Barbara Ankrum

Lost, alone, desperate, Carly Jamison had returned to the Colorado high country, and to the only man she had ever loved--a man she had walked away from years before .... Rafe Kellard's secluded ranch was a place of healing and comfort, for her and her young son. But there was danger here, too, in the temptation of a passion that had never died--and a secret that could never be revealed .... For what would this proud, solitary man do if he knew that the boy she'd brought into his home was the son he'd never known he had?

Her fate was in the cards... Kierin McKendry was humiliated when the cold-hearted owner of her indenture papers used her as a tempting ante in a game of poker and lost her to a rugged, dark-haired stranger. But she was thrilled when her handsome new master offered to free her--if she would pretend to be his bride. The harmless deception seemed a small price to pay for liberty, but Kierin never expected that Clay's nearness would torment her so. Night after night, she lay beside him, longing to be enfolded in his masculine warmth. And when he finally turned to her, his sky-blue eyes aflame with passion as he pressed his lips against hers, explored her rounded curves and taught her the way of love, she knew Clay Hold would own her forever. He drew the queen of hearts... Tossing his winning cards on the table, Clay Hold reluctantly claimed his prize in the smoke-filled saloon -- the auburn-haired Kierin McKendry, whose green eyes flashed in anger and fear as she realized her fate was now in his hands. The rugged frontiersman had no room for her in his Oregon-bound wagon train, nor in his battered heart, but he despised the low-down cheat who'd just gambled Kierin away, and Holt relished robbing the scoundrel of such a fetching possession. He'd only intended to win Kierin so that he could set her free, but once Holt tasted her full pink lips, touched her soft form and teased her into surrender, he wanted to hold her in love's ultimate embrace and forever treasure passion's prize.(

Pinkerton agent Willow Hastings had always been successful until security chief Brandt Donovan interfered with an arrest, placing her job on the line. Neither of them will admit their attraction to one another, but after they imitate a married couple to capture a killer, they might not be able to keep it a secret. Will they be able to complete their celibate assignment or will their under cover operation become more real than they could have imagined?--P. of cover.

Libby Honeycutt was determined to keep the Lazy H ranch going-even though the place was run down and mortgaged to the hilt and her ranchmen were quitting left and right. When things looked their bleakest, an arrogant drifter rode onto her land in a raging storm, saved her horses, stole a kiss-and proceeded to turn her life upside down. She and Chase disagreed on everything from how to break a horse to the best way to fry potatoes, but when they came together in love's fiery embrace, all differences melted away. Each steamy kiss and passionate caress drew Libby deeper into a velvety whirlpool of desire. Chase Whitlaw had left comfortable life in Baltimore to fight the four long years in the Civil War. Now it was time to get on with his life, but first he had one important errand: he'd promised a dying Rebel that he'd deliver a locket to a lady out in New Mexico, and Chase intended to keep that promise, and then be on his way. But the moment he set eyes on proud and beautiful Libby Honeycutt, he knew he must sample her luscious charms. He'd sign on as a ranchhand, help her out a bit, then tease her into a frenzy of desire, inch by inch, he'd cover her trembling body with kisses until she cried out in wild wanton ecstacy!