A Fae to Remember
A FAE TO REMEMBER
KAREN FOX
Contents
Also by Karen Fox
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Excerpt from Just Fae Enough
Reader Letter
About the Author
Also by Karen Fox
Copyright © 2003, 2021
Previously Published as Cupid’s Melody
ISBN Ebook: 978-1-950349-38-8
ISBN Print: 978-1-950349-46-3
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Publisher: Parker Hayden Media
Imprint: Feisty Cat Books
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or locations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Art credits:
Cover design: LB Hayden
Butterflies: @ chachar/Depositphotos
Background: @ StephanieFrey/Depositphotos
Also by Karen Fox
Enchanted Love Series
One Fine Fae
In the Family Fae
A Fae to Remember
Just Fae Enough
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Other Paranormal Romances
Sword of MacLeod
My Enemy, My Lover
The Scanner Universe Boxed Set
The Hope Chest Series: The Prince
The Hope Chest Series Boxed Set
The Three Graces Trilogy: A Touch of Charm
The Three Graces Trilogy Boxed Set
Witch High Anthology
Magick Rising Anthology
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Contemporary Sweet Romances
Must Love Dogs
Her Fake Fiancé
A Match in Dogwood Anthology
A Dogwood Christmas Anthology
Dogwood Secrets Unsealed Anthology
A Dogwood Valentine Anthology
Dogwood Fortunes Revealed Anthology
Acclaim for Karen Fox’s previous Magical Love romances...
In the Family Fae
“Fortunately fairies have their own sensuous ways, which Fox describes in exquisite detail... Fox’s good-natured fantasy romance isn’t all sweetness and light; it’s spiked with suspense once a stalker discovers that Ariel weeps opals.”
—Booklist
“A lively, enchanting love story filled with strong emotion and humor. An absolute gem as only Karen Fox can write.”
—Rendezvous
“If you like stories about fairies, you’ll enjoy this book. It has an interesting twist concerning the relationship between the world of the Fae and the world of mortals.”
—Old Book Barn Gazette
“This cute fantasy romance brings a fairy from Titania’s court to the mortal world... Fox has more than enough fun with the difficulties of a Shakespearean fairy learning to cope with the modern world.”
—Locus
“Gifted author Karen Fox follows up her wonderful One Fine Fae with the delightful In the Family Fae. Join the magic and the emotion of this special charmer.”
—Romantic Times
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One Fine Fae
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“Finally, a heroine who’s a real woman. Finally, a hero who knows what a rare find she is. Finally, a book for us all to adore. Thank you, Karen Fox, for creating the most lovable hero romance has seen in a long, long time.”
—Maggie Shayne, author of Eternity
“Highly engaging characters... A realistic, plausible fantasy... One Fine Fae has proved well worth the wait.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“A fantastical journey into the faerytale realm of myth, magic, and happily-ever-after...Karen Fox’s fantasy romance is sweet and charming, with plenty of Fae magic to burn up the pages.”
—The Romance Journal
“What a fun read! I zipped through One Fine Fae, turning pages as fast as I could...I urge readers of paranormal romance to pick up this book as quickly as they can.”
—Scribesworld.com
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“I breezed through this most enjoyable book and am eagerly waiting for more of the same from Karen Fox.”
—Romance and Friends
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“Fun and lively.” —Old Book Barn Gazette
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“One Fine Fae is an amusing fantasy romance that will enchant subgenre fans... Enjoyable...humorous...Karen Fox writes a novel that is fun to read.”
—Bookbrowser. Com
“Highly enjoyable and well written. I could almost believe the magic existed... Here is an author that aims to please!”
—Huntressreviews.com
“Enchanting...Karen Fox has penned a warm, funny and quite delightful tale that is very special.”
—Romantic Times
To my critique group, Rose-Colored Ink. They’re not only excellent writers, but even better friends. I couldn’t put out a book without them:
Pam McCutcheon, Laura Hayden, Jodi Anderson, Angel Smits, Sharon Silva, Jude Willhoff
Chapter One
This is it, Nic Stone stood outside the tall brick walls surrounding a vast estate in the mountain town of Telluride, only able to see thick groves of pines and a pointed roof through the night darkness. Moisture filmed his palms, and he grimaced. He hadn’t been this nervous since...since he’d first met Anna.
She’d been working in a greenhouse and had come to assist him, her hands and face smudged with soil. He’d fallen in love on sight, but he’d needed several weeks to convince Anna of his sincerity. And after that, they’d lived happily ever after.
