Effortless

LYNN MONTAGANO

A division of HarperCollinsPublishers

www.harpercollins.co.uk

HarperImpulse an imprint of

HarperCollinsPublishers

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www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2015

Copyright © Lynn Montagano 2015

Cover images © Shutterstock.com

Cover layout design © HarperColl‌insPublishers Ltd 2015

Cover design by HarperColl‌insPublishers Ltd

Lynn Montagano asserts the moral right

to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is

available from the British Library

This novel is entirely a work of fiction.

The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are

the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to

actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is

entirely coincidental.

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and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

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Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.

Ebook Edition © January 2015 ISBN: 9780007558445

Version 2015-02-10

For you, the reader.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. See you on the next adventure…

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

EPILOGUE

Also by Lynn Montagano…

Also by Lynn Montagano…

Lynn Montagano

About HarperImpulse

About the Publisher

CHAPTER ONE

“Amelia Meyers.”

Julian Archer always announced my name so the entire newsroom could hear it even though we were in the confines of my office. Part of me liked the way it sounded wrapped in his Scottish accent. The other part of me knew he wanted something big. He perched himself on the edge of my desk and fidgeted with a pen. The brash, allegedly difficult host of The Archer Hour bubbled with excited energy. I leaned back in my chair, ready for whatever insane request he’d no doubt throw at me.

“We have Brent Garrison on this week.” His sharp blue eyes gleamed. I stifled an eye roll. I’d been dreading this week’s show since my first day of work here.

“He’s my biggest get all year and I expect nothing but perfection,” he continued. “Your track record so far is impeccable. Since you started our ratings have soared. This week should be no exception.”

Julian hopped off the desk and started pacing. Everything he did had a certain flourish to it. Tugging at his shirtsleeves, he spouted off another round of ‘expectations’ mostly to hear himself talk.

“It’s a five minute segment,” I interrupted. “Just stick to the talking points and you’ll be fine.”

“Be prepared to make changes if needed.”

“Be prepared to follow the rundown exactly as I’ve laid it out.” I lifted an eyebrow. “This isn’t the Brent Garrison hour. He’s part of one segment.”

Exhaling in dramatic fashion, he placed his hands on his hips and looked at me. “I don’t like being on a leash. Although I’ve grown quite fond of the way you tug at me.” His smile was flirtatious and gross at the same time. “Alastair Holden is a lucky man.”

Not a day goes by when Julian doesn’t invoke the name of my fiancé. Not that I minded too much. Anytime Alastair filled my thoughts was like being in heaven. Julian’s constant mentioning of his name was done out of pure determination. He wanted an interview with Alastair and he wanted it yesterday. I was the concrete wall he’d have to bust through in order for that to happen. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t about to budge.

“Tell that boyfriend of yours if he ever changes his mind about that exclusive—”

“—to call me,” I said in unison with him. “Don’t hold your breath waiting for the phone to ring.”

“Feisty.” He grinned.

After Julian finally left my office, I sighed and focused on the checklist of tasks I wanted to finish before noon. I had a standing lunch date with my best friend Stephanie Tempe and couldn’t wait to get out of the office for a little while.

Before that could happen though, I had my morning meeting with my news director, Sam Dunning and producer, Robbie Watson. They’d both welcomed me into The Archer Hour family with open arms before summarily throwing me out of the frying pan and into the fire. This program was in shambles when I’d started. There’d been a revolving door of executive producers, a lack of direction and a general feeling of apathy among the staff. The past few weeks had seen a drastic improvement but we still had a long way to go.

“Excuse me, Miss Meyers?”

I looked up and was greeted by my intern smiling shyly, holding several files.

“Mr. Dunning asked me to drop these at your desk. It’s for Friday’s show.”

“Thanks, Meredith.”

Robbie waltzed in several minutes later and we chatted on our way to Sam’s office. Unlike my old news director, Sam exuded an air of sophistication. Not one blond hair sat out of place on his head. He was younger than I’d expect someone in his position to be as well. My estimation put him at around thirty-four. Once he finished typing, he turned his attention towards us.

“Another brilliant show last Friday you two. The ratings are still at a steady climb. I think the program is finally getting the injection it needs.”

Our meeting was mostly spent brainstorming and planning. Sam was a sharp guy. He had some definite ideas of how he wanted the show to be presented and I thought he was on the right track. In the past, the news magazine program had been a frenetic series of over-dramatic, packaged stories. My thoughts on making it more focused and more conversational with viewers dovetailed nicely with his ideas.

We both wanted the hour to be designed around providing in-depth coverage of the week’s biggest headlines, but we also wanted to give the audience something unexpected. Turn the news on its head, so to speak.

Once I returned to my office, I threw myself into the week’s preparations. Seeing as I’d spent the majority of Sunday night awake, putting my brain to good use was therapeutic. Alastair had flown to London this morning and decided to keep me occupied most of the night. I smiled. My enigmatic Englishman did not have an off switch. Turning my attention to the files the intern had dropped off, I sifted through some of the pages. I’d barely read through the first one when my desk phone rang.

“Lia Meyers.”

“Don’t kill me but I have to cancel lunch. This day sucks balls and I’m not just talking about the non-stop cold and rain outside.” Stephanie sounded agitated.

“What’s the emergency now?”

“These layouts are stressing me out and I’m going to go cross eyed if I stare at them another second. Why did I take this job again?”

“Because you’re awesome and talented and you love it.”

She sighed. “I would give anything to go sit out in the sun for, like, the rest of the day. Can we fly back to Orlando this weekend? Alastair has a zillion planes. He won’t mind if we use one.”

“You ask him.”

“The guy can’t say no to you. We’ll have a more positive outcome if you do it.”

