Saved by My Blackguard (Linked Across Time Book 1) Read online

  SAVED BY MY BLACKGUARD

  LINKED ACROSS TIME

  BOOK ONE

  DAWN BROWER

  COPYRIGHT

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Saved by My Blackguard Copyright © 2016 Dawn Brower

  All rights reserved.

  Kindle Edition

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

  Cover art by Victoria Miller

  TITLES BY

  DAWN BROWER

  Broken Pearl

  Deadly Benevolence

  MARSDEN ROMANCES

  A Flawed Jewel

  A Crystal Angel

  A Treasured Lily

  A Sanguine Gem

  A Hidden Ruby

  A Discarded Pearl

  NOVAK SPRINGS SERIES

  Cowgirl Fever

  Unbridled Pursuit

  Sensual Games

  LINKED ACROSS TIME SERIES

  Saved by My Blackguard

  Searching for My Rogue

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Thank you to everyone who read my books and keeps asking for more. You’re the reason I continue to write and develop new stories. This is the start of a new adventure I hope you all enjoy as much as I did. Before you ask (because I have beta readers that liked him despite his naughtiness). Yes Captain Jack will get his own book. You just might have to wait a while to get it. He was a surprise I didn’t expect or plan on initially, but I had a lot of fun with him.

  SAVED BY MY BLACKGUARD

  CHAPTER ONE

  New York

  August 18, 1987

  Paul Dewitt tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. The starkness of the doctor’s office was blinding and he couldn’t focus on any one thing. The waiting was driving him insane. As the hands on the clock ticked by he could hear parts of his life fall out of existence. What was wrong with him? Why had he passed out? He needed answers and the damned doctor better come and give them to him soon. He wasn’t ready to die. There was so much he had yet to accomplish.

  The doctor rushed in, sat behind his desk and laid a manila folder on it. He studied Paul with his fingers steepled together in concentration. After a long drawn out silence he sighed and opened the file. He pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Paul.

  “We’ve run all the necessary tests and we’ve come to one conclusion.” The doctor paused and stared into Paul’s eyes. “You’re working yourself to an early grave. If you don’t slow down you won’t see your thirtieth birthday.”

  “What is wrong with me?” Paul glanced at the sheet of paper, but it was all gibberish to him. “Explain what all these numbers mean.”

  “The short answer is you are too stressed. Your heart is working too hard and you don’t sleep enough. Your body is exhausted and fighting itself. It gave in when you wanted to push it past its limits.” The doctor grabbed the paper and put it back in the file and closed it. “Despite what you believe, Paul, you’re not limitless. You need to take better care of yourself. The best advice I can give you is to take a vacation. Delegate some of your duties and take a step back from your business. From your own admission you work over 80 hours a week. At that pace, you won’t live to do anything with the money you’re accumulating. Medically speaking, I can only do so much for you.”

  The good doctor could stick his advice someplace rather unpleasant and twist it like a sharp blade. He couldn’t afford a vacation. His company was on the brink of a major takeover of a computer software firm. They held the necessary patents he needed to launch his personal computers on the market. His product would be more affordable to the average family and all the market research showed they would be a high profit margin for his company. Being sick wasn’t something he could afford at such a critical time in his family’s company. He was the only one who could make sure the takeover went through. His brother was a dismal failure at business and preferred to party rather than taking any responsibility. If he didn’t handle everything who would?

  “I can’t take a vacation.” He snorted. “The very idea is ludicrous.”

  The doctor shrugged. “Ultimately it is your decision. What is more important to you? Your company or your health? I can’t make those decisions for you. My job is to point out to you the ramifications of those decisions.”

  Paul hated to admit the doctor was right. Exhaustion swept through him leaving him drained. He rubbed his eyes, hoping it would help keep him focused. If only he could make it through the next month to see the takeover through… They had to slowly buy up stock using a few different dummy corporations before they could seize control. It would be bad to have the SEC on their backs. He could do some of the work from home if needed. The office and day-to-day business could get by on its own. That was why he had an administrative assistant for. And she was damned good at her job.

  “How long?”

  “Pardon?” The doctor raised an eyebrow. “How long for what?”

  “How long of a vacation do you recommend I take?”

  “A month—”

  “Is too long,” Paul interrupted him. “There’s no way I could take a month off from the company. I would end up destitute leaving it for that long.”

  The doctor shook his head and sighed. “I doubt it would come to that. A week then. Do you think you could manage that?”

  Paul tilted his head and considered it. He might be able to manage a week. He could leave detailed instructions with Christy. She knew how he liked things handled and he could depend on her to keep the machine running while he frolicked on the beach. He almost snorted at the absurdity of him lounging on the sand while waves crashed to shore. It wouldn’t take him but a day to go mad with boredom. Maybe the doctor was right and he needed to slow down, but to do nothing? That was a fate worse than death. He didn’t know how to live a carefree life. It wasn’t in his genetic makeup.

