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Forever Chapter Two

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Forever 200x300Hi again! I hope you enjoyed Chapter One of Forever yesterday.

Here's Chapter Two. In a handful of days, I'll be back with links to the purchasing sites so you could get your copy.

Enjoy!

FOREVER CHAPTER TWO

Zach stood outside the balcony of his expansive suite and looked down at the crowd below, gathered to check out the big cruise ship docked at Sydney Harbour. He found himself scanning faces, looking for one particular woman.

“This is crazy,” he muttered, stomping back inside. While there was bitterness at the thought of seeing Rebecca again, he couldn't deny that every single cell in his body had stood up to attention at the mention of her name.

No surprises there. He'd had the hottest, most satisfying sex in his life with her—because his heart had been involved. Yes, he'd been crazy about her.

How he would remain calm in her presence, he didn't know. Even though they were well and truly over, his scars hadn't fully healed yet. He sighed, knowing he didn't have a choice but to grin and bear it for the sake of his grandmother.

He sat at the edge of the bed and stared unseeingly at the painting on the wall, reluctantly allowing his mind to drag him back to the past.

‘I love you,' Rebecca had whispered. Even though his heart had danced with joy at her declaration, he hadn't been able to say the same words back to her. Guilt and bad experience from previous exes had taught him not to say those three words again until he was absolutely sure the woman was someone he was prepared to have a long-term relationship with.

He'd asked Rebecca for time to figure out if what he felt for her was something that could last. But Rebecca didn't give it to him.

It had shocked him to the core when Rebecca broke up with him just two days after saying she loved him. How could she have done that?

He rubbed his face, remembering the pathetic state he'd gotten into after he'd been dumped. He hadn't been able to eat, sleep, rest, even work. Eventually, he hadn't been able to avoid the truth that was staring him in the face—he loved Rebecca.

It had been such a relief to finally admit it to himself. He'd wondered at how idiotic he'd been to even question his feelings for her when it was so damned obvious.

His brothers had wondered what his problem was—and he'd told them about Rebecca, and how he'd planned to get her back. What he didn't expect was Greg coming out with surprising news of his own. An ex-girlfriend had claimed she was pregnant with Greg's child.

Greg was ninety-nine percent sure the baby wasn't his, and had asked for a paternity test. But the woman had been having pregnancy complications, and an in-utero test might put the baby at risk. They'd have to wait a while to see when they could have the test done safely. In the meantime, the woman had been insisting that Greg take care of her financially since he was going to be the father of her child. She'd threatened to go to the press if Greg ignored her.

Jeff had blown up about Greg's lack of vigilance over what might come out in the press.
Privacy was an important thing for the Carmichaels. It was something they'd struggled to keep since their terrible family tragedy two years ago had been broadcast all over Australia. Since then, the media, who'd pretty much left them alone before that event, had taken a great deal of interest in their personal lives.

In the beginning, the press were more interested about the tragedy, their company and their close family ties. It didn't take long before the gossip magazines gleefully invaded their privacy. Because they were young, rich and good-looking, the magazines loved them. Copies sold like crazy when paparazzi shots of one of the Carmichael brothers were plastered on the front cover. Since then, the brothers had been extra careful to not give anyone something to write about—unless it was business related.

With a possible scandal looming due to Greg's issue, Jeff had been adamant that they get Rebecca investigated before Zach went crawling back to her.

Of course, Zach had refused. In the four months that they were together, there was nothing—not one thing—that Rebecca had said or done that indicated to him she was a gold-digger or a scheming manipulator. She'd even stopped him from showering her with material things. He had thought it was so refreshing to be with a girl who saw him for himself, not his money. Rebecca was different. And Jeff had reluctantly agreed to drop the subject.

Zach had intended to speak with Rebecca the minute he was back from his business trip. But there was no way he could have anticipated the shocking news waiting for him upon his return.

He raked his hair, not wanting to revisit that particular past. But he had to go there. Rebecca was here on the ship with them. Why? What were her motives? Could she be trusted around his grandmother?

After what he’d found out about her, he simply had to know the answers.
He exhaled gustily. He needed a drink—and a chat with one of his brothers.

*****

“I'll question her myself,” Zach insisted to Jeff.

Jeff exhaled loudly on the other end of the line. “Are you really the best person to get the truth out of her?”

“I'm not totally inept when it comes to subtle interrogation,” he answered. “Gran did say it was her idea to take nurses on board with her, and that she'd specifically asked for Rebecca and Sarah.”

“See, this here is my problem. You're already making excuses for her.”

“I'm not, Jeff. I'm just saying that her being on this particular trip might not have anything to do with what she did to me. What was she supposed to do? Turn down a job and a cruise? That would have been insane. Anyone would have grabbed at the chance.”

“I don't understand why you still defend her after what she's done to you,” Jeff said disgustedly.

“I'm not defending her. I'm just being rational about this and not letting emotions get in the way of the truth. I'm a fair man.”

“Okay, fine. Let me know how you go.”

“I will. This is also my chance to get her to say to my face that she two-timed me. You stopped me from confronting her about that in the past.”

“Zach! We've agreed to just drop it. It's a waste of your time and emotion. She was just another woman who wanted to snare you for your money. God knows she wasn't the first to attempt that, and she wouldn't be the last. I'm sure there'll be others,” Jeff said bitterly.

“I just want to hear it come out of her mouth,” Zach said stubbornly, taking another gulp of his beer. “I have this perfect opportunity for that.”

“Fine. Suit yourself,” Jeff replied with exasperation. “If I were you, I'd just treat her as one of Gran's nurses and ignore the fact that you had a past with her. If she so much as sniffs that you're still affected by her, I'm concerned she'll use that knowledge to manipulate you again. And don't even bother denying she's still under your skin. It's very obvious.”

“I just want to know if she was really two-timing me when we were together,” he said, his voice rising.

“Hey, shush!” Jeff scolded. “You're at the bar, right? Don't make a fool of yourself there. People will recognise you, for God's sake.”

Zach took a deep breath and composed himself. Jeff was right. The last thing he wanted was for other passengers to witness the CEO of The Carmichael Corporation breaking into pieces over a woman who'd dumped him seven months ago. That would just be something their competitors and the press would have a field day with.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“Ah, hell,” Jeff said. “I can't wait to board that ship so I can stop you from doing something stupid.”

“I won't, Jeff. Can't you see that if I show her that I know everything, it might scare her enough to stop any scheming she might be planning?”

“Okay. I see your point. But like I said, do it in such a way that doesn't show her how much she still affects you. The last thing you want is for her to mess with your head even further.”

“Don't worry. I'm doing this so she knows she can't mess with a Carmichael again.”

“I hope that's really why you want to do this, bro,” Jeff said gravely.

“It is,” he said with conviction.

Zach ended the call and leaned back on his seat, planning on how he would approach Rebecca. He couldn't be sure that she would tell him the truth if he asked her his questions outright. He'd have to be cunning in his search for answers.

He stared at his drink as he forced himself to recall why he needed to face Rebecca and interrogate her.

It was months ago, but the utter disbelief in what Phillip—the son of Magda’s best friend—had told him and his brothers back then swamped him again now.

Phillip had called for an urgent meeting the day Zach had come back from his business trip. Apparently, Phillip had seen Rebecca parking her car in the basement garage of the luxury apartment Phillip also lived in. An annoyingly suspicious man even at the best of times, Phillip had wondered how Rebecca was able to afford living in a place like that on the salary she was on, and had worried that Magda's nurse might have been preying on Magda's kind and generous nature.

Zach had walked out of that little meeting. He wasn't a violent man, but he'd wanted to punch Phillip's face, and he hadn't wanted to do it in his own office. Jeff had forced him to come back, saying they had to get to the bottom of it.

As the apartment building was one of The Carmichael Corporation's own developments, a quick check of company records proved something unbelievable. Rebecca Andrews was named as the full owner of a three-bedroom apartment in the luxury complex.

Zach had stared in disbelief at the computer screen. He'd scanned his memory of his conversations with Rebecca, looking for clues as to how she'd come about owning that place.

Rebecca had mainly talked to him about her nursing life and her grandmother, who was now living happily in a retirement village with her friends. She hadn't liked talking about her parents much—although she did divulge that her father had left them when she was only two, and that she hardly saw her mother, who had re-married for the third or fourth time. She'd sounded fond of her brother, who worked from home doing some software development.

