A Twelfth Night Wager

When a wicked rake and an erotic portrait artist indulge in a festive holiday affair, the flames are bound to be burning hot . . .

Lydia Honeywell, genteelly impoverished widow and aspiring artist, wasn't expecting to lose her position as a companion to a crotchety dowager baroness just before Christmas. But when her employer discovers salacious sketches in Lydia's portfolio, Lydia is summarily dismissed. Desperate, homeless, and virtually penniless, Lydia is unsure what will become of her until an accidental encounter with the Earl of Preston changes everything . . .

When Devlin West, Lord Preston, notorious and unrepentant libertine, chances upon the delectable Mrs. Lydia Honeywell, he's immediately captivated by the pretty young widow's forthright manner, wit, and artistic talent. Upon hearing her plight, not only does he offer her a place to stay, but the opportunity to produce a series of erotic paintings that will be exhibited at his annual "anything goes" Twelfth Night Masquerade Ball.

Unable to resist such a lucrative commission, Lydia accepts Lord Preston's offer and under his patronage, begins to explore all things carnal. While the handsome-as-sin earl and their erotic escapades become a source of artistic inspiration, Lydia soon discovers she's in danger of falling for a man who changes lovers as swiftly as he changes cravats. A man, she'd wager, has never been in love. When Twelfth Night arrives, Lydia must decide if a career as a successful artist will satisfy her after her passionate affair with the charismatic Devlin ends . . . Will either of them dare to step beyond the bedroom and share what's truly in their hearts?

Heat level: Scorching hot