An Unlikely Alliance by Rachel van Dyken Page B

alone that I don't chase after our parents and
give them a good talking to."
    Evelyn lifted an eyebrow and brought her
delicate finger to the top of her neck, drawing his eyes to the
swell of her breasts. "Would you rather stay here and have an
adventure?"
    "Yes," he croaked.
    "Good, because I've been waiting for some
time alone with you."
    "Uh ‐ huh." Her hands went to his chest
as she rained kisses across his jaw.
    "And you promised it would be worth my
while…"
    "I did." His body was pulsating with
heat.
    "So…" She backed away from him and
immediately dropped the silk negligee from her shoulders, revealing
creamy smooth skin.
    To this day Royce still couldn't recall what
in the blazes she had been talking about. But he didn't care. He
was in love. And his wife was perfect.

About the Author
     
    Rachel loves to read almost as much as she
loves to write. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her
husband and her dog Sir Winston Churchill. Although she loves to
write contemporary romance, her heart will always be with
historical and regency romances. Glittering balls and dangerous
rakes hold her captivated like chocolate and Starbucks. You can
follow Rachel's adventures on her blog, Twitter, or Facebook.

Also by Rachel Van Dyken
     

     

Prologue
     
    Oh no. This is not
happening, not happening !
    I wipe my hands over my pleated skirt, a
nervous habit. Sweaty hands aren't attractive, or so Brad Macintosh
said when he held them during couple's skate my seventh grade
year.
    It's my first choir solo ever. Why couldn't
it be our fall concert instead of our Spring Spectacular? I feel
ridiculous standing in front of the entire school with my mouth
gaping open trying to find a middle C. Not to mention the fact that
my mother, who is standing up in the front of the audience waving
with video camera in hand, forced me to wear a pleated skirt. Thus
the outfit is now screaming "uncool" on my lanky body.
    Never am I this mean. But when I get
nervous, I tend to snap at people. All week I've been at odds with
my mom for taking pictures of me. She was literally documenting
every day of my life up until the big solo or as she puts it, "my
discovery!" Leave it to my mom to turn a junior high solo into the
performance of a lifetime, which will not only get her daughter
discovered, but will make her a best selling artist all before her
eighteenth birthday. Somehow I don't think MTV is going to be
knocking on our door anytime soon for the professional footage my
mom shot in order to do a "diary" on my life before I was
famous.
    Nervous and sweating, I begin my solo,
praying I remember the words. When I finish, I felt like I'd run
the fifty-yard dash the way my heart is hammering, but then I
realize everyone is clapping. They're all clapping for me. I did
well!
    In fact, people are beginning to stand up
and clap. I actually feel famous, like I'm a pop star giving my
first concert and people love me. THEY LOVE ME!
    I bow and do a little curtsy just so they
know I'm still humble then wave like Miss America all the way back
to my seat with the rest of the choir. Blushing, I try to avoid eye
contact with the rest of the choir as they whisper, "good job". I
look humble, but I'm actually soaring because of how proud I am. I
actually did it! Now if only my mom would turn off that dang camera
and sit down. My dad gives me a thumbs up, and oh yes, my mom is
wiping a stray tear from her eye. Looking at them you'd assume I've
never done anything exciting in my entire life.
     
    ****
     
    Our choir director grabs the microphone and
clears his throat. The entire audience falls silent like he's the
president of the United States about to make his State of the Union
address.
    Our town is small. Just because our choir
director used to be a somewhat famous Christian artist doesn't mean
he should be elected mayor or given the key to the town; however,
few agree with my practical assessment. After all, he did give me
my starring solo, so I should probably