Until he’d foolishly decided he couldn’t exist without her.
Nic blotted his palms against his jeans and stared at the distant house. An upper window beckoned him. She was there. He knew it. He felt it.
He needed only a magical thought to transport himself. The smells confirmed that this room belonged to a female: floral yet definitely woman. Curled up in the middle of a queen-sized bed was the woman. He recognized the scent. Not Anna’s, yet close to it.
His heart filled his throat as he sank to the edge of the bed. In the dark of the deep night he couldn’t discern much, but he didn’t need to see. His other senses would guide him.
With extreme gentleness, he brushed his fingers over the woman’s cheek. Soft, smooth, warm. Memories washed over him with such force he had to smother a groan. By the Blessed Stones, to hold Anna again, to touch her, kiss her, love her.
He found her lips and traced their contour, finding them full and slightly parted as she slept. A slight sigh escaped her, and Nic smiled.
His Anna. His long-lost Anna.
Placing one arm over her, he bent to taste her mouth—a mere brushing of lips that instantly ignited flames within him. He couldn’t hold back his groan. Desire, longing, love returned with an explosive power.
He kissed her again, releasing his passion, tasting the sweetness of her mouth
, relishing the softness of her lips. He had missed this, missed her desperately. When she slowly responded, he drew her closer, raising one hand to cradle her head.
The moment he touched her hair, he froze and drew back. The hair beneath his palm wasn’t long and straight. It was short and tight with curls. This wasn’t Anna.
Who was she?
Before he could even guess, her fist found his jaw, startling him more than hurting him. He slid to the floor but rose quickly, only to be greeted by a foot sharp in his midsection.
He doubled over. The woman had awakened...with a vengeance. Stones.
“Who the hell are you?” she demanded. As he dared to straighten, she kicked him again, and he staggered backward. “And what are you doing in my room?”
Obviously, he’d made a mistake.
“I’m calling security,” she snapped.
Nic allowed himself a deprecating smile as he put a safe distance between them. “My apologies,” he murmured.
He doubted she’d even heard him, for she was busy lifting the lamp from beside the bed. He was no fool. As she rocketed it toward him with the force of a Pro Bowl quarterback, he transported himself safely outside the estate.
He must have been misdirected. That fiery woman had definitely not been who he’d expected to find. He had to investigate some more.
And discover another way to meet his reincarnated Anna.
Had he been a dream?
Stacy Fielding examined her room in the morning daylight. She remembered hitting someone. The shattered remains of her lamp attested that something had happened. But what?
She’d called the estate security personnel last night, but they’d reported no visitors, no breaks in the perimeter system. And no one could have disappeared as that man had done. She had to have been dreaming. With all the stress of Dianna’s summer tour, Stacy shouldn’t be too surprised.
But what a dream.
She went through her morning routine in a daze. She hadn’t lived twenty-five years without experiencing a kiss or two, but the one in her dream put them all to shame. Talk about sensuous. Every hormone in her body had snapped awake to beg for more.
If a man existed who could kiss like that, she was ready to sign up. At least for lessons. The last thing she needed in her life—or wanted—was a man. None of them had proven to be worth the time and energy.
Except maybe Kevin. But he fell into a different category.
With a shake of her head, Stacy descended the wide staircase, absorbing the quiet of the empty house. Time to get to work. She enjoyed the silence while she could. All too soon the phone would ring, the fax would spit out papers, and her computer would notify her of incoming email.
And once her sister Dianna returned home, it would be insane.
With only a few weeks left before Dianna started her summer concert tour across the United States, Stacy never lacked for things to do.
She padded into the kitchen to pour a super-size mug of coffee, then took it into her office. Staring at her desk littered with papers, the schedule tacked to the bulletin board, the overflowing inbox, she closed her eyes.
She hadn’t intended it to be like this. She’d had dreams of her own once, before Dianna had sung that first fateful song and climbed the beginning steps to stardom.
Stacy sighed. With luck, Kevin would be her ticket out of this chaos.
The phone’s shrill ring shattered the morning stillness, and Stacy winced. It had begun.
The German-made grandfather clock in the hallway struck two before she managed to break away long enough to make a sandwich. But she’d barely spread peanut butter on the bread before the front gate’s buzzer sounded.
Should she ignore it?
She couldn’t. She expected a delivery of costume sketches any day now.
She pushed the intercom button. “Who is it?”
