Taste of Passion (Madaris Novels)

Praise for
BRENDA JACKSON

“The Nora Roberts of African-American fiction.”

—
Romantic Times

and the novels in the Madaris series

SLOW BURN

“An entertaining story…Jackson brings back beloved characters from her popular series, and the reunion is exceptionally satisfying.”

—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“A good solid story with fiercely tender and intensely romantic protagonists.”

—SingleTitles.com

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

“Jackson is a master at juggling two plots at a time, and
Unfinished Business
proves no exception. A perfect balance of tension and chemistry is created as Christy and the somewhat domineering Alex battle unknown criminals—as well as their unresolved attraction to each other.”

—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Hot and sexy.”

—
Romance Reader at Heart

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

“A super-hot hero, a kick-butt heroine, and non-stop action! Brenda Jackson writes romance that sizzles and characters you fall in love with.”

—Lori Foster,
New York Times
bestselling author
MORE
…

“
The Midnight Hour
is a roller-coaster read of passion, intrigue, and deceit.”

—Sharon Sala,
New York Times
bestselling author

“With a taut, over-the-top romantic thriller, Jackson revisits her popular Madaris Family and Friends series…Jackson smoothly alternates between several points of view and throws in a number of plot twists…Jackson [has a] knack for creating characters with emotional depth and distinct voices…[a] tension-packed read.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Jackson has written another compelling drama about the Madaris family and their friends.

—
Booklist

“Action, mystery, and sensuality propel
The Midnight Hour
forward. Jackson forces readers to step outside the romantic suspense box and enter an elusive world of undercover agents and crime lords. Victoria and Drake are memorable characters who will provide hours of enjoyment for even the most cynical of readers.”

—
Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Drake and Tori are tough, passionate, loyal, and attractive protagonists. Their courage and fire and their strong feelings for each other can’t help but appeal to readers. So, too, will the non-stop action; there are no dull moments in
The Midnight Hour
.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles by

BRENDA JACKSON

Taste of Passion

Slow Burn

Unfinished Business

The Midnight Hour

BRENDA JACKSON

St. Martin’s Paperbacks

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

TASTE OF PASSION

Copyright © 2009 by Brenda Streater Jackson.

Cover photograph © Masterfile / Masterfile

All rights reserved.

For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

ISBN: 0-312-94050-5
EAN: 978-0-312-94050-8

Printed in the United States of America

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / June 2009

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

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To the love of my life, Gerald Jackson, Sr.

To all the members of the Brenda Jackson Book Club who joined me at the BJBC Meet-and-Greet in Mary land to attend the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.

To all the guys and gals of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo circuit. You are a wonderful group who brings to life a part of our western history. Thanks for sharing so much information about what you do best!

Let us not love (merely) in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth—in practice and in sincerity.

I John 3:18 AMP

Mackenzie Standfield took a deep breath when she saw Luke Madaris excuse himself from the group of men that he’d been talking to—other rodeo riders—and head over in her direction. Irritation washed through her, but she forced it away, thinking that it wasn’t his fault he was such a good-looking man; one who oozed sex from the Stetson he wore on his head all the way down to the well-worn leather boots on his feet.

He was tall, probably at least six foot three, and from the fitness of his body it was easy to tell that he worked out regularly. He was too toned and had too many muscles not to. The front of his Stetson was worn low and nearly covered his dark piercing eyes, making him look the part of a renegade. A very handsome renegade.

As she watched him approach, she remembered the first time she had seen him. Had it been almost five years already? It was the night of the Brothers’ Auction where the proceeds had gone to benefit the Children’s Home Society. He had been one of the men auctioned off.

Nothing in her life could have prepared her for the man who had walked onstage after being introduced as championship rodeo rider Lucas Madaris. That night, even while dressed in a black tux and white shirt, he had exuded an air of ruggedness, arrogance, and maybe even something a bit untamed. He had looked across the audience and seemingly his penetrating gaze had latched on to hers.

At the time she couldn’t bring herself to believe such a thing was possible. After all, Sisters, the upscale restaurant and nightclub where the benefit was held, had been packed that night with over three hundred people, and she had purposely taken a table in the back so as not to be seen until the appropriate time. She had been there on an assignment for her newly opened law firm’s first client, who just happened to be her cousin Ashton Sinclair.

But still, Luke had proven her wrong when his gaze kept returning to hers time and time again. She had been tempted to bid on him and had almost given in to that temptation. The only thing that had kept her from doing so was the reminder that her presence at the auction had a purpose and that purpose was strictly business.

There had also been Lawrence Dixon, the man she had fancied herself in love with six years ago while living in Louisiana. The same man who had betrayed her trust. She had eventually left Louisiana and moved back home to Oklahoma to start her own law practice. And that was a decision she never regretted making.

Which brought her focus back to Luke . . . not that it had ever left him. That night after the auction she had gone out for drinks with him and his two cousins, twins by the name of Blade and Slade, who had also been auction participants. And since she was a relative of their family friend Ashton Sinclair, they considered her a close friend to their family as well. As she’d gotten to know the Madaris family—and there were a lot of them—she had discovered they were good people.

She basically got along with everyone in the family . . . except for Luke. They didn’t consider themselves enemies, but for some reason they were always trying to avoid each other. The only reason she was here tonight was because he had personally issued an invitation. At least some may have considered it an invitation, but she had seen it for what it truly was. A dare. He hadn’t expected her to show up. And from the expression on his face she wasn’t sure whether or not he was glad to see her.

It was a hot June night in Oklahoma. Everyone had come out to see the rodeo riders perform and the arena was filled to capacity. As far as she was concerned all of the riders had nerves of steel and a skill she couldn’t help but admire. This wasn’t her first rodeo but it was the first she had attended in a long time. She hadn’t been to one since she was twelve and now in a few months she would be celebrating her twenty-eighth birthday.

She held her breath and forced a smile when Luke came to a stop in front of her. “Mac,” he remarked, calling her by her nickname.

“Luke,” was her reply.

“Thanks for coming,” he said, taking his thumb to push his hat back on his head. And the grin that touched his face almost made her breathless. It showed dimples that usually were kept well hidden. “I didn’t think that you would,” he added.

She had figured as much. “I told you that the next time you were in my neck of the woods I’d come.”

“Yes, so you did.”

She glanced around and saw the group of men he had been talking to earlier were looking at her curiously. Then she saw the women staring, too, with both envy and dislike in their eyes. And she knew why. Not only was Luke Madaris a rodeo superstar, he was also a body magnet. He had the ability to draw women to him in droves. And from what she’d heard, he made no promises and preferred no-strings-attached flings. But to some women that didn’t matter.

“Do you like your seat?”

She looked up and met his gaze. His eyes were dark, appeared almost chocolate, and she tried at that moment to forget how she was known to have cravings for chocolate on occasion. “Yes and thanks.” He had reserved a seat for her toward the front.

“You were to sit with Blade, but he called earlier today and won’t be making it. Something has come up.”