  “I might be able to take a week, if I have a week to prepare the company for my departure.”

  The doctor frowned, and then said. “That might be detrimental. Do you need a whole week?”

  “Yes,” he said, emphatically. “I handle a lot of the details of the company every day. I need time to prepare them for my absence. I know you believe I need this vacation, and you know I disagree. I can’t in good conscience leave without doing my due diligence as CEO.”

  “Fine, but I want you to come by my office in a few days for a stress test. I’m afraid if you push too hard you will have a heart attack before the end of the week.”

  Was his heart really that overworked? He was tired, but surely the doctor was overreacting. He’d only passed out the once…

  “I will have my assistant set up an appointment. I’m not sure when I have a time open.”

  The doctor nodded. “It really is for the best. When you get back from your vacation I also suggest you cut your work hours by at least a third. Find something else to fill your time with.”

  “What could I possibly do other than work?” Paul rolled his eyes. “I don’t like people and I have no hobbies. Work is all I know.”

  “I don’t know—try dating, find someone to love. Get married, have a family.”

  Paul almost snorted at his words. He may have been his doctor since he was a small boy, but that didn’t mean he had to follow his relationship advice. Women were only good for one thing, and he didn’t need one in his
life full time to get that. He had no desire to find love. It wasn’t in the cards for him and he was all right with that fate. As far as kids, his sister had a couple that could inherit the company. He didn’t need any progeny to pass it down to.

  “Thanks, but I will have to pass on your sage advice. A family is the last thing I need. You already said I’m stressed, what do you think a wife and kids would do to me?”

  “Just slow down. The rest of your life will fall in place once you do. Enjoy your vacation.”

  Enjoy? Somehow he believed that was the last thing he would do. It didn’t matter. If he had to sleep in and be lazy for a week to help heal his heart he would do it. The rest of the doctor’s advice wasn’t even an option. He didn’t need or want someone to nag him for the rest of his life. He was perfectly content the way things were.

  “I suppose I can try to anyway. Do you have any recommendations for a vacation spot?”

  The doctor shook his head. “No and it doesn’t matter as long as you relax wherever it is. You can stay home if you like, just don’t go into the office.”

  “Right.” He doubted he would be able to resist the urge to go into the office if he stayed home. So an island getaway it was. He’d have his assistant book his vacation for him. It didn’t matter where as long as it was nice and relaxing just as the doctor ordered. “I suppose I will be going. Thanks for the advice.”

  Paul stood up and left the doctor’s office. He had to get back to Dewitt Enterprises and start the plans necessary for his impromptu vacation.

  ***

  Port Royal, August 28, 1987

  The heat of the sun poured over Paul as he lounged on the beach, and the waves crashed on the shore. He pulled his sunglasses off his face and wiped the sweat off his forehead. The forced vacation was already driving him mad.

  Sure, Port Royal was amazing and beautiful. There were plenty of stunning sights around him, including the sexy brunette who kept giving him come-hither looks as she strolled down the beach in her tiny white bikini. He couldn’t even muster the smallest amount of interest in her—even if she was sexy. The desire wasn’t there for him. He’d been on the island two days and he was going stir crazy. He had to do something more than lounge on the beach staring into the sea-green water. At least, he could be thankful he didn’t take the doctor’s original advice for a month long vacation. That would have been torture he never would have survived through.

  Paul sighed. He glanced over his shoulder and an idea took root. There was a lot on this island to see and maybe it was time he started to explore it. The hotel was nice and had every luxury known to man, but he wasn’t used to taking advantage of it. His father made sure he understood what was important. The family fortune rested squarely on his shoulders. It was his responsibility to ensure the rest of them lived in the style they’d become accustomed to. The Dewitts came from old money, well as old as an American could come from money anyway. They founded their business early on in the history of the country and managed to hold onto their fortune by sheer will and grit.

  If only dad had instilled the same values in his worthless brother and debutante sister.

  Paul stood up and headed toward the lush vegetation on the island. A hike along the mountain ridge might be what he needed to loosen up. Sitting around and being lazy didn’t suit him, but he could get behind some good old-fashioned exercise. He put his sunglasses back on and started the long trek up the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. He’d meander up a bit, check them out and then head back to the hotel for dinner.

  After a short while he stopped at the edge of a cave and looked out at the ocean. It was quite a view. Overhead he saw some cloud formations that had an angry gray appearance. A storm must be heading toward the island. He should head back toward the hotel before he got caught up in a torrential downfall. He started to walk back when he saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye. He turned, startled, as a woman raced ahead of him. Her dress was something from another time. He’d seen enough old pictures to know it wasn’t normal to see a woman prancing around in clothing straight out of the eighteenth century. She had long golden blonde hair that fell down her back in waves. Paul was instantly intrigued.

  “Wait up, you shouldn’t be out here alone. There is a storm coming in.”