But there had been nothing in Rebecca's stories that had indicated she could afford something like the apartment she had suddenly owned two months after breaking up with him.

Phillip had volunteered to arrange to have Rebecca investigated by a company he'd used previously. Since he lived in the same building, Phillip had suggested it would give the private investigators better access to the complex if he was the main point of contact.

Zach had still hated the idea, but he had to admit things didn't look right. Not wanting to deal with the investigators himself, he'd agreed for Phillip to run things.

Zach shut his eyes tightly as he recalled Phillip's shocking news.

The investigations had revealed that Rebecca was the mistress of a wealthy married man, and it was that man who'd bought her the apartment.

Phillip had shown them the photo of Rebecca hugging a man tightly in the garage of her apartment. Apparently, Rebecca had even called out ‘I love you’ to the guy as he drove off in his Mercedes. Then there was another photo, taken on the same day, of the same man kissing another woman in a coffee shop. Phillip had also played a recording, taken by the investigator while sitting next to the man at the coffee shop, confirming that it was indeed that man who'd paid for Rebecca's apartment. The recording had included Rebecca's boyfriend saying to someone on the phone that Rebecca had discovered his “secret”—presumably that he was a married man—but that she only got mad for a short while, as she loved her new place.

Zach hadn't wanted to know anything else after that. He'd ordered the investigation to close even though he'd never found out who the guy was. He didn't want to know. It would hurt more if he had a name to match with the face of the bastard Rebecca had been sleeping with.

What nagged at him was whether Rebecca had been seeing that other guy during the time they were together. Had she been playing them both—seeing whom she could fully ensnare first?

“You're fucking stupid,” he scolded himself. Even up till now, he wondered if Rebecca would still be in his life if he'd done things differently. Frankly, money wasn't an issue—he had plenty of it to give to whomever he chose. He would have given her what she'd wanted if she'd asked for it.

What broke him was that she'd lied. She'd made him believe she'd loved him. She'd made him dig deep into his heart to discover his own feelings, only to find out he was the only one in love. That was what he hadn't as yet recovered from.

And now he had no choice but to see her again.

***End of Chapter Two***

Forever's official release date is on March 24th! Not long to go!

As I've mentioned yesterday, it's available for pre-order on Apple iTunes. Click here to pre-order if you're using an Apple device.

My next post will include links to all the other stores :-).

Much love,
Miranda xxx

 

Forever Chapter One

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Forever 200x300Forever (Time for Love Book 1) is almost here! In fact, it's now available for pre-order on Apple iTunes. If you're using an Apple device, here's the link:

Forever: Apple iTunes Pre-Order

It's not up on the other stores yet, but I'll send you an email when other store links are ready.

As promised, here's chapter one of the book for you to enjoy while you wait for it to be available for download. Hope you enjoy this one, too!

FOREVER CHAPTER ONE

Extremely lucky. How else could Rebecca Andrews describe what she should be feeling for the new work offer she'd recently received? But somehow, she couldn't muster the same excitement that radiated from her friend and colleague Sarah Daley.

“I understand why you're not ecstatic about this, Bec, but I still think you should grab it with both hands,” Sarah said, her wide eyes magnifying the intensity of her belief.

Rebecca thanked the server, who placed two mango smoothies on their table, before responding to Sarah. “I know. But the client is Magda Carmichael.”

“Yes. I know that's a big deal for you. But you love Magda, don't you? She's asked for us. She doesn't want anyone else to go with her.”

Sarah, one of Rebecca's four best friends whom she'd known since primary school, had been ready to pack her bags from the moment they got the call from their nursing agency. They had both been personally selected by Magda Carmichael—a very wealthy and absolutely sweet lady—to be her private nurses during her month-long holiday aboard one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world.

“You have to go with me, Bec,” Sarah pleaded. “We've both never been on a cruise before, and we'll get to visit some exotic Asian cities. It'll be fun!”

“Fun?” Rebecca said with a laugh. “We're not being hired to have fun. We're being hired to work, remember?”

“I know. But we won't be working twenty-four/seven. That's why they want the two of us there, so we could work on shifts looking after Magda. We'll still have some private time to enjoy what promises to be an incredible trip.”

“I do wonder why she needs two nurses with her?” Rebecca mused. “She'd fully recovered from her hip replacement surgery, and according to the agency, she's not currently suffering from any illness or injury.”

“She's almost eighty, Bec. Magda and her family probably prefer to have two professionals with her on the cruise in case something happens. Besides, she could very well afford to pay for our salary and our trip.”

Yes, the Carmichaels could certainly afford those and much more. Magda Carmichael's late husband was a self-made multi-millionaire who'd founded The Carmichael Corporation, one of the biggest property development companies in Australia. Now Magda's three grandsons looked after the various interests of the company, which extended to wineries and eco-tourism.

“I wonder who else would be accompanying her apart from nursing staff?” Rebecca asked. “I'm sure she wouldn't be going on a holiday like that by herself.”

“You mean you want to know if Zach will be going,” Sarah said softly. “You said you're over him.”

“I am. But that doesn't mean I want to bump into him again,” she responded, ignoring the pinching in her chest that still happened every time she thought of Zachary Carmichael, Magda's oldest grandson.

“It's none of our business and it would be rude to ask. Besides, I can't imagine Zach accompanying his grandmother on a cruise for a month even if he's very fond of her.” Sarah leaned across the table with a serious look. “Bec, you know it's time you let go of whatever feelings you still feel for Zach—even the bitterness and regret. And do you really want to say no to Magda?”

Rebecca sighed. Magda Carmichael was the nicest, kindest, most generous client she'd ever worked with. When she and Sarah were hired as Magda's physical rehabilitation nurses while Magda recovered from her hip replacement surgery after an accidental slip in her bathroom, Magda had treated them like family, not paid personnel. She'd often wondered if the fact that Magda didn't have granddaughters was the reason she’d grown attached to her and Sarah. At twenty-eight, both she and Sarah were close to the ages of Magda's three grandsons. Zach was the oldest at thirty-two. His younger brothers Jeffrey and Gregory were thirty and twenty-nine.

“You know I can't say no to Magda,” she admitted.

“Yay! You have to tell the agency you're accepting the job, then you have to advise Magda's personal assistant that you're going so she can arrange your travel documents,” Sarah said excitedly. “I've already emailed her my details that she's asked for.”

“Okay. I'll email her when I get home.”

“Make sure you do it as soon as you walk through your door. The ship leaves in ten days. I'm sure she'd need time to organise everything.”

“Don't worry, I will,” she said with a laugh.

“Hey, girls!”

Rebecca and Sarah greeted their three other best friends Brenna Ward, Amanda Payne and Gemma Aldwin with a kiss on their cheeks.

“You look super excited, Sarah. What's up?” Brenna asked.

Sarah gleefully told the newcomers their news.

“Oh my God!” Gemma exclaimed. “I really, really should go back into private nursing. What the hell was I thinking giving it up?”

“You know teaching piano is your main love,” Rebecca quipped. “Anyway, if I change my mind about taking it on, you're welcome to take my place.”

“Why would you change your mind?” Amanda asked.

“Did I tell you the client is Magda Carmichael?” Sarah interjected.

“Ohh,” the other ladies said in unison, their mouths forming a perfect ‘O'.

“I see why you're not that keen on this, Bec,” Gemma said softly.

Rebecca put on a nonchalant expression. “Well, I very much doubt Zach will be on the cruise. But even if I see him again, so what? It's been seven months since we broke up. Besides, it didn't take him long to replace me with Miss Universe-Australia.”

Her eyes stung. Damn it. She should be over the whole thing by now. Why was she so slow in moving on?

“Hey,” Brenna said softly, running a comforting hand on her arm. “He's not worth one salty tear, remember?”

She nodded, trying to regain composure. It was hard to stay unaffected when talking about Zach—the only man she'd ever loved. They’d had an incredible four-month relationship that had started not long after she and Sarah were hired to help Magda recover from her surgery.

It was a passionate affair that they'd kept under wraps. The Carmichaels were a favourite subject for gossip magazines and paparazzi, and privacy had become something the family guarded with jealousy. Plus, while there were no written rules about dating relatives of clients, Rebecca's nursing agency would have frowned if they found out she was dating a Carmichael. She loved her job and didn't want to jeopardise it.

