hadn't noticed her Hell, what esture, snubbed her bold advances because that meant she would apply herself even harder, and I enjoyed her efforts Her blatant innocence was endearing, as long as it was directed toward h, I waited, for she was to be mine

But she couldn't ensnare me I would trap her It was the man's job to claim his bride And today at church, I did

"You're sure she's the one you want?" Sa in to whisper in my ear "It's not too late to back out No one would bla in recent months"

We were standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the altar, next to Reverend Abernathy The church was small and the peere filled with townspeople I'd known my whole life I could hear their soft whispers as they watched the event unfold

I turned my head and rolled my eyes at , then you have her Tessa's mine"

I turned and watchedmotionless between her parents Both had a hand on one of her elbows, atte to push her forward, but her feet held fast, even on the polished wood floor For the first ti she wasn’t inclined to do It ht not be the last

As she was being rasped as about to occur No one came up to the raised dais besides the minister unless they were about to be wed or buried Mr Bowers had taken care of his last responsibility toward his daughter: getting her to the altar He'd done an exceptional job It was obvious she had no idea this was no ordinary church service until she’d crossed the threshold to seeby the minister in my Sunday finery

Stepping down, I shook Mr Bower's limp hand, nodded to his sour-faced wife and then took Tessa by the biceps

"This is not happening," she snapped, her voice low She actually stomped her foot like a five-year-old, not the nineteen-year-old woman she was She was tall, but still only caht and she had the bluest of eyes, a striking contrast that I'd never seen in another woman Her mouth was lush and ripe, as were her womanly curves When she spoke, however, her venomous words never failed to find their mark I doubted she had many friends, and her parents had been quicker with a belt than a kind word They were far fro

"I'm not even dressed appropriately" She leaned in close and I could see a slight hint of freckles across her nose Her familiar floral scent drifted up to me

"You're worried about your dress and not thefor you?" I sled concerns

She pursed her lips as if I’d just n statement "Of course it is you Who else did I tempt all this time?"

Who else, indeed? No one that wished to claiet near her I wanted a spirited woman I wanted a woman with passion, with fire I wanted Tessa