  She ignored him and kept running. The fear in her eyes alarmed him when she glanced over her shoulder. He raced after her as lightning crashed and a thunderous boom followed. Paul had to help her. If he left her alone in the storm he would be the worst cad ever.

  “Miss, don’t run. I can help you.”

  Maybe she couldn’t hear him. The thunder was rather loud and getting closer with each rumble. The rain began to fall in waves. After a while, he couldn’t see two feet in front of him and he’d lost sight of the blonde. He slowly made his way to where he last sighted her. A huge blast of lightning blinded him as a gust of wind blew over him. He scrambled to find his balance, but soon lost it and fell forward. Pain shot through his head and he began to lose consciousness. His arms flailed out as he plummeted toward the bottom of the mountain. His mouth fell open with a silent scream.

  So much for being a good samaritan, next time, if he lived through this, he’d leave the woman to her own fate…

  SAVED BY MY BLACKGUARD

  CHAPTER TWO

  St. Kitts

  August 18, 1722

  Lady Evelyn Beckett finished dressing in a light muslin gown. The summer heat on the island didn’t leave many options for a lady, and she was dying in the sweltering heat. Her long golden blonde curls were drenched with sweat. She sat down and began the tedious process of plaiting them and wrapping them into a tight chignon. Even the smallest loose strand would lead to unwanted warmth on her already overheated skin.

  “Lady Evelyn,” a maid said. She curtsied quickly before speaking again. “Pardon my interruption, but your father requests your presence in his study.”

  Her father, the Earl of Ashland, owned the plantation they currently resided in. She’d lived in England during her formative years, but when her mother died he packed them up and started a new life in the West Indies. Evelyn hated every moment of her time on the island and looked forward to returning to the cooler climate of England. Maybe this was the moment she’d been waiting for. Her betrothed, the Duke of Southington, might have finally summoned her for their wedding.

  “Tell him I will be down in a moment.” She hid her excitement. It wouldn’t do to show her emotions. Her father frowned upon a lady doing anything untoward. “I need to finish my coiffure.”

  Her father had very strict ideas of what a lady should and should not do. He took being overprotective to extreme lengths. She had a footman, or rather a guard as she thought of the man, who followed her everywhere she went. He denied her a personal maid forcing her to learn how to dress herself properly and see to her own needs. It was supposed to teach her humility. The entire household watched her every move. She couldn’t sneeze without someone reporting it to him.

  After feeling her hair and glancing over her dress, she was satisfied that she would be presentable and made her way to her father’s study. A servant stood outside his door. Evelyn glanced up at him and asked, “Is he available?”

  She learned early on not to barge into her father’s study. The one and only time she did it her bottom had burned for a week from the whipping he’d given her. It was a mistake she never made again. If there was one thing she did right it was never to repeat the same mistake twice. Living on the island and without a mother’s guidance oftentimes left her at a disadvantage—her parents were as different as night and day. Her mother had been loving, kind, and nurturing. She sheltered her from most of her father’s darker proclivities. Once she was gone, she saw him for the man he really was. A monster she couldn’t wait to escape.

  He nodded. “Lord Ashland is expecting you.”

  She steeled herself to deal with her father and walked stiffly into his study. Gray hair flopped forward, shadowing his face as he bent over
his desk and studied a document. She folded her hands in front of her and patiently waited for him to acknowledge her presence and give her leave to sit down. After a few moments he glanced up and gestured her forward. “Evelyn, come in girl. Don’t dawdle.”

  She repressed the urge to roll her eyes. Insolence was forbidden. “Yes, Father.”

  “Sit. We have much to discuss.”

  He stood and walked over to a nearby window. The sunlight illuminated him. He was a sturdy man and he’d worked hard to build his fortune in the West Indies. It was starting to take a toll on him. New wrinkles were forming on his forehead and around his eyes every day. Evelyn didn’t doubt the stress he put himself under would put him in an early grave. Sadly, she doubted she would miss him once he was gone. He made her life hell.

  She sat, waiting for him to tell her why he summoned her. His lack of conversation was making her nervous. Why wouldn’t he get it out and tell her what she’d done wrong this time? If it was the duke summoning her for their wedding he’d have already said it. This had to be bad if he left her wallowing in misery.

  “I’ve tried to do my best by you. Raise you right and humble,” he began. “I know you must think me evil, but I truly have your best interests at heart.”

  This wasn’t good. He was gearing up to a lecture she wouldn’t leave unscathed from.

  “Yes, father, I mean no”—she shook her head ardently—“I don’t think you’re evil.” He really was. “I know you only want to make sure I have a good life.” As long as she followed his rules and didn’t deviate from them in any way.

  He laughed. “Don’t try and dupe me, girl. I am well aware of what you truly believe.” Her father waved a hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not why I summoned you. I received a letter from the Duke of Southington. It’s time for you to return to England for your wedding. It isn’t a good time for me to leave the plantation so I’m sending you with a maid as a chaperone. He expects you in England in six weeks for the wedding.”