Unwanted memories of the moment when she'd told Zach she loved him filled her mind. Yes, it was more than silly of her to expect an ‘I love you' back from him, but when he hadn't said it, she'd been so shattered.

She did try to contain her disappointment from his lack of response, understanding that saying ‘I love you' wasn't something someone like Zach would say willy-nilly. But she'd gotten scared. According to some of the articles about him, he had a habit of changing girlfriends every six months or so. Somehow, she'd managed to convince herself that Zach was preparing to dump her.

Her friends had suggested that she had a fear of abandonment that stemmed from her childhood experiences with her parents. That was probably true. But knowing that didn't stop her from acting out of fear. She'd decided to break up with Zach before he could do it to her.

Zach had tried to make her change her mind and had said he just needed more time to figure out his feelings. But all his words had done was prove to her that Zach had only enjoyed her as a sexual partner. He didn't love her, and it was simply too painful and scary for her to stay with him with that belief.

She frowned at the pain emanating from her chest. Crazy how she still hurt after all the time that had passed. But lingering regret about her actions kept her tethered to thoughts of what might have been.

“Are you okay, Bec?” Sarah asked worriedly.

“Yeah,” she lied.

Brenna shook her head. “We know that look on your face. It's called remorse. How many times do we have to tell you that you did the right thing?”

“Breaking up with the man I was dating because he wasn’t ready to say ‘I love you' back to me?” Rebecca said wryly. “Yeah, great move. I should have been more patient.”

“But what you did was totally understandable.”

“What if all I had to do was wait a little bit longer? He wouldn't have asked me to go on a business trip with him if he hadn't cared about me, would he?”

“Haven't we had this conversation many times before?” Sarah asked with an eye roll. “Have you forgotten that just one week after you've told him it was over, he'd started dating Miss Universe-Australia?”

Rebecca sniffed as she recalled the magazine article that claimed Miss Universe-Australia was dating one of Sydney's most eligible bachelors—Zachary Carmichael. There were even photos of them in a restaurant, and another while they were coming out of a theatre, with the woman's hand tightly holding on to Zach's arm.

No, it hadn't taken him long to replace her.

“You girls are right. I should stop beating myself up for what I did. For all I know, it saved me from a worse heartbreak that would be harder to recover from.”

Thank God that apart from her best friends, no one else knew about her past relationship with Zach. She doubted Zach would have told anyone. She was just a fun diversion to him—as his actions had proven.

She was especially grateful that Magda had no idea about it. She was sure Magda wouldn't have asked for her services if she'd found out.

“Zach's moved on, Bec. Seriously, it's time you did too,” Brenna said gently.

“Yes,” she said with conviction. To show her friends she meant it, she picked up her phone and called the nursing agency to let them know she was available to work for Magda Carmichael.

*

“You girls have to pack some cocktail dresses,” Gemma said. “Let's go shopping tomorrow. At least the three of us who'd be left here on land can share some of the excitement with you before we wallow in jealousy.”

“Great idea,” Sarah said.

“You'll want new swimsuits as well,” Amanda said. “Get a couple of really sexy ones. You never know who you might meet in those places.”

“Hey, we're there to work!” Rebecca exclaimed with a laugh.

“Doesn't hurt to be prepared. You'll kick yourself if you bump into a hunk there and you don't have anything sexy with you. And remember our group New Year's resolution?”

“Yes,” Rebecca answered with an eye roll.

“Say it,” Gemma said.

Rebecca sighed theatrically. “This year, all five of us will make time for love. We won't let our busy schedules or other lame excuses get in the way of making the first move on hot, decent men who aren't afraid of long-term commitment. I still don't know where we'll find them, though,” she added sceptically.

“Remind me again why we made that stupid resolution?” Brenna asked.

“First, because we were crazy-drunk,” Gemma said with a laugh. “And second, because it's been five New Year's Eves in a row that all five of us didn't have anyone to kiss at the stroke of midnight. And don't forget we've pinky-promised on this.”

“Anyone already on your radar, girls?” Rebecca asked curiously.

Her friends shook their heads.

“We still have eleven months to go before the next New Year's Eve,” Amanda said.

“And remember, the whole point is for us to make an effort instead of sitting on our butts waiting for them to fall on our laps,” Sarah said.

“And not letting our exes or painful pasts get in the way,” Gemma said, looking pointedly at Rebecca. “It's all about moving forward to find our happily ever after.”

They all nodded in agreement.

Rebecca was actually glad of this pact she'd made with her four best friends. It was giving her the much-needed push and motivation to move on from Zach. She loathed to admit it, even to herself, but a big part of her still pined for him constantly.

Well, no use crying over something she couldn't undo. She'd try to give herself—and love—another chance. She'd start dating again and finally push Zach away from her heart and mind. It was about time she did.

*****

“Hi Granny.”

“Zach! I'm so glad you could join me for dinner tonight, dear.” Magda put down her cup of tea and motioned for Zach to bend down to her.

Zach kissed Magda and sat beside her. “Unfortunately I have things to finish off tonight so I'm just here to say hello. Are you looking forward to the start of your month-long eightieth birthday celebration tomorrow?”

“Of course. I'm so excited I probably won't be able to sleep tonight. And I'm glad you're going with me, Zach. You've been working far too hard lately. You deserve a break.”

Zach laughed. “I'm young and energetic, Gran. You don't need to worry about me. But I want to let you know I can't stay for the whole month. I'll be disembarking in Hong Kong in two weeks.”

“What? Why can't you stay for the whole month? I thought you would.”

“I have work to do and important meetings to attend, Gran,” he said in a contrite voice.

“Why can't you do your work from the ship? I was assured electronic communication from there would be reliable wherever in the world we are.”

“The coverage might be patchy if we're at sea,” he reasoned. “Besides, Jeff and Greg will join us from the Philippines so there's a few days when we're all together before I leave. You know it's not a good idea for the three of us to be absent from the company at the same time for long periods.”

“Zachary, just because you're the CEO of our company, and Jeff is the CFO and Greg the COO, those titles shouldn't stop you boys from being my grandsons. I'm already disappointed that your brothers won't be joining me for the whole duration of this trip, but I thought you were. You haven't had a single day's break for months! This is the first time I've seen you in weeks and I was hoping the cruise was my opportunity to spend some time with you,” Magda said a little tremulously.

Zach pressed his lips, guilt eating at him. Spending time with her grandsons brought Magda the joy and comfort their family's wealth couldn't give. He knew that for all of his grandmother's exuberance and resilience of spirit, she still acutely mourned the loss of her husband, her only son, and her daughter-in-law. Heck, even he still missed his grandfather and his parents terribly. That horrific light plane accident two years ago that had cruelly robbed them of three people they loved dearly was not something any of them would ever forget. And special occasions like Magda's eightieth birthday always brought back the best and worst of the memories.

He rubbed his chin, wavering in his decision to make the trip short. The weekly phone calls, he knew, didn't make up for his recent physical absence.

“Okay, Gran,” he said, grasping Magda's hand. “I'll make arrangements so I can do my work on board the ship and stay with you for the whole month.”

“Oh, thank you, Zach. I do miss you, you know,” Magda said delightedly.

“I know,” he responded as he got up. “I have to go and tidy up a few things before we leave tomorrow.”

“Okay. Make sure you're free to join us for dinner tomorrow night—our first night on the ship.”

“Who's ‘us', by the way?”

“Well, there's your Grand-Auntie Miriam,” Magda responded.

Zach nodded, not minding the thought of spending time with Magda's younger sister.

“And I've invited Phillip Lee.”

Zach hid his grimace, not looking forward to socialising with the man. Phillip had been the bearer of hurtful news that Zach would rather forget, and lately, he'd been noticing repressed antagonism from Phillip directed toward him.

But Phillip's late mother was Magda's best friend, and Phillip was someone that Magda considered a nephew even though he wasn't blood related.

“That's very surprising that you've asked him to come,” he commented casually.

“I felt sorry for him,” Magda said with a sigh. “Did you know that the company he worked for went bankrupt a month ago?”

“Yes, I've heard about that,” Zach said. Phillip had been hounding him and his brothers for a job at The Carmichael Corporation.

“Well, he was telling me the other day how lost and lonely he felt. So I asked him to join us. I'm paying for his expenses.”

Zach simply nodded. His grandmother had a heart of gold.

“I've also invited my friends Olga and Debra to join us on this trip,” Magda continued. “Their granddaughters are accompanying them.”

