An erotic romance star who ?TAKES SENSUALITY TO THE EDGE? ( OAKLAND PRESS ) debuts her new historical romance trilogy. Fitz Monckton, Duke of Groveland, has never encountered a woman he can?t seduce?until he clashes with the beautiful Rosalind St. Vincent, whose bookshop sits in the way of Fitz?s lucrative development deal. If money won?t entice Rosalind to sell her shop, Fitz must tempt her in other ways?hopefully mutually pleasurable, and profitable to them both. Susan Johnson is the award-winning, national bestselling author of the novels Hot Spot , Hot Legs , and Hot Pink , among others.   Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page   Chapter 1 - London, August 1891 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32   EPILOGUE HIGH PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF SUSAN JOHNSON “Johnson delivers another fast, titillating read that overflows with sex scenes and rapid-fire dialogue.” —Publishers Weekly   “A spellbinding read and a lot of fun . . . Johnson takes sensuality to the edge, writing smoldering stories with characters the reader won’t want to leave.” —The Oakland (MI) Press   “Sensually charged writing . . . Johnson knows exactly what her devoted readers desire, and she delivers it with her usual flair.” —Booklist   “Fascinating . . . The author’s style is a pleasure to read.” —Los Angeles Herald Examiner   “Flat-out fabulous, sexy [novels] so textured they sometimes compare... to the phenomenal Judith Ivory.” —All About Romance Berkley Sensation Books by Susan Johnson HOT PINK HOT LEGS HOT SPOT FRENCH KISS WINE TARTS, & SEX HOT PROPERTY GORGEOUS AS SIN   TWIN PEAKS (with Jasmine Haynes) THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Group (USA) Inc. 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa   Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England   This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.   GORGEOUS AS SIN   A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author   PRINTING HISTORY Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / March 2009   Copyright © 2009 by Susan Johnson.   eISBN : 978-1-101-01452-3   BERKLEY® SENSATION Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. BERKLEY® SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.   Chapter 1 London, August 1891 PROSPER HUTCHINSON, THE barrister of choice for London’s wealthy, rose from his chair to greet the tall, handsome aristocrat walking through his door. “At last, Your Grace.” He’d sent the duke a message five days ago. “I was in the country.” The Duke of Groveland stripped off his tan riding gloves as he crossed the sumptuous Axminster carpet custom-made for the imposing corner office overlooking Piccadilly Square. “Yes, I know.” The duke was entertaining his newest paramour while her husband was shooting in Scotland. Everyone knew. An easy smile graced the duke’s fine features. “Don’t glower so, Hutchinson. I eventually arrived, and admit it—your messages always smack of crisis.” “ This crisis could cost you a fortune.” “How much of a fortune?” George Montagu Fitz-Robbins Monckton calmly asked, tossing his gloves on Hutchinson’s large, ornate desk and taking a seat across from his barrister. “Ninety thousand.” The portly barrister dropped into his chair with a grimace. The duke arrested his slide into a lounging pose, his dark brows rising faintly. “That much.” “Perhaps more should your plans for Monckton Row come to naught because Mrs