Today is the day! It’s the release day for the final Malloy family series book in print. I’m pleased as punch to let y’all know The Legacy is now officially available.
It’s been a long journey with my favorite family, one that helped me become a better writer with each story. While I know some of you already received your copy, or found it in a bookstore, today is truly the official release date, so please celebrate with me!
When Noah Calhoun finds his place in the world, he discovers a woman who makes him whole.
Book Seven of the Malloy family series
Noah Calhoun always felt like an outsider in the Malloy family, even though he’d been legally adopted at age fifteen by Nicky, the only sister in the pack. After an accident nearly kills his father, Tyler, Noah decides to leave and find his own place in the world. Using the skills his ex-bounty hunter father taught him, Noah finds a job as a small-town sheriff.
Rosalyn Benedict didn’t need a fresh-faced do-gooder sheriff trying to help her. She’d been surviving just fine on her own. Living on the streets since she was a child, Rosalyn was smarter, tougher and stronger than most people ever hope to be.
With her stubbornness and his pigheadedness, will Noah and Rosalyn find that one place where they both belong?
***
Excerpt:
The smell of lavender soap washed over him and he turned to find Rosalyn at his elbow. Freshly scrubbed, with pink cheeks and wavy, clean black hair, she snatched his breath away. The smile on her face faded as Noah stood there absorbing the sight of how incredible, how stunning she looked without the grime she’d hid behind.
“My God.”
She frowned and turned to walk away. “I know I ain’t beautiful, but you don’t need to—”
He grasped hold of her elbow. “That’s not it. Please, wait.”
“Let go of me,” she growled.
“You’re exquisite.”
She stopped pulling and turned back to look at him. “What does that word mean?”
“It means that you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He swallowed the rest of what he wanted to say, that she was perfect, amazing and the most fascinating woman he’d ever met. Noah kept those thoughts to himself—he didn’t want to scare her.
“Really? Are you just saying that to get in my britches?” She narrowed her gaze.
“First of all, you’re not wearing britches and second of all, no, I’m not. I don’t know what I have to do to prove that to you.” He held out his arm. “May I walk you back to the jail?”
Noah had the sinking feeling that he’d made a huge mistake. As far as he could tell, the townsfolk had ignored Rosalyn for years. Now she’d be lucky if anyone didn’t notice her. They would know just how amazing she was, and no doubt she’d be a target for every cowboy in town, not to mention strangers who were just passing through. Cleaning her up had revealed a diamond in the rough who he was now even more responsible for.
If his mother were here, he’d ask her for advice. However, his mother was hundreds of miles away and Noah was old enough to puzzle out his own problems. He had to figure out what to do with Rosalyn now that she was most assuredly in need of his protection.
As they walked back to the jail, he was assaulted by the clean scent of her again. Lord, he’d never make it alone with her if just the smell of soap made him hard. He knew it wasn’t simply the soap, but Rosalyn herself who sent his blood pumping.
When they arrived back at the jail, Rosalyn stopped outside the door. Noah glanced at her, noting the set of the stubborn little chin.
“I cain’t sleep in there again tonight.”
“Why not?”
She waved her hand in the air. “I didn’t sleep good the last two nights ’cause I don’t trust you, Noah Calhoun. I ain’t trusting nobody that easily even if you did pay for that nice bath.” Her violet eyes flashed. “A man is a man, no matter what clothes he wears. Your eyes are hungry.”
Noah swallowed the protest that rose to his lips. “If you change your mind, I can leave the door open for you.”
Rosalyn frowned. “I ain’t changing my mind. You make me jumpy and that means I cain’t trust you.”
Keeping his voice light, Noah opened the door. “I know what it means to not trust anyone.” He noticed a wet piece of cloth clutched in one hand but didn’t want to mention her unmentionables. It wasn’t unusual to wash underthings while taking a bath.
Of course that brought home the realization that she was naked under the dress. His trousers grew impossibly tight and he had to make an escape before he embarrassed himself.
“I hope you come back tomorrow.” Noah met her gaze. “Take care of yourself, Rosalyn. The door is always open for you.”
As he stepped over the threshold, he had to hold himself back from grabbing her and dragging her inside. She’d survived for ten years without his help, one night wouldn’t make a difference.
If he had any say in the matter, it would be the last night.
***