This time, Zach couldn't help groaning out loud. He'd bet the granddaughter Debra was bringing with her was Vicky—a woman he'd had sex with four times in the last couple of months.

It was Vicky who'd offered a casual liaison agreement with him, since neither of them was interested in a committed relationship. But lately, she'd started to ask him out to dinners and events. He'd been quick to decline, reminding her of how it was between them. He wasn't interested in anything long-term with Vicky and didn't want her to have misconceptions.

At least Vicky was being as tight-lipped as he was about their arrangement. He could just imagine how their grandmothers would enthusiastically embrace the possibility of their grandkids married off to each other if they knew. He shuddered at the thought.

“Don't even think about pairing me off with anyone while on this trip, Grandmother,” he warned.

Magda laughed at his tone. “If you insist.”

“Oh, I insist, Gran.”

“Fine, I won't,” Magda said readily.

“Good. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, Zach. By the way, my nurses will also be joining us for the trip.”

“Your nurses?” Zach asked in surprise.

“Yes. Even though I'm fit and well, you never know what might happen while we're at sea. Better that they're on hand.”

His heart hammered in his chest. “Who… uh… have I met these nurses before?”

“Yes. Rebecca and Sarah. They're those lovely girls who helped me recover from my hip replacement. You remember them, don't you?”

He paled.

Rebecca. She was going to be there. On the ship. With him. For a month.

“Don't tell me you can't remember them, Zach. They looked after me for six months.”

He roused himself from his shock. “Sure, I remember them. I'll… uh… see you tomorrow.”

***End of Chapter One***

Watch out for chapter two arriving in your inbox soon!

Much love,
Miranda xxx

 

Secret Tastes Chapter Two

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Secret Tastes (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 4) Chapter Two

Secret Tastes 2D 1600x2500 v2“It looks like Kris and Trey are already asleep,” Sam commented as she and Adam walked into the couple's apartment.

“Maybe. Just to be safe, let's stay as far away from their bedroom as possible,” Adam joked. “Why don't you change to dry clothes and I'll make us coffee.”

Sam was about to show Adam where the coffee machine was when she realised that he must be more familiar with Trey's apartment than she was. She went to have a quick shower, and ten minutes later she re-joined him.

“I'll think I'll have nightmares from those evil glares your ex was throwing at me,” she said dryly as she sat on a bar stool next to him, a steaming mug in front of her.

Adam laughed. “Don't worry. Sandy doesn't have any voodoo doll—at least, not that I know of.”

Sam chuckled. “She's really keen on you, Adam. I've never seen sharper claws in a woman before. But then, I must admit, the men I've dated in the past didn't have admirers as intense as Sandy.”

“Intense is exactly the word to describe her,” Adam said with an eye-roll. “She just refuses to accept the fact that we're over. Thanks again for playing along. I'm hoping that if Sandy thinks I have a new girlfriend, she'll finally move on.”

“No problem. You'll be doing the same for me anyway. Besides, even though I'm ashamed to admit it, there's a childish part of me that wants to see her put in her place. For some reason, your ex just rubs me off the wrong way.” She relayed to Adam Sandy's antics during the cooking class that annoyed the hell out of her, and Sandy's reaction to her offer for help on cooking basics.

Adam was laughing heartily when Kris and Trey appeared, both in robes, looking surprised.

“Hey guys,” Adam said. “Did we wake you up?”

“Sam didn't,” Trey quipped.

“Sorry. Was I too loud?”

“We weren't asleep yet,” Kris said. “We thought we heard a man's voice and we wondered if Sam took a date home with her.”

“It's just me,” Adam replied. “Sandy pleaded with me to pick her up from that big cooking event and I saw Sam waiting for a taxi, drenched to the bone.”

“Sammy!” Kris gasped. “You should have called me! It never occurred to me you'd have a hard time catching a cab, but I should have known.”

“Don't worry about it,” Sam said dismissively. “I didn't want to bother you guys. Anyway, I was lucky Adam saw me standing there. I wouldn't have noticed him in the car if he just drove past.”

“I can't believe you're still doing things for Sandy, bro,” Trey said disapprovingly.

“Don't worry,” Adam said. “Sam's helped me make everything crystal clear to Sandy.”

“How?” Kris asked curiously.

“We pretended we're dating.”

“Oh, how interesting,” Kris said with a pleased smile.

Sam narrowed her eyes at her cousin. There was something about Kris's reaction that told her she was thrilled at this turn of events. She wouldn't be surprised if Kris thought it would be a good idea for her and Adam to get together.

Kris had been encouraging her to be more adventurous with her choice of men. Admittedly, her past boyfriends had been… well… boring.

She had always been the cautious, conservative type. Sometimes it frustrated her that she held back too much on life. She had the habit of analysing everything to death before she took action. That trait had served her in certain circumstances, but at other times it had been a massive hindrance.

If she looked at Kris and her best friends Jasmine and Ari, their lives were richer and more fulfilling. The three had taken big, scary steps to go after what they loved. Whereas she was the one still stuck in a job that sucked the life out of her—something she couldn't find the heart to admit to her parents. What was more, as Kris had pointed out to her before, she was also the one who had not had a boyfriend who knew his way around a woman's body.

She was starting to think her cousin had a point. What was wrong with finding a man who could truly satisfy her in bed? She'd love to know what the fuss was about. She was too embarrassed to say it out loud, but she was jealous that her cousin and friends had captured the hearts of seriously hot men who, by all accounts, were experts at pleasuring women.

“So when do you plan to tell Uncle and Auntie about your plans, Sam?” Kris asked, snapping her out of her musing.

“We only just came up with this scheme yesterday. I haven't had a chance to think it through yet.”

“Just don't overthink it,” Kris warned.

She smiled and nodded. Here she was again, wanting to over-evaluate things. “I'll say something to Mum and Dad when I get back home.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“You heard her, guys,” Kris said to Adam and Trey. “She promised.”

The men nodded. “We'll hold you to that, Sam,” Trey said.

“Adam,” Kris continued, “since you're Sam's FBF, would you be available to travel to Melbourne if need be?”

“What's FBF?” Adam asked.

“Fake Boyfriend,” Kris said with a sly grin. “But in front of her parents, it would mean Fantastic Boyfriend. Or Fabulous Boyfriend. Or…”

“Fantabulous Boyfriend,” Sam supplied.

Adam chortled. “With that kind of label, how could I not want to show off?”

“Is it really okay with you, Adam?” Sam asked. “Pretending in front of my parents whom I don’t want to hurt isn't the same as pretending in front of your ex you want to get rid of.”

“Of course it's okay,” Adam replied. “I can understand why you want to soften the blow for your folks, Sam. When I said to my parents I was setting up a software development business with Trey and Dylan, they tried their hardest to discourage me. They needed me to have a regular job and help with the bills, you see. We weren't well-off back then.”

“I remember that,” Trey said. “A few times, Adam almost pulled out because we were only making enough to feed ourselves with bread and cans of tuna. Most of what we made we had to plough back into the business.”

“Yeah,” Adam confirmed. “My mum, especially, didn't handle the financial stress well and suffered a few panic attacks. Those were the hardest times. It made me feel so guilty about continuing on with the guys. What kept me going was the strength of our vision and our belief that we would eventually come out on top. Fortunately, after two years of hard slog, our company made a decent enough profit the year after.”

“Wow,” Sam murmured. “How does your mum feel about your business now?”

Adam chuckled. “She's fine now. She still tells me every so often she's glad I stuck to my guns. But those first two years watching my parents' distress and feeling guilty that I was being selfish were hard. So, if you want to lie to your parents to make the transition easier for them, I can't blame you.”

Sam's eyes watered. She had been feeling guilty at the thought of lying to her mum and dad just so she could do what she loved instead of what she was expected to. Without a shadow of doubt, they would be utterly disappointed—her dad, especially. He had started the accounting practice three months before she was born. He had worked very hard to build it to where it was now. His dream was to keep it in the family and see her take over in a few years.

But the more she thought about it, the more she knew she had to resign. She wouldn't be doing the company a favour by being its head when her heart was not in it.

“Thank you, Adam,” she said quietly, walking over to him and giving him a hug of gratitude for his little pep talk.

“No worries,” he responded, enveloping her in his strong arms.

Hmm. He smelled good. She let go of him before she burrowed her face in that muscular chest of his.

