Loving Lies. Tina Donahue

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      Cover Copy

      Deception knows no limits. Passion knows no bounds.

      When she is kidnapped, Senorita Isabella knows the men have been sent by her uncle in a murderous attempt to control her family’s fortune. But when she is rescued by a dashing and mysterious warrior, Isabella can’t imagine why a stranger would risk his life for her—until she discovers her rescuer believes she’s someone else….

      Fernando de Zayas loves nothing more than the cry of battle. Defying death is his way of life. But when he discovers his betrothed has been kidnapped, he rushes to her aid—never suspecting that spirited beauty would soothe his warrior heart…

       With her uncle’s minions close on their heels, Isabella finds herself drawing closer to Fernando. But as the desire between them builds, her secret could keep them apart forever…

      Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Books by Tina Donahue

      Dangerous Desires Series

      Loving Lies

      Wicked Whispers

      Passionate Pursuit

      Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

      Loving Lies

      Dangerous Desires

      Tina Donahue

      LYRICAL PRESS

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Copyright

      Lyrical Press books are published by

      Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

      Copyright © 2015 by Tina Donahue

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

      All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund- raising, and educational or institutional use.

      To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

      Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Special Sales Manager:

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      119 West 40th Street

      New York, NY 10018

      Attn. Special Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

      Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

      LYRICAL PRESS Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

      Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.

      First Electronic Edition: February 2016

      eISBN-13: 978-1-60183-587-1

      eISBN-10: 1-60183-587-6

      First Print Edition: February 2016

      ISBN-13: 978-1-60183-588-8

      ISBN-10: 1-60183-588-4

      Printed in the United States of America

      Dedication

      To Denysé Bridger, an amazing author and a dear friend.

      Author’s Foreword

      I fell in love with Spain when I wrote my first Kensington historical Just One Kiss. The late fifteenth century was a dangerous yet magical time in which warrior knights faced endless peril and strong, spirited women carved out a place for themselves in a decidedly male world. Isabella and Fernando’s story is a sensuous tale filled with romance, adventure, and love that wasn’t meant to be but neither of them could deny.

      Acknowledgements

      To Penny Barber for her wise and always accurate suggestions.

      Chapter 1

      The Moorish Kingdom of Granada, Spain—1488

      Al-Caicería—The Great Bazaar

      “Harem!” The slave trader’s shout rose above other voices in the open-air market. He dug his fingers into the hooded robe hiding Isabella Lopéz de Lara’s face and nudity. “Harem!”

      The Arabic word seemed to linger in the still, warm air. Sweat trickled down Isabella’s cheek. Her abduction in Andalucía, on orders from her murderous uncle, was far too real and horrifying now.

      Someone brushed past, startling her. The individual’s sandals or boots slapped hard against the ground, the sounds fading quickly. Isabella snatched a breath. The hem of her robe pulled away from her legs. She stilled, terrified to move. Work-roughened fingers slid over her ankle and up her calf.

      Holding back a scream, she backed into the slaver. He released his hold on her robe and shouted in Arabic, his words incomprehensible to her. An object whistled close to her face, followed by a harsh crack and a man’s agonized cry.

      The hand jerked away from her leg. A series of brutal whacks and stumbling noises rose above the other sounds.

      Swallowing hard, she listened for what she couldn’t see.

      Too many buyers shuffled close, stirring up dust to mingle with the scents of cooked meat, cloyingly sweet perfumes, the stench of animals and men. Crude male voices yelled the word harem repeatedly. Moments later, fabric snapped.

      She pictured the slaver stripping one of the other captives, forcing the poor woman to display herself.

      Murmurs floated through the crowd. The slaver shouted above them, making the men speak faster, louder.

      As they offered bids?

      She shuddered, expecting the slave to plead for mercy.

      Whoever the girl was, she held her tongue, seemingly resigned to her fate the Moors deemed qisma, destiny.

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