Stroke of Sapphire Read online

  John held up his hand. “Guilty.”

  Sapphire glanced up at Jake, but he simply scowled. “We can’t leave for another hour.” She knew then that he was staying for her. If he had it his way they’d already be on their way to the hotel to spend their wedding night. She loved him even more for wanting to do what he thought she wanted.

  “One more dance and then we can say goodbye to everyone,” she promised.

  “Really? You don’t want to stay longer?” She could see the growing hope in his eyes.

  She shook her head. “One more dance and I promise we’ll leave.”

  Jake grabbed her hand and started dragging her toward the opening in the tent. “Hurry up, woman.” She ran to keep up with his long strides, laughing as she went. She glanced back to find Emerald holding her sides and laughing while Topaz simply shook her head at them like they were unruly children. Then John grabbed her sister’s hand and started pulling her behind him. Seemed he was following Jake’s lead.

  Then they were on the dance floor, whirling in a circle as the strains of a waltz wafted around them. As Jake spun her around, she saw all her family and close friends smiling at them. She smiled up at her husband and knew she’d made the right decision.

  “I love you, Jake.”

  His gaze turned tender and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I love you too. Now let’s get out of here.”

  About N.J. Walters

  N.J. Walters worked at a bookstore for several years and one day had the idea that she would like to quit her job, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the same bookstore and settled in for another seven years.

  Although she was still fairly young, that was when the midlife crisis set in. Happily married to the love of her life, with his encouragement (more like, “For God’s sake, quit the job and just write!”), she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel, Annabelle Lee, and life would never be the same.

  N.J. has always been a voracious reader of romance novels, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks all vie for her attention. And she doesn’t mind a bit. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

  N.J. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

  Tell Us What You Think

  We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).

  Also by N.J. Walters

  Amethyst Dreams

  Amethyst Moon

  Anastasia’s Style

  Awakening Desires 1: Katie’s Art of Seduction

  Awakening Desires 2: Erin’s Fancy

  Awakening Desires 3: Capturing Carly

  Awakening Desires 4: Craving Candy

  Awakening Desires 5: Jackson’s Jewel

  Awakening Desires 6: MacNamara’s Lady

  Awakening Desires 7: Touch of Topaz

  Beyond Shadows

  Dalakis Passion 1: Harker’s Journey

  Dalakis Passion 2: Lucian’s Delight

  Dalakis Passion 3: Stefan’s Salvation

  Dalakis Passion 4: Eternal Brothers

  Dalakis Passion 5: Endless Chase

  Drakon’s Treasure

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV anthology

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III anthology

  Hearts of Fire 3: Seeking Charlotte

  Hearts of Fire 5: Entwined Hearts with Nicole Austin, TJ Michaels & Ciana Stone

  Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift

  Lady’s Minstrel

  Lassoing Lara

  Out of Shadows

  Project Alpha 1: Embracing Silence

  Project Alpha 2: Have Mercy

  Project Alpha 3: Sweet Charity

  Summersville Secrets 1: Annabelle Lee

  Summersville Secrets 2: Heat Wave

  Summersville Secrets 3: Lily Blossoms

  Tapestries 1: Christina’s Tapestry

  Tapestries 2: Bakra Bride

  Tapestries 3: Woven Dreams

  Tapestries 4: Threads of Destiny

  Tapestries 5: Embroidered Fantasies

  Tapestries 6: Fabric of Fate

  Tempting Tori

  Three Swords, One Heart

  Tracking Talia

  Unmasking Kelly

  Print books by N.J. Walters

  Awakening Desires 1: Katie’s Art of Seduction

  Awakening Desires 2: Erin’s Fancy

  Awakening Desires 3 & 4: Enticements

  Awakening Desires 5: Jackson’s Jewel

  Candy Caresses anthology

  Dalakis Passion 1 & 2: Dalakis Embrace

  Dalakis Passion 3: Stefan’s Salvation

  Dalakis Passion 4: Eternal Brothers

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV anthology

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III anthology

  Feral Fixation anthology

  Summersville Secrets 1 & 2: Summersville Heat

  Tapestries 1 & 2: Tapestry Dreams

  Tapestries 3: Woven Dreams

  Tapestries 4: Threads of Destiny

  Three Swords, One Heart

  White Hot Holidays Volume 3 anthology

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  Stroke of Sapphire

  ISBN 9781419944246

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Stroke of Sapphire Copyright © 2013 N.J. Walters

  Edited by Shannon Combs

  Cover design by Syneca

  Photo: MarishaSha/Shutterstock.com

  Electronic book publication January 2013

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

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  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

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