*******

Sam had been gauging her parents' mood all through dinner. Her dad seemed preoccupied with something—probably with the current goings-on at work. It wasn't unusual. Her dad found it hard to switch off.

“Um, Mum, Dad, there's something I've been wanting to discuss with you,” she started nervously.

“Oh, really? We do, too, honey. Why don't you start?” her mother Helen said.

Sam looked at her mum quizzically, then decided to just say what she had to say before she changed her mind. “I'm thinking of moving to Sydney,” she said.

Both her parents looked at her in shock, their jaws slackening.

“You want to open up a branch there?” her dad Ted asked tentatively.

“No.”

Uncomfortable silence followed her declaration.

“You want to join Kris, don't you?” Helen said, her eyes starting to mist.

“That's not the main reason, Mum,” she mumbled. Damn it. She had hoped her mother wouldn't cry. She might chicken out of the whole thing if she did.

“Samantha, do you want to leave the practice?” her dad asked quietly, concern etched on his face.

Sam felt a pinch in her heart. Oh, Dad. I love you. But I have to live my life.

But just like before, she couldn't find the voice to say it out loud. She wouldn't be able to stand seeing the disappointment on her parents' faces if she did.

“I met a man,” she blurted out. Ah, hell. She had hoped she wouldn't have to lie, but she felt she had no choice. She wanted her parents to at least be okay with her decision, not be hurt by it.

“You did?” Helen exclaimed in wonder, her expression turning to delight. “That's great, Sam! Who is he?”

Sam took a deep breath. “His name's Adam Craig. He's Kris's fiancé's best friend and business partner.”

“This sounds serious, Samantha,” Ted said, his brows creasing. “You want to move to Sydney for this man? Can he take care of you? Why do you have to make the sacrifice? Why can't he be the one to move here?”

“Adam and his friends run a multi-million dollar business. Their company is many times larger than our firm. It makes more sense for me to move to Sydney,” she reasoned. “Besides, I want to start a food business there—catering,” she said bravely, finally able to tell her parents what she really wanted to do. And she must leave Melbourne to make that possible. She needed to be away from her parents' emotional pull.

“You want to make your hobby your career?”

“Yes, Dad. You know I love cooking.”

“That's such hard work, Samantha. Why would you want to change careers now, when you're doing so well in the accounting industry? You know you'll be head of our firm in a few years,” Ted said.

“I really want to give it a try, Dad,” she said in a strong voice.

Silence reigned for interminable seconds.

“If that's what you really want to do, of course we won't stand in your way,” Ted said finally, his eyes moistening.

Ah, shit. This was what she was afraid of. She'd hate it if her mum cried. But if her dad—a strong man who hardly showed weakness—shed tears, that would be more than she could handle.

“What does your boyfriend think about all this?” her dad asked.

“Adam thinks it's a great idea for me to look into the catering business.”

“No. I mean about you moving to Sydney.”

“Oh. He thinks that's a great idea, too.”

“So this is really serious?” Helen asked. “It sounds very sudden. You haven't even mentioned this Adam to us before.”

“I met him months ago when Kris and I visited Jasmine when she first moved to Sydney.”

“But you haven't spent much time with each other.”

“You know how it is, Mum,” she said knowingly.

Helen smiled. “Yes I do, don't I? I did leave my parents in Cairns to be with your dad within a month of us meeting.”

Ted nodded, a smile playing on his face. “Well, if love is your reason for leaving us and the practice, then I'm happy.”

Yup. Much as she felt like scum lying to her parents, she knew the topic of a potential life partner for her would ease their pain and worry about her news.

“My relationship with Adam is still new, so don't expect a wedding any time soon. Marriage is still off the radar for us,” she warned.

“Of course, darling,” Helen said. “You have to make sure he's the one before you fully commit to spending the rest of your lives together.”

“And I'm not exactly leaving you guys. Sydney is only an hour and thirty-five minute flight away. I'll visit often, and of course, I expect you to visit me.”

“Oh, we will, Samantha,” Ted said, taking her hand. “But don't take too long in making the decision to marry, okay? I want to walk you—my only child—down the aisle before I leave this earth. Grandkids before I pass will be good, too.”

“Oh, Dad,” Sam scoffed. “You're only sixty-two and I'm only twenty-seven. There's plenty of time for that.”

“You never know, honey,” Ted said softly. “My doctor told me yesterday I should get tested.”

Sam stilled. “For what?” she whispered, cold fear clutching her heart at her father's tone.

“Prostate cancer. But don't worry, it's only for precaution.”

“Dad…” She choked in shock.

“Don't worry, Sammy. I'm sure it's nothing. The doctor said it's just to rule out that possibility.”

“Look, I don't have to move to Sydney,” she babbled hastily. “I don't have to leave. I'm happy to stay here. Yes, I'm not going anywhere.” Oh, if only her dad had told her his news before she broke hers.

“Don't be silly,” Ted chided. “I know you wouldn't even have broached the subject if this wasn't important to you. Besides, hearing you've finally found someone you love enough to not only give up your career but to also move interstate really warms my heart. At least I know you have somebody you could potentially spend your life with. So don't change your plans, Samantha. Your mum and I have been waiting for you to fall in love, haven't we, dear?”

“Yes,” Helen said. “Your dad and I have been discussing your future lately. We know you're financially set. It's having a loving and supportive partner that we most want for you. It will ease our minds.”

“But what about the practice? If Dad needs rest, or surgery, or something…”

“No buts, Samantha,” Ted interrupted. “I don't want to hear you changing your mind because of me. As for the practice, we'll advertise for a replacement for you straight away. Now that I know you don't want to stay, I don't want you there. I want you to be happy. Life is gruelling enough, and it's too short. Going through it with the person you love is very important. That's why your mother and I are happy to hear you've found someone special.”

Sam's eyes watered. This was totally unexpected. She suspected the possibility of a terminal disease had influenced her parents' perspective.

“But we need to meet your boyfriend,” Ted declared. “I want to make sure his intentions are in the right place when it comes to you.”

“I'm already excited,” Helen said.

“Me, too,” Ted agreed with a bright smile on his face.

Sam gulped, too overwhelmed to speak. There was no backing out from the plan now. If her dad did have cancer…

She shook her head, not wanting to think about that possibility.

“Please don't worry,” Ted said softly. “When do you plan to move?”

She shrugged. “There's nothing concrete at this point.”

“You know, Ted, it's been a while since you've taken a break from work,” Helen said. “Maybe we should go on a holiday to Sydney. We could visit the girls and meet Sam's boyfriend at the same time.”

“Great idea,” Ted said. “How about you organise it, Samantha? Just make it sooner rather than later. I need a relaxing holiday.”

Sam suppressed a sigh. She crossed her fingers under the table and prayed that she and Adam would be able to keep up their pretense around her parents. They'd need to be a very convincing couple in front of them.

It was a damn shame that it was all a sham, though. Heck, she hadn't admitted it to anyone, but she'd had a crush on Adam ever since that day they first met at Kane and Jasmine's and they all had a dip in the pool. She couldn't help but admire Adam's physique. As she got to know him better, her admiration for him went beyond looks.

But Adam was with Miss Glam-Who-Couldn't-Cook then so she buried her feelings. She wondered if he was on the lookout for a new girlfriend now that he and Sandy were no longer together?

She had never been very good at showing men that she was interested in them. She preferred it if they did the instigating. Could she be brave enough to let Adam know she had a crush on him?

