{"product_id":"2940045978934","title":"Fancy Lady \u0026 the Desperadoes","description":"\u003cp\u003eBLURB Well-bred Valerie Johnson travels 3,000 miles by train and stagecoach to join her husband in Virginia City, Nev. only to discover when she gets there, she's a widow. Low on money, unable to find respectable employment, she takes a temporary position as a courtesan at Rosie's Parlor—an elegant brothel. When godlike Duke Dugan picks Valerie, they both wonder if it's lust or love at first sight.\u003cbr\u003eDuke takes the lovely, red haired woman to dinner where she discovers Duke is a rebel captain, on a desperate mission for the Confederacy. She'd tell the authorities except, she's fallen in love with him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXCERPT “Bartender,” he bellowed, “I need a bottle, a bath, and the fanciest lady you have.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis gaze languidly circumnavigated the room, and she held her breath, her mind willing his selection. His fabulous azure eyes locked with hers, which caused her heart to race. When he yelled, “That one, she’s mine,” Valerie became light-headed.\u003cbr\u003eThe man grabbed the offered bottle and glass. “I need another one for the lady.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCliff, the bartender, produced the requested glass, and the man threw a silver dollar on the bar. “Thanks. Set my companions up, too, would you?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCliff nodded and slid over to wait on them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe man directed a devilish grin at her. Valerie’s nipples swelled from the molten stare of his blue eyes and a perfect smile from faultless white teeth. After throwing the saddlebags back over his shoulder, he ambled, glasses and bottle in hand, toward her. She studied him. Unkempt, dark brown hair hung in mild, attractive curls from beneath his tan, weather-beaten hat. His jaw square, a narrow mustache rested between his hawkish nose and narrow lips set within an angular face. He was beautiful…and he’d picked her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe stopped two feet from her. “What’s your name?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor an instant, she couldn’t think of it. “Valerie.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Can I call you Red?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegaining a modicum of control, she casually shrugged and smiled. “Everyone else does.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe smirked and dipped his head. “Good. I’m Duke, and I need a bath. Would you like to bathe with me, Red?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlmost numb from his sensual aura, she nodded. “Sounds like fun.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA twangy voice drew their attention. “Duke, I’m going to be busy for a while.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the first time, she got a good look at one of his companions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYoung and handsome, he stood with an arm around Maude and the new half-breed girl.\u003cbr\u003eDuke chortled. A small grin appeared on his face. “Two, huh? You think you can handle two?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Don’t know yet. But I aim to try. Goin’ to make up for lost time.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaughing, Duke lavished her with an impish grin. “How about you? Could you handle two?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThinking he meant the other younger man, she looked him over.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe stared at Duke. “Him?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuke shook his head. “Nah, Cody don’t need the help.” He nodded toward the bar. “Cody’s brother, Cory. He’s shy, never been with a woman.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe glanced in the direction of his head hitch and saw the duplicate of Cody leaning against the bar, nursing a draft.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuke laughed again. “Only kidding. Wanted to see how game you are. Another time maybe. Tonight, you’re all mine.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis gaze shifted to Cody. “All right, Cody, but we have to be going in a couple hours. We have to get rooms at the hotel.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll of a sudden, Valerie felt emboldened. “You can stay in my room. No charge. And I’m sure Maude or…”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Chana.” Cody offered her name, an effusive smile on his lips.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCody nodded, turned, and walked off with his flesh-and-blood booty.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith Cody gone, Duke’s smoldering eyes regained her attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Why don’t we sit down and have a drink first, pretty lady.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe flashed an effusive smile. “I’d like that\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"New Dawning Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47110501564656,"sku":"2940045978934","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940045978934_p0.jpg?v=1763981870","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940045978934","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}