Savvy Entertaining

For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Caterina, Book 2 in the Pendleton Petticoats series, she is here!

The Kindle download is up and running and the paperback version will be available next week.

Check it out.

And if you haven’t read Aundy, Book 1 in the series, you can download it free today!

Enjoy!

Here is a little teaser from Caterina:

***

Looking through the leaves and fruit hanging in the tree, Kade could see Caterina perched high on a limb, wearing a dark red and white calico dress. He’d seen Aundy stitching on it one evening after supper a few weeks ago and guessed she probably either made it or altered it for Caterina.

“Cat, I know you’re mad at me, and you’ve got every right to be, but will you come down so I can apologize?” Kade asked, taking a step closer to the trunk of the tree and gazing upward.  If he turned his head just right, he got an eyeful of white petticoats, shapely calves and small black boots. He was sure she had the tiniest feet he’d ever seen on a grown woman.

“No,” was the answer that floated down to him. He realized at that moment how much he’d missed hearing the smoky voice that so often occupied his dreams.

“Come down here,” he ordered, pointing to the ground next to him. The words barely left his mouth when a handful of cherries pelted him on the shoulders and bounced off his hat.

“Stop that, you little imp,” Kade said, holding a hand in front of his face as he tried to look into the tree.

“No,” she decreed, sending another shower of cherries raining down on him. He heard her giggle and decided he’d had enough as a third wave of fruit assailed him. One particularly rotten cherry splattered his shoulder and juice stained his light chambray shirt.

“Then I guess I’ll have to climb up there and make you,” he said, reaching for a limb overhead and placing his boot against the trunk, pulling himself up to the bottom branch.

“No, Kade! Stop! I’ll come down,” Caterina called, starting down the tree. It was bad enough to have to see Kade, but she certainly didn’t want to be stuck up in the cherry tree with him where he’d no doubt steal a kiss or two and make her forget how angry she’d been with him.

Had he bothered to apologize right away, she may have forgiven him. Even a note expressing his remorse would have sufficed. He could’ve even called with a vague mention of regret.

Six days later, she was in no mood to hear whatever it was he had to say. She didn’t care anymore, or so she emphatically declared to anyone who would listen. Convincing herself of that was a lot easier when she didn’t have to see the handsome deputy with his golden head, square chin, broad shoulders, and bright green eyes.

His masculine scent wafted to her and she almost missed a foothold as she worked her way through the branches. Almost to the bottom, something grabbed her foot, making her lose her balance. She stifled a scream as she fell through the air. Before she could blink, she found herself in Kade’s arms, held against his powerful chest.

“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

“Plucking the prettiest cherry I’ve ever seen,” Kade said, a devilish smile tilting up the corners of his generous mouth.

“You’re im…”