Just the thought made her sweaty and nervy, so she pushed it aside.

~~~~~

End of Chapter Two

I'll send you a post with Secret Tastes' links to the various stores by the 20th. Just a few more days to go…

Love yah!

Miranda xxx

 

Secret Tastes Chapter One

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We're getting closer to the 20th, the official release day of Secret Tastes, Sam and Adam's love story. I'm really excited. (Yes, I always get that way every time I publish a book. Admittedly, I get nervous, too.)

I promised to post Chapters One and Two of Secret Tastes so for today, here's the first chapter. I'm splitting them in two so each post wouldn't be too long–but also so you can have something to look forward to tomorrow ;-).

Without further ado, here it is. Hope you enjoy it!

Secret Tastes 2D 200x300Secret Tastes (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 4) Chapter One

Samantha Lane was wet. Very wet. Even the ends of her long, deep brown hair were sodden. Her umbrella was nowhere near big enough to protect her from the incessant rain.

The good news was she was now first in line for a taxi. The bad news was she'd been standing there for over twenty minutes, and the last cab that picked up the passenger before her had left ten minutes ago. Where were all the blasted taxis?

If she wasn't still on a high from a wonderful night, she'd be downright cranky by now. Fortunately she was still feeling the buzz, which negated the dampening effects of the bad weather and the long wait to get home.

The cooking master class presented by the Michelin starred celebrity chef, who flew in to Sydney just for the special event, had been fantastic. But it was the last two hours of mingling with the attendees that held enormous value for her.

Those who had paid top dollar for the closed door ‘after-class drinks' had been given the opportunity to meet and greet food industry experts who were normally out of reach to the general public. Professionals from fresh food suppliers to well-known Australian chefs were on hand.

And paid top dollar, she had. She wouldn't have missed it for the world. While part of her reason for coming to Sydney was to visit her cousin Kris McCann and their best friends, Jasmine Allen-Summers and Ari Mitchell, she made sure her trip coincided with this rare occasion.

All in all, she had an excellent time. Except for one thing. She was sure she had just made an enemy tonight—with an ultra-glamorous, sensational-looking woman whose first name she didn’t get to know.

Miss Glam-Who-Couldn't-Cook—as she’d nicknamed her—rubbed her off the wrong way with her haughty, unfriendly attitude and her ridiculous questions that anyone with the most limited understanding of food preparation would know. For heaven's sake, people shelled out good money to learn advanced cooking techniques, not waste their time hearing answers to basic questions like ‘how do you know if the oil's hot enough?' Seriously!

She wasn't usually the rock-the-boat type of person, but geez, Miss Glam-Who-Couldn't-Cook really got up her nose. It had been her bad luck that she had to sit next to the woman all through the class. When she quietly—and very politely—volunteered to teach Miss Glam-Who-Couldn't-Cook the basics of cooking after the master class had finished, she got an evil glare and a bitchy flick of lustrous hair with perfectly manicured fingers. She probably shouldn't have offered, but the woman was hogging the Q&A with her elementary level questions.

Samantha exhaled loudly. Thinking about Miss Glam-Who-Couldn't-Cook while standing in the middle of a driving rain diminished her remaining enthusiasm. Thank God she wasn't likely to bump into that woman again.

She craned her neck, hoping that the vehicle drawing near was an empty cab. Unfortunately, it wasn't even a taxi. Maybe she should text Kris back and tell her she needed to be picked up after all. She should have waited until she was inside a cab before sending her cousin a message that she would catch one home instead.

The approaching car slowed down to a stop directly in front of her and the driver wound down the passenger side window.

“Sam?” a man called from within.

Surprised, she bent down to look inside the vehicle. Her heart started beating wildly as a handsome face with chestnut hair and hazel eyes grinned at her. Goodness, it was Adam Craig.

“Adam! What are you doing here?”

“I've come to pick up a friend. I didn't know you'd be here. Hop on in.”

She eyed the interior of his expensive luxury car. “I'm drenched. I might ruin your leather seat,” she responded.

“Don't worry about it,” Adam said with a laugh, reaching over to open the front passenger door.

With a grateful smile, she closed her umbrella and got in. She felt guilty about the amount of water dripping off her but she let herself relax. She was comfortable with Adam. As he was one of the best friends and business partners of Trey Andrews, Kris's fiancé, she'd known Adam long enough to know he was a wonderful, easy-going guy.

“Are you okay?” Adam asked.

“Yeah, thanks. I'm glad you saw me standing there. I was debating whether I'd go back inside and ask Kris to pick me up. I didn't anticipate the lack of taxis but I suppose it's understandable in this weather on a Saturday night.”

“I should have known you'd be here. How come you didn't mention it yesterday?” Adam asked.

“Oh, I told the girls about it but you guys must have been so busy chatting that you didn't hear.”

“We should have another karaoke session like that,” Adam said with a grin. “That was fun.”

“It certainly was,” she agreed, remembering with fondness their little party organised by Kris and Trey at their place in celebration of her short visit from Melbourne.

Adam was a bit like her when it came to karaoke—not bad at all, but not good enough to win any competition. As usual, Jasmine had been the best singer. Her husband Kane Summers had stared at her like he'd wanted to ravish her as she sang a sexy song. Ari could carry a tune, too. When her fiancé Dylan Summers—Kane's brother and Adam's other best friend and business partner—joined her for a duet, it had been touching. Cheesy, but touching. But she thought the best part of yesterday was when Trey proposed to Kris after showing off his new dance skills while Jasmine sang.

“So how was the cooking class?” Adam asked as he drove toward the covered area just outside the entrance of the function centre.

“It was great! Well worth it.”

“Good,” he answered distractedly as he scanned people's faces. “There's Sandy,” he murmured as he honked his horn briefly to attract his friend's attention.

Sam's eyes widened in dismay as a strawberry blonde looked up from her phone and smiled at Adam's approaching car.

Oh, hell. She couldn't believe it. Miss Glam-Who-Couldn't-Cook was Sandy—Adam's on-again, off-again girlfriend.

She thought Adam and Sandy had broken up for good. Were they back together again? Why was Adam picking her up?

Appearance-wise, it didn't surprise her that the two were attracted to each other. Adam was a gorgeous hunk and Sandy was a stunning girl. But how could someone as nice as Adam have someone so bitchy and juvenile as that woman for a girlfriend?

*******

Adam shook his head surreptitiously as he watched Sandy trot to his car. He was certain Sandy would assume his acquiescence to picking her up as a sign that he still cared. She'd be wrong. But as much as he had been tempted to ignore Sandy's call for help, the chivalrous part of him couldn't stand the thought of leaving a woman—any woman—stranded in this type of weather. The fact that Sandy was an ex who was still pushing for a reconciliation didn't stop him from doing her this favour.

Sometimes, especially when it came to obstinate girls, his considerate nature was a curse.

Sandy was about to get in the front passenger side when she froze. She'd caught sight of Sam already sitting there. Obviously, this was totally unexpected.

He pressed a button to wind down the window. “Sandy, get in the back,” he called out.

It took long seconds before Sandy snapped out of her shock and did as she was told.

“Hi,” Sam said as Sandy settled herself in the car.

Sandy didn't respond.

Adam sighed. Sandy was the competitive type and typically couldn't stand being overshadowed by another female.

“Sandy, this is Sam,” he said, glancing at his rear-view mirror and catching Sandy's big scowl. “Sam, this is Sandy,” he said to Sam who was staring at the road ahead.

“Hi, Sandy. Good to meet you,” Sam said pleasantly. Turning to Adam, she said, “Sandy and I were sitting next to each other during the class but we didn't get to properly introduce ourselves.”

“Oh, right. I hope you both had a great time,” he said conversationally.

“Hello, Sam,” Sandy finally acknowledged from the back. “How come you've never mentioned Sam to me before, Adam? We've been together for months and this is the first I've heard of her.”

He suppressed the desire to roll his eyes. Sandy's tone was amiable but the barb was there. “I had my reasons,” he answered mysteriously.

There was a time when he'd considered Sandy's bitchy attitude as plain straightforwardness. He had been quite infatuated with her. As a big plus, she was a bombshell. But when he finally came to his senses, he simply got more and more annoyed by her behaviour. Sandy could be ultra-charming, but she also loved spending his money.

He used to see Sandy as a sweet, albeit somewhat immature, twenty-five-year-old who simply wanted a good life—a lifestyle he was easily able to give her. Well, not anymore. Now, he just found her irritatingly shallow. Funny how his perspective had changed when the lust had worn off.

“So, darling, you're dropping Sam off first, right?” Sandy asked sweetly. “I thought we could have coffee at my place before you head back home.”

He stopped a snort that wanted to come out. Sandy's persistence in wanting to get back with him was commendable and flattering. But frankly, he was tired of it.

A brilliant plan crystallised in his head. “No. I'm dropping you off first. I'm stopping by at Sam's,” he answered, glancing at Sam who looked surprised.

“Are you? Why?” Sandy asked suspiciously.

“Why? I want to,” he answered, hoping Sam wouldn't clarify to Sandy that she was only on a short visit from Melbourne and was staying with Kris and Trey.

Sandy was like a dog with a bone when it came to him. Telling her they were over—over and over again—didn't seem to work. Until Sandy saw with her own eyes that he'd moved on, he doubted she would let go.

Fortuitously, just yesterday, he had agreed to be Sam's pretend boyfriend for the sake of her parents. She wanted to resign from her father's accounting practice—which she was supposed to head when her dad retired in a few years—to follow her dream of going into the food industry. But Sam was afraid she'd break her parents' hearts if she did that.

Apparently, though, both her mum and dad had been keen for her to find a life partner. When Kris had jokingly suggested that she should give the excuse that she'd met a man in Sydney, and that was why she wanted to quit the practice and leave Melbourne, Sam grabbed at the idea.

As a helpful guy happy to assist a friend in need, he was more than happy to play Sam's boyfriend if her parents insisted on meeting one. But he could also take advantage of this charade, couldn't he?

He reached over and grabbed Sam's hand, giving it a warning squeeze. “You're not too tired, are you, sweetheart? I thought we could continue talking about the plan we started discussing yesterday—the one involving me meeting your folks.”

Sandy's gasp from the back was audible while he noticed Sam swallow a smile.

“Of course not, honey,” Sam answered, playing along with him. “It'll be great to finalise that plan.”

He grinned at her and caught the twinkling in her beautiful brown eyes.

“So when did you two start going out?” Sandy asked coldly.

“A month ago,” Adam responded, making it up on the spot. “Although we'd known each other for much longer than that. Sam is Kris's cousin.”

He hoped Sandy wouldn't ask any more questions. The last time Sam had been in Sydney was three months ago.

“But you and I went out on a date just two weeks ago,” Sandy said pointedly.

“That wasn't a date,” he contended. “You asked me to have lunch with you and, as a friend, I turned up. Sam knows about it. I told her.”

“Yes,” Sam said, backing him up. “Adam explained everything to me. He promised not to do it again.”

Adam almost laughed out loud at Sam's comment. It was great.

