How Beauty Loved the Beast

by Jax Garren

Overview

Book three of Tales of the Underlight

It's all been leading to this.

Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke's diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.

It's been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.

Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…

Discover how it all began in How Beauty Met the Beast and How Beauty Saved the Beast.

73,000 words

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426895470
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	05/13/2013
Series:	Tales of the Underlight , #3
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
Pages:	293
File size:	343 KB

About the Author

Tales of the Underlight author Jax Garren is descended from Valkyries and Vikings (she's part Swedish) but was raised a small town girl in the Texas Hill Country. She graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in English and a minor in Latin then found her own Happily Ever After with an engineer who is saving the world through clean energy. She's always happy to raise a glass with her readers to toast courage, adventure and love. Find her online at jaxgarren.com

Read an Excerpt

Grant Barrett wrinkled his nose as he shoved the pretty little redhead down the hallway toward his office. She'd had the nerve to try sneaking into the chemical plant he supervised, probably to do some destructive mischief or thieving. Somehow she'd made it past the fence before attempting to tiptoe by the bench where he took his smoke break every day at five. He'd recognized her immediately and seized her. Petty crime was clearly not her forte.

The question remained whether apprehending Jolie Benoit, daughter of media baron Reginald Benoit, one of the world's most powerful men, would be an annoyance...or a coup.

Jolie trembled, eyes darting fearfully about. Grant kept a firm hold on her elbow as he marched her down cement walkways deep into the inner reaches of the plant. She was a beautiful thing, just a few years into her twenties with a figure that was more than easy on the eyes.

He cleared his throat and pulled his gaze back up where it belonged. "A soft girl like you doesn't belong in a harsh place like this. I recommend you leave the larceny to the more seasoned criminals in that rabble you've aligned with." Though born into the good life, Jolie had deserted her family to dance in a burlesque company and hang out with anarchists. If Reginald was less of a pompous ass, Grant might feel sorry for him. But as Reginald was not merely an ass but a power-mongering bull, he didn't feel the least twinge.

Jolie's voice quivered as she asked, "Where are you taking me?"

He couldn't help another glance at the red lace and lush curves revealed by the deep V of her blouse. Of all the things to wear for breaking and entering."To my office, dear." Where he would be alone with Reginald Benoit's daughter.

Come to think of it, having her here was definitely a coup.

He unlocked and opened the door to his private sanctum in the heart of the plant and escorted her inside. "Sit."

She rubbed nervous hands on her jeans and sat in one of the plush chairs by his desk, head bowed as she peered about the room like a trapped rabbit. But there were no exits, other than the one he stood in front of.

"Don't think about trying something. We've passed enough locks even that scarred brute hiding from the law with you people couldn't get in here."

Her head jerked up with more force than he expected from her demeanor. "A couple of locks wouldn't stop Hauk from finding me."

Was that pride in her voice? Grant crossed his arms and frowned. "A beast who murdered seven of his fellow soldiers before going AWOL and joining up with anarchists? I don't think loyalty is his strong suit." Although rumor had it the felon had taken a particular interest in the redhead. Not that Grant could blame him. As far as Jolie had fallen, though, it still surprised him that she might reciprocate the feeling. Burned from head to foot in a fire of his own causing, ex-Staff Sergeant Wesley Haukon was not only vicious but frighteningly hideous.

Her gaze sank to the floor, and she shifted uncomfortably. Ah. Her words were nothing but bluster. He should've known.

She meekly submitted to a pat-down, a not altogether unpleasant experience on his part. Her pockets held a phone, a tube of lipstick and a set of car keys. The girl had tried to break into his plant without a single weapon. He set her belongings on his desk and turned back to her.

"What are you going to do with me?" Big green eyes peered up at him, pleading, and he couldn't quite tamp the surge of lust her utter helplessness inspired.