Kate Hoffmann - The Mighty Quinns: Kellan

Praise for Kate Hoffmann from RT Book Reviews

The Charmer

Hoffmanns deeply felt, emotional story is riveting. Its impossible to put down.

Your Bed or Mine?

Fully developed characters and perfect pacing make this story feel completely right.

Doing Ireland!

Sexy and wildly romantic.

The Mighty Quinns: Ian

A very hot story mixes with great characters to make every page a delight.

Who Needs Mistletoe?

Romantic, sexy and heartwarming.

The Mighty Quinns: Teague

Sexy, heartwarming and romantica story to settle down with and enjoyand then re-read.

Dear Reader,

Another Quinn trilogy is coming to a close and this one has been a lot of fun to write, especially since it took me back to one of my favorite places, Ireland.

Though Ive only been to Ireland once, Ive spent the last year thinking about all the wonderful and picturesque towns I visited. Someday, I hope to return for another visit, maybe even during the holidays. I could even search out my one lonely Irish ancestor. Id drive past the spot on the coast where Ballykirk should be and wander down the country road where Winterhill might have stood. And if Im lucky, I might even meet a man who looks a little bit like Kellan Quinn. You couldnt ask for a better Christmas present than that.

If youve never had a chance to visit the Emerald Isle, I hope this Quinn trilogy has given you a little taste of one of my favorite places.

Happy holidays,

Kate Hoffmann

Kate Hoffmann

THE MIGHTY QUINNS: KELLAN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Hoffmann began writing for Harlequin Books in 1993. Since then shes published sixty-five books, primarily in the Harlequin Temptation and Harlequin Blaze lines. When she isnt writing, she enjoys music, theater and musical theater. She is active working with high school students in the performing arts. She lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her cat, Chloe.

Books by Kate Hoffmann

HARLEQUIN BLAZE

279THE MIGHTY QUINNS: MARCUS

285THE MIGHTY QUINNS: IAN

291THE MIGHTY QUINNS: DECLAN

340DOING IRELAND!

356FOR LUST OR MONEY

379YOUR BED OR MINE?

406INCOGNITO

438WHO NEEDS MISTLETOE?

476THE MIGHTY QUINNS: BRODY

482THE MIGHTY QUINNS: TEAGUE

488THE MIGHTY QUINNS: CALLUM

520THE CHARMER

532THE DRIFTER

546THE SEXY DEVIL

579IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MISTLETOE
When She Was Naughty

585INTO THE NIGHT

641THE MIGHTY QUINNS: RILEY

647THE MIGHTY QUINNS: DANNY

HARLEQUIN SINGLE TITLES

(The Quinns)

REUNITED

THE PROMISE

THE LEGACY

Contents

Prologue

KELLAN STARED out at the water from the narrow beach, the morning sun gleamed off the glassy surface of the Atlantic. He drew a deep breath and smiled. It was the perfect summer day. Warm without a hint of the damp wind that usually roared along the coast.

We should sleep here tonight, he said to his brothers. Up on the cliff. Da would let us take the tent. Glancing over his shoulder, he found Riley and Danny squatting down and digging in the sand.

Smugglers Cove had become their secret getaway. Just five or six kilometers from their cottage outside Ballykirk, the hidden cove could only be reached from the water. But Danny, Kellans youngest brother, had discovered a path down through the rocks, making the spot accessible.

Im not spendin the night, Riley said. Theres ghosts in that old house up there. He was talking about the abandoned castle and manor house that overlooked the cliff. None of them had ever been brave enough to venture inside, although Kellan had heard the older kids used the place for parties all the time.

Me, neither, Danny said.

What the feck are you two about? Kellan asked, watching as they scraped sand aside with their fingers.

Theres something buried in the sand, Danny said, burrowing after it like a terrier after a bone. Come here and help, ya lazy git.

No way. Youve been digging in that sand for two years now and you havent found a thing. Considering the smugglers are long gone, its probably just an old piece of wood. You and your fantasies. Theyre a waste of time.

Riley stopped for a moment. If Kell doesnt dig and it is treasure, then he doesnt get a share.

Agreed, Danny said.

Yeah, Kellan said. Agreed. But to Kellans surprise, Danny and Riley pulled a small tin box out of the sand. What the feck, he muttered, striding over to them.

See, Danny said smugly. Told you. Now you dont get a share. He brushed the sand off the top of the old biscuit tin.

Open it, Riley urged.

Danny reached for the top, then hesitated. I dont know. What if its cursed? It could be likelike

Pandoras box, Kellan told him. Jaysus, you two are always letting your imagination run away with you. Its a feckin biscuit tin.

Should we open it? Danny asked, looking to Kellan for an answer. They always looked to him for answers. Thats what it was to be the oldest boy in the Quinn family.

Kellan shrugged. You found it. You open it. He turned away, determined not to show his interest. But as he did, he caught sight of a movement among the rocks on the cliffside. He stared at the spot for a long moment, then shook his head. But there it was again. A flutter of pale green fabric in the breeze and a slender form scrambling behind another rock.

Theres someone up there, he muttered. Watching us.

The boys looked up from their examination of the box, following Kellans nod. Right up there.

Maybe its a fairy, Riley said. And maybe this is her box of magic. Lets go see if we can catch her. Riley shoved the box at Danny and leaped to his feet, then took off for the path at the bottom of the rocks.

Wait, Danny called. What if its a ghost from the house?

Kellan heard a tiny cry from above him and he watched the girl scamper along the path, climbing up and over the rocks. She looked like a fairy, her long, golden hair draped over her back and crowned by a wreath of wildflowers. But she didnt have wings, at least none that he could see. She was dressed in an old gown made of a sheer fabric so light it floated around her.

Cursing to himself, Kellan followed his brothers. What was he thinking? He knew fairies werent real. Maybe his little brothers believed, but Kellan was far too pragmatic to put any faith in Irish myths and legends. Leave me to it, he said, hurrying past Riley. I can climb faster than you.

Kellan scrambled up the path, but each time he looked for her, she was putting more distance between them. If she really were a fairy, shed just fly away. No, this was a girl, a girl hed never seen before. Kellan knew all the girls living around Ballykirk and not one of them was half as beautiful as this one.

Breathless, he reached the top of the cliff only to find her halfway across the meadow. She turned once and laughed, then took her crown of wildflowers and threw it into the air.

Wait! Kellan called. Dont go. I want to talk to you.

She spun around and stood, staring at him, waiting as he ran toward her. When he reached her, Kellan stopped, his heart pounding, gasping for breath. She was the most beautiful thing hed ever seen, features so perfect that they couldnt belong to anything human.

Open the box, she said, the musical tone of her voice ringing in the still summer air. I put it there for you.

Kellan heard his brothers behind him, calling his name. Who are you?

With a laugh, she came closer and dropped a kiss on his lips. Im a dream, she said. Close your eyes and Ill disappear.