~~~~~~~

End of Chapter One.

Hope you enjoyed that. I'll post Chapter Two tomorrow.

Miranda xxx

 

 

Secret Moves: Cover and Chapter One

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Release day for Secret Moves (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 3) is almost upon us! Within twenty-four hours, I'll be pressing the publish button for this book. From there, it will only be a few hours wait before they go live on the various stores.

Once it's up on the stores, I'll let you know. I know you're just as keen as I am to finally see it available. 🙂

In the meantime, here's the cover and Chapter One for you to enjoy. I love Kris and Trey, and I hope they–and their story–make their way to your heart too. Happy reading!

Secret Moves 2D small

Secret Moves (Secret Dreams Contemporary Romance 3)

Chapter One

Oh, weddings, you bring out the best and worst of emotions. Kristen McCann smiled wryly as she spotted a pensive-looking young woman stare surreptitiously at a couple kissing passionately in a quiet corner of one of Sydney's luxurious five-star hotels. Judging by their clothing, the sad-faced girl and the canoodling pair were guests of the bride and groom. She didn't recognise them, so she guessed they were on Kane Summers' guest list, and not on her best friend Jasmine Allen-Summers'.

She sighed as she made her way back to the grand ballroom after a quick trip to the ladies'. This wedding—and the lead-up to it—elicited something in her, too. Lately, to her discomfort, her libido had been very much awake.

Ever since she and her cousin Samantha Lane arrived from Melbourne a few days ago to fulfil their bridesmaid duties, she'd been constantly in the presence of two loved-up couples. Since she and Sam were staying at Kane and Jasmine's place while in Sydney, she'd been witness to the newlyweds’ desire for each other, even though the pair tried their best to keep their passion private. Then there were Ari Mitchell, their other best friend, and her boyfriend Dylan Summers, Kane's brother. Those two seemed to be in competition with Kane and Jasmine for the title Sizzling Couple of the Year. Add to that mix the fact that she'd had a long sex drought of eleven and a half months. It was no wonder she'd been craving a warm, masculine body to alleviate some tension.

She glanced at the amorous couple again, and her eyes widened in disbelief. The PG-rated kiss of a few seconds ago had now become an R. She let out an incredulous laugh, surprised at the audacity of the guy to visibly fondle his girlfriend's breast in full view of anyone who passed by. Fortunately, most of the wedding guests were inside enjoying some dancing. Honestly, they should get a room!

She placed her palm on the heavy door of the ballroom and pushed, only to misstep and stumble when she saw who was on the other side of it.

“Oops. I'm sorry,” a deep masculine voice said as he grabbed her arms to stop her from falling flat on her face.

She grinned. “It's not your fault. I was just surprised it's you.”

The hunk with incredible grey eyes and dark brown hair lifted his eyebrows at her questioningly.

“Don't mind me,” she said with a shake of her head. “I just happened to be talking about you with Ari a few minutes ago. Your name's Trey, right? I'm Kris McCann.”

“Hi, Kris. Yes, I'm Trey—Trey Andrews.” The gorgeous one gave her a curious look as he shook the hand she offered him. “But of course, I already know your name. Hard to miss when you're one of the stunning bridesmaids.”

She smiled at the compliment.

“So, why were you and Ari talking about me?” Trey asked.

“Oh, it was nothing important,” she said with a laugh. “Besides, I really shouldn't tell you.”

“Now, Kris. You can't just leave it like that. You can't incite my interest then leave me hanging,” Trey said lightly.

She pursed her lips. “Considering I agreed with Ari's suggestion, there's really not much point discussing it with you.”

“Now I'm even more intrigued,” Trey said with a wide, engaging smile.

She sighed—well, it was really more like a swoon. Trey really was gorgeous. Should she tell him that she had asked Ari to introduce them to each other for the possibility of some casual sex? Ari was clearly against the idea, warning her of Trey's reputation as a playboy. Since it had been Dylan who'd told Ari that, and Dylan was Trey's best friend, she had no reason to doubt the accuracy of that statement.

Not that she cared about Trey being a playboy. Crude as it might sound, all she wanted was to get laid and Trey happened to catch her eye. But Ari had been concerned about possible complications. To put her friend at ease, Kris had agreed that it would be better if she considered someone else who was a complete stranger to all of them.

“I can see the wheels turning in that beautiful head of yours,” Trey teased flirtatiously. “Come on, tell me.”

She bit her lip to hide her smile as she stared at him, contemplating her next words. “My cousin Samantha and I are here in Sydney for three weeks to house-sit for Jasmine and Kane while they're on their honeymoon. I said to Ari that I wanted to make the most of it. One thing I wanted to do was to meet someone for some casual sex while I'm here. Not that it's something I do a lot of, but it's been a while, and I'm…you know,” she said with a shrug.

Trey's eyes opened wide in surprise. She must have shocked him with her candidness. The truth was, sometimes her brain-to-mouth filter failed to work. The fact that she already had a bit of alcohol in her made it worse.

“Sooo,” Trey said with a suppressed smile. “How did I end up being in the conversation?”

She lifted her shoulders. “Since it's a moot point, let's not talk about it.”

“Why is it a moot point?”

“Because it won't be with you!” she laughed.

Trey's eyes sparkled with interest. “So you considered me?”

“Considered you and scratched you out,” she confirmed flippantly.

“Why? What's wrong with me?” he asked with mock indignation.

“Nothing much that I can see,” she admitted, casting an admiring glance at his form. She bet there was a great body hiding underneath that expensive suit.

Trey's smile widened, making her want to swoon again. Damn it, Ari. Why did I listen to you?

“So why did you scratch me out?” he asked.

“Ari didn't think it was a good idea. Too complicated.”

Trey laughed out loud. “That, coming from someone who propositioned her friend's brother-in-law for a one-night stand.”

She joined him in laughter. “I know. But I think that's why she's worried. She thinks I might fall for you like she did with Dylan.”

“Oh. Are you looking for a boyfriend? If so, she's right to warn you off me. I'm allergic to relationships,” Trey said with a teasing smile, but his eyes betrayed his seriousness.

“No, I'm not looking for a boyfriend. I'm looking to get laid. But to avoid any unexpected consequences, I've agreed to look elsewhere.”

“Are you always this frank?” Trey asked, astounded.

She sighed. “Unfortunately. Mind you, I am a little bit worse tonight because of the alcohol.”

“But you're not completely drunk?”

“Do I look completely drunk?”

“Not completely. Just a tiny little bit. Which means the alcohol wasn't affecting your judgment when you thought of me as a potential playmate,” Trey said, giving her a suggestive wink.

