Here is an excerpt from SOPHIA, The Brides of San Francisco, Book 4.

Robert Langley stood in the lobby, waiting for Miss Sophia Hayes, the woman who would be his bride and the mother to his four children. And they definitely needed a mother. From the stories his own mother told him, his wife Marybeth hadn’t cared much for the children since baby Harry was borne. Robert Jr., tried to take care of the younger children—Rachel, Sara and Harry. Rachel wouldn’t have any of it and was likely to be the toughest on a new mother because she’d taken to mothering Sara and Harry. He wasn’t sure how easy it would be to wrest that responsibility from her. He hoped Miss Hayes was up to the task.

Movement on the staircase caught his attention and Robert looked up as a woman appeared. She was a vision in purple. A lovelier sight he hadn’t seen in a long time. She had raven black hair, pale skin and was curvaceous. He loved women who looked like women.

The woman started toward him. A child of about three was running in the lobby laughing at his parents trying to catch him. He tripped and fell in front of the woman. He started crying. She picked up the child, soothed him, brushing his tears away. His mother stopped and reached for the child. The woman in purple smiled and talked to him for a moment before letting him go. Then she began walking again…toward Robert.

No, she couldn’t be. He couldn’t be that lucky, could he?

“Mr. Langley?”

“Yes, I’m Robert Langley,” he told the vision with the voice of an angel.

“I’m Sophia Hayes,”

“I’m pleased to meet you Miss Hayes. My carriage is waiting if you’re ready to go to dinner.”

“Certainly.”

He held out his arm to escort her to his carriage.

She daintily placed her hand in the crook of his elbow.

He put his hand on top of hers, wishing she were not wearing gloves and that he could feel her skin, soft and warm against his bare hand.

“You look quite charming, Miss Hayes.”

“Thank you. That’s kind of you to say.”

“There is nothing kind about the truth.”

She blushed prettily.

He hadn’t thought she could get any more beautiful, but when she blushed the color was not just in her face but her neck and chest, too. He wondered if she blushed all over and what he wouldn’t give to find out.

“I’ve a favorite restaurant to take you to. It’s called Cliff House and it sits above the city on a cliff. Obvious name, but wonderful cuisine. The ride is about thirty minutes, so we’ll have a chance to get to know each other a little.”

“That sounds delightful.”

He helped her into the carriage and as much as he wanted to sit by her and perhaps kiss her, he took the seat across from her. He would restrain himself until after they were married. Soon. They would be married soon.