“I’m here to see Stacy Fielding. My name is Nic Stone.”
Why did that name sound so familiar? Stacy straightened. Of course. “Did Brad send you?”
“Ah...yes.”
“Come on up to the house.” She released the gate, then headed for the front door, unable to deny the thrill of anticipation. She’d been waiting far too long for this.
In a surprisingly short time, the doorbell played the beginning notes of Dianna’s first hit, and Stacy opened the door to examine the man before her.
He was good-looking. Far too good-looking. Blessed with Hollywood appeal, he had dark brown hair, the color of melted chocolate and equally chocolate eyes—eyes that stared at her so intently she feared he could see into her soul.
“Stacy Fielding?” His voice held a hint of accent. Irish? English?
“Yes.” She hesitated to say more. Something about this man unnerved her. Was she making a mistake in seeing him? “You said Brad sent you?” she asked again. She trusted her accountant. He’d screened employees for her before.
“Yes, Brad sent me.” The man’s guileless gaze met hers.
“You’re the new gardener?”
His smile equaled the power of a full orchestra. “Nature is my specialty.”
“Good. Good.” Stacy nodded, reassuring herself, then held the door open. “Come on in. You said your name was Nic? Nic Stone?”
“That’s right.” He stepped inside, examining the interior, yet his expression displayed only curiosity, not the mercenary furtiveness she’d learned to recognize.
“The gardens are in the back.” She led him through the house to the back porch and waved her arm to encompass the gardens. “The grounds are extensive, and you’ll be caring for everything: the trees, the shrubbery, but especially the flowers. Have you had much experience with alpine gardens?”
He nodded. “I have experience with all areas of gardening.”
She adored her gardens. When everything else became too much, she could always escape here for a few moments of solitude and strength. Motioning Nic to follow her along the inlaid stone path, she took him to where her flowerbeds lined the walkway. Brave daffodils trumpeted their bold faces into the capricious mountain springtime, and tulips peeked out from the soil with more timidity.
The grass had finally greened up again, and the trees were lined with buds of new leaves. Winter tended to linger in the mountains, so Stacy appreciated these first signs of spring all the more.
Evidence of a not-too-distant winter lingered on the peaks looming over Telluride, the pines flocked with snow, the colors ranging from majestic purple to the hints of rocky gray of cliffs. In another month or so, green would reign there, too, but for now, she found comfort here.
“It’s beautiful.”
As Nic spoke, she turned back to face him, surprised to see his expression held the same love for nature that she felt. Perhaps he would be a decent gardener. Well, Brad would only send the best.
“The position includes a cottage on the grounds.” A gardener for this place had a more than full-time job. “I expect a lot. These gardens are important to me.”
“I promise you they will have the best of care.” Nic’s smile held a hint of mystery, as if he harbored a secret he wouldn’t share.
Stacy frowned. “And I’m warning you right now. If you think you’re going to see much of my sister, you’re sadly mistaken.”
“Your sister?” His sudden stillness held tension. “Dianna?”
“That’s right. When she’s home, she’s usually busy with her music. She rarely spends time in the gardens.”
“She’s not home now?” Though Nic asked the question casually, something in his tone made her hesitate.
“She’ll be back in a couple of days.” Though Nic had a good three inches on her, Stacy faced him, toe to toe. “I’m sure Brad had you sign the confidentiality agreement. If you attempt to extort from us or use your position here in any way to exploit my sister, I’ll have you prosecuted in a heartbeat. Do I make myself clear?”
He nodded. “Perfectly.”
“Good.” Her pulse had increased, and Stac
y stepped back, needing some distance between them. Men who looked like Nic Stone usually weren’t gardeners. They belonged on movie screens. “I’ll show you where the cottage is.”
The building nestled against the brick wall on the back edge of the estate. Though small, it provided enough space for one man.
Or did it?
Once Nic followed her inside, the main room felt smaller, the air thicker. “This is it.” She turned away from him to point out each of the rooms. “The kitchen is there, and there’s a bedroom and bath. Utilities are covered as well.”
“It is more than I expected,” Nic said, his voice tugging at her like a long-forgotten memory.
“I’ll let you get your bags and settle in. You have an intercom here, which will contact the house. You can reach the front lawns by going around the side. You don’t need to go inside.” Jeez, she was rambling.
“I understand.”
Stacy turned toward the door only to encounter his potent smile again. Smiles like that should be illegal. “I expect you to start work tomorrow.”