She chuckled. “I'm sure you already know you're one hot guy, Trey. But you know what? I agree with Ari. Better not go where we might not like the consequences. What if I fell for you without meaning to? We wouldn't want that now, would we?” she asked jokingly.

Trey let out a nervous laugh. “No, we certainly wouldn't want that! I'm sure Ari and Jasmine would line up to have my head if I hurt you.”

She smiled, concealing a sigh. What a shame. If Trey was a total stranger, she was almost sure they could end up in bed that very night. But, hey, it wasn't to be.

She glanced at the throng of people dancing the night away and couldn't help the smile that formed on her face. She loved dancing.

“Would you like to dance, Trey?” she asked. “Dancing together wouldn't hurt, would it?”

Trey looked embarrassed. “Uh, sorry. I don't dance.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I can't dance.”

“Oh, come now. Anyone can dance. You're not turning me down because I said I won't be sleeping with you, are you?”

“What?” Trey asked, chuckling. “Of course not.”

“Good. Shall we?” She held out her arm for him to take.

*******

Trey mentally shook his head as he ambled to the dance floor with Kris. She was one intriguing woman, and he'd surprised himself by agreeing to dance with her.

He liked her outspokenness. He wondered if she was simply a little bit drunk or if she really was as straightforward as she seemed to be.

She was a breath of fresh air, very much unlike most of the women he'd met in the past, who'd told him what they thought he wanted to hear so they could get in his pants—and most of all, his pockets.

Kris nudged him with her hip, encouraging him to move. He started to shuffle his feet—or tried to. Heaven knew he couldn't dance and avoided it at all costs. But his lips curved up as he watched Kris, even though he felt like a klutz next to her.

God, she moved well. Really, really well. He'd noticed it earlier when the bridal party danced the bridal waltz with bits of salsa, tango, and freestyle thrown in. She was easily the best in the group, and it was obvious she loved every minute of it.

He wondered if she had sex just like she danced—with abandon.

He took a sharp breath at the erotic picture that formed, and snaked an arm around her waist to pull her close. “You're a great dancer,” he said in her ear so she could hear him over the blaring music and people singing merrily along at the top of their lungs.

Kris grinned, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling. To his surprise she swayed seductively around him, letting her hand slide across his chest, his shoulder, his neck, then back to his chest as she completed the circuit of his awkwardly jiggling form.

Hell, she made him hot. And he couldn't have her. Damn.

The fast music ended and a slow tune started playing. He took advantage of it and pressed her against him with a firm arm around her waist.

Kris curved her arms around his neck, her body soft and yielding against his.

Fuck. She felt good. He felt his loins stir as he danced intimately with her.

“Do you like dancing, Trey?” Kris asked, her breath tickling his ear.

His chest heaved. Did she want a literal or a metaphorical answer?

“Depends on what you mean by ‘dancing',” he answered huskily, brushing away a strand of blond hair that strayed to her face.

She let out a low, sexy laugh. “I mean dancing as in actual dancing—not sex.”

“Oh. No, I don't. Except for right now.”

“Oh? What makes ‘right now' different?” she asked, her arms tightening around his neck, her body pressing closer to his.

Was she giving him a hint? A come-on? Was he under consideration again? He wouldn't mind that at all!

He licked his lips and smiled. “You're an excellent dance partner, and it's incredibly arousing dancing with you,” he said. Not that he had to draw her attention to his excited member. It was quite obviously hard against her.

Kris leaned back and scrunched her face cutely. “You're still out of the game, even if I'm flirting with you while your you-know-what is poking my belly.”

He laughed out loud, even as disappointment pricked him. “But why? I think we'd have a great time together.”

“That's the problem. We might have too great a time. I think you're dangerous, Trey Andrews,” she said openly.

He gaped at her, trying to determine her meaning. Was she saying she could easily fall for him if they slept together? He sighed. He wasn't being egotistical, but there were enough girls in his past who'd said they were only after sex and ended up chasing him for a relationship.

He couldn't have that. A few years ago, he'd been too trusting of a particular woman and found himself taken for a ride. He'd learned his lesson. Now, his chosen lifestyle—the bachelor lifestyle—suited him to a tee. He had no plans of giving it up.

He still let himself be seduced by beautiful women, though. He was a full-blooded male, after all. But he was careful enough—and, he'd like to think, considerate enough—to let them know he wasn't interested in anything beyond casual.

So Kris was right. He wouldn't want her falling for him at all. Better not go there.

“Okay,” he said. “It's loud and clear. You and I won't be having sex. Right?”

“Right,” Kris agreed.

“Great,” he said, ignoring the deflation he suddenly felt. “Let's go back to the topic of dancing—real dancing. Dylan mentioned you guys took some lessons for the bridal waltz. Where did you go?”

Kris chuckled. “I taught everyone.”

His eyebrows arched. “You taught everyone?”

“Yes. I'm a part-time dance teacher at a Melbourne dance studio.”

“That explains a lot,” he said with admiration. “You do dance like a pro.”

“Thanks,” she said with a smile. “But the guys were excellent students. We only had a handful of sessions and they got the steps pretty quickly.”

“If I were in that bridal party, you would have had a harder time. I don't think you could teach me how to dance like that in one hundred lessons,” he said self-deprecatingly.

“Oh, but you underestimate my teaching skills!” she teased. “Let's have a bet on this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I bet I can teach you how to dance well in a few lessons. By the time I have to go back home to Melbourne, you'll be a good enough dancer that you could be the centre of attention on any dance floor.”

He snorted in disbelief. “Me become a good dancer in three weeks? Yeah, right.”

“Prove me wrong then,” she challenged.

He smiled. This could be fun. “Okay. I bet I'll be the first guy who fails your class.”

“I bet you'll pass with flying colours,” Kris answered.

“What does the winner of this bet get?” he asked.

Kris grinned. “If I win, you take me to a nice dinner. If you win, meaning you're still a crap dancer in three weeks, I'll take you dancing—where you will have the wonderful opportunity to dance solo in front of an audience.”

“Hang on a minute. That doesn't sound right,” he said in confusion. “If you lose and I still have two left feet by the time you go home, my prize for winning the bet is to dance solo in front of people?”

“That's right. That would ensure you work hard and not pretend you're not learning even though you are.”

“Why would I want to win, then?”

“Exactly. That's why I should win.”

“I don't know about this. I make a fool of myself every time I dance, so I just don't,” he admitted.

“You're dancing right now,” Kris pointed out.

He laughed to cover his embarrassment. “Yeah. It's your fault.”

He was rewarded by a sweet smile.

“You're not doing too badly,” she consoled him.

He snorted. “You don't need to spare my feelings.”

“Look around you,” she encouraged. “See how much fun everyone else is having? You don't have to be a good dancer to enjoy dancing. You just need to be less self-conscious.”

“There is still no way in the world I'm going to dance solo with everyone staring at me.”

“That's why you have to help me win this bet, you see? Come on, it'll be fun!”

“You sure know how to motivate your students, don't you?” he grumbled.

“So we have a deal?” she asked in an almost-squeal.

Oh, hell. How could he say no to that excited face? Plus, the idea of spending more time with Kris appealed to him—even if they weren't going to sleep together. “Okay, we have a deal,” he said a tad cautiously.

“Yay!”

“I do have one big condition, if I'm going to participate in this very scary bet,” he said.

“What's that?”

“Don't tell anyone you're teaching me how to dance. My friends would undoubtedly want to watch me trip over my own feet, and that would be mortifying.”

“Okay. But how are we going to keep this from them?”

They were both silent as they thought of a good enough excuse. Suddenly, Kris said, “I know. We can tell them you're taking me to all these different clubs so I can find a decent man to have a short fling with. My cousin Sam wouldn't want to tag along if that's the reason we give her.”

He laughed. “Okay, for some reason, I can actually see them believing that. Little would they know you're trying to convert one of my left feet to a right one.”

“Now that I think about it, it would be great if you could take me to places where I could have my choice of hunks to play with. Maybe after our lessons we could go out and do that?”

What? He stared at her in disbelief.

“I'm not kidding, Trey. I still intend to fulfil this little fantasy of mine. Take me to your favourite pick-up places. Pretty please?”

“Sure,” he replied, feeling bothered. He found himself hoping that Kris was simply way too tipsy to mean what she'd just said.

###

Secret Moves, out very, very soon.