Her Montana Man. Cheryl St.John

      “I wondered why you never got married. You’re more’n pretty enough.”

      Eliza’s cheeks grew warm. The cover of night coaxed words into the open. “There was one special someone once. But he just…disappeared.”

      “Man was a damned fool,” Jonas said with enough conviction to bring tears to her eyes. He must have noticed her reaction, because he pulled her closer, releasing her hand so he could envelop her in his warmth and strength. She didn’t resist, didn’t even want to.

      She had no reason on earth to deny herself this pleasure, nothing more to lose, so she met his kiss.

      She savored the warmth of his mouth, loved his hands on her waist. Eliza was starving for affection, for attention…for someone to recognize and want her for who she was. This was her moment. Her tiny dash at satisfaction, and she meant to grab it.

      Her Montana Man

      Harlequin^®Historical

      Praise for Cheryl St.John

      “Ms. St.John knows what the readers want and keeps on giving it.”

      —Rendezvous

      “Ms. St.John holds a spot in my top-five list of must-read Harlequin Historical authors. She is an amazingly gifted author.”

      —Writers Unlimited

      His Secondhand Wife

      Nominated for a RITA^® Award. “A beautifully crafted and involving story about the transforming power of love, this is recommended reading.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKreviews

      Prairie Wife

      Nominated for a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Reviewers’ Choice Award. “Prairie Wife is a very special book, courageously executed by the author and her publisher. Her considerable skill brings the common theme of the romance novel—love conquers all—to the level of genuine catharsis.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKreviews [4¹/2 stars]

      The Tenderfoot Bride

      “Cheryl St.John once again touches the hearts of readers…Not many readers will be able to hold back their tears as they reach the conclusion.”

      —Romance Reviews Today

      HER MONTANA MAN

      CHERYL ST.JOHN

      Available from Harlequin^®Historical and CHERYL ST.JOHN

      Rain Shadow #212

      Heaven Can Wait #240

      Land of Dreams #265

      Saint or Sinner #288

      Badlands Bride #327

      The Mistaken Widow #429

      Joe’s Wife #451

      The Doctor’s Wife #481

      Sweet Annie #548

      The Gunslinger’s Bride #577

      Christmas Gold #627

      “Colorado Wife”

      The Tenderfoot Bride #679

      Prairie Wife #739

      His Secondhand Wife #760

      Wed Under Western Skies #799

      “Almost a Bride”

      The Lawman’s Bride #835

      The Preacher’s Daughter #851

      A Western Winter Wonderland #867

      “Christmas Day Family”

      The Magic of Christmas #915

      “A Baby Blue Christmas”

      Her Montana Man #923

      Other works include:

      Silhouette Special Edition

      Nick All Night #1475

      *Marry Me…Again #1558

      Charlie’s Angels #1630

      Million-Dollar Makeover #1688

      Montana Mavericks

      The Magnificent Seven

      The Bounty Hunter

      With thanks and appreciation to the ladies who can’t eat as much chocolate as I can, but who definitely help me out of the jams I write myself into and know how to celebrate a birthday in style. Smooches to Bernadette Duquette, Barb Hunt, Donna Knoell, Debra Hines, Lizzie Starr, Chris Carter, Sherri Shackelford and Julie Breese.

      And thanks to Heartland Writers Group

       for honoring my RWA milestone!

      DON’T MISS THESE OTHER NOVELS AVAILABLE NOW:

      #924 AN IMPROPER ARISTOCRAT—Deb Marlowe

       The scandalous Earl of Treyford has no time for the pretty niceties of the ton. He has returned to England to aid an aging spinster facing an undefined danger. But Miss Latimer’s thick eyelashes and long ebony hair, her mix of knowledge and innocence, arouse far more than his protective instincts…. A scandalous Earl becomes the gentleman she’s dreamed of!

      #925 THE MISTLETOE WAGER—Christine Merrill

       Harry Pennyngton, Earl of Anneslea, is surprised when his estranged wife, Elise, arrives home for Christmas—especially as she is still intent on divorce! But when Harry and Elise find they are stuck with each other under the mistletoe, the magic of Christmas is just what they need to reignite their love! Mistletoe works its magic as passion is rekindled in this festive Regency story….

      #926 VIKING WARRIOR, UNWILLING WIFE—Michelle Styles

       War drums echoing in her ears, Sela stood with trepidation on the shoreline. The dragon ships full of warriors had arrived—but it wasn’t the threat of conquest that shook Sela to the core. It was her heart’s response to the proud face of Vikar Hrutson, leader of the invading force—and her ex-husband! Now the warrior must conquer his woman’s heart!

      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

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      Chapter Twenty-One

      Chapter Twenty-Two

      Chapter One

      Silver Bend, Montana, May 1885

      Jonas Black looked up from his ledgers and flipped open his ornately engraved gold pocket watch. Nearly three already. In preparation to leave his desk, he blotted the numbers he’d just tallied, then rubbed his ink-stained fingers