“Go back to work, Steph.” I laughed, ending the call.

A few minutes later, Meredith entered my office grinning widely and carrying a small box. “This just arrived for you,” she said, leaving the box on my desk.

My heart fluttered as I admired the warm, caramel colored wrapping paper. This was Alastair’s call sign. He liked to use this particular shade because he’d always told me how much he loved the rich, amber color of my eyes. I picked it up, smiling as the familiar pleasurable rush flowed through my body.

Opening it, I was mesmerized by the gorgeous platinum cuff bracelet nestled inside. Diamonds swirled in an elegant design, sparkling in the light.

“Wow,” I whispered, wanting nothing more than to kiss him endlessly. And it had nothing to do with the jewelry. Alastair Holden was the love of my life for far better reasons. To the rest of the world he was the wealthy orphan and heir to a mind numbing fortune who never let anybody see behind his well-crafted stoic exterior. Only I knew the true man behind the mask. And he was all mine.

I noticed a small slip of paper in the box and unfolded it. Written in his unmistakable, perfect block penmanship were the words WEAR THIS TONIGHT AND NOTHING ELSE.

A yearning filled me so fast and furious that I almost forgot to breathe. Flustered, I placed the cuff back in the box and focused on getting back to work.

* * *

I powered through lunch and into the late afternoon going through most of the files the intern had dropped off. A chiming echoed through my office, disrupting my flow. Confused, I looked for the source of the sound. It was my cell phone.

3:54pm How’s your day, kitten? Did you get my special delivery?

3:55pm I did. Meant to text you earlier. So beautiful.

3:57pm Yes, you are

4:00pm Still the charmer. How’s the board meeting?

4:01pm Still happening. I’m afraid I’ll be home very late tonight.

4:03pm That sucks. Everything OK?

4:07pm Mostly.

Frowning, I tapped a pen on my desk. I knew there had been some issues within the music division of Holden World Media recently. Sales were much lower than Samuel Holden thought were acceptable. Even though he was retired, he still gave Alastair an earful whenever he could. The company’s other areas -broadband, television and cell phones- seemed to be performing above expectations. I didn’t even pretend to understand what it took to run a huge corporation like that. All I knew was it weighed heavily on Alastair and forced him to work long, unforgiving hours.

I hadn’t noticed it as much when he was in Orlando with me because I’d been so wrapped up in my own drama. Since I’d moved here, seeing how much stress he was under broke my heart. I’d often wondered why his uncle, Jason, hadn’t been named CEO.

4:15pm Don’t work too hard, chief. Love you xx

4:22pm xx

* * *

The taxi dropped me off at Alastair’s house a little after seven. I still thought of it as his house because I hadn’t been here long and, well, it still felt like him. Translation: it remained pristine and sterile and lacking in any personal effects.

I plopped my handbag onto the couch in the living room and sighed. An idea hit me so fast I bounced up and down with excitement. Scurrying off to the bedroom, I flung the door to the walk-in closet open. A couple of boxes that had been shipped out here from my apartment in Florida sat beneath a wall of my clothes. I dragged them to the center of the floor and ripped off the packing tape. Inside were some of my framed photos that I’d had hanging on the wall in my living room. I rummaged through them and picked out a few. I also grabbed the flash drive that I’d filled with pictures before I’d tossed out my old laptop.

Trotting down the hallway to Alastair’s home office, I grinned like an idiot. Everything was in its place on his dark wooden desk. I moved a few files out of the way, making sure not to disrupt their order. I was pretty sure he’d arranged them in a specific way for the countless meetings he had each week. Pausing momentarily, I glanced at the cluster of photos hanging on his wall, focusing on the one of him as a sad little boy throwing leaves in the air. How far you’ve come, Holden.

After flicking on his laptop, a picture of him and me from the county fair we’d gone to in May appeared as the wallpaper. I melted. His gorgeous green eyes practically sparkled. So did his genuine smile. He was so beautiful it made my heart hurt. I looked content snuggled into his side. My smile matched his in brightness and almost muted the yellow sundress I’d worn.

“Okay, Meyers. Enough with the gawking,” I muttered to myself, sliding the flash drive into the USB port.

Craning my neck, I searched around the room to see where the printer was set up. After scrolling through dozens of photos, I printed out some of my favorites and put them in the frames. Back out in the living room, I placed a few frames on his end tables and a couple on the fireplace mantle. They warmed up the room and softened the impersonal aura that had lingered here for far too long. Inspired by my progress, I dashed to the home office and printed out one more photo. By the time I’d finished, his living room finally started to feel lived in.

Satisfied, I changed out of my work clothes into some yoga pants and a tank top, grabbed some leftovers and flopped onto the couch.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take for me to get used to Scottish programming. Sure, there were American shows sprinkled in but I wasn’t really into watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory or Frasier.

Oooh, reality shows. Fortunately, they were as popular here as they were back home so I settled in to revel in the food and mindless television. The couch was so comfy and the food was so carb heavy, I stretched out on the cushions.

* * *

The skin near my collarbone warmed from the gentle kisses brushing against it. I moaned softly, opening my eyes. The TV was off and the room was dark but I could see the outline of a figure hovering over me. I could also smell shampoo and body wash.

“Alastair,” I whispered, lifting my hands and finding his warm, damp body close to mine. He was naked. Wait, no, he had on a towel.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said in a low, seductive voice directly into my ear. “Sorry I woke you.”

“What time is it?”

“Late.”

“Did you shower?” I asked, distracted by his mouth on my neck.

“Yes. I see you’ve been busy.”

I have? Oh, right. The pictures.

He lowered himself so the full weight of his body pressed against mine and continued to kiss along my neck and shoulders. I attempted to hook my legs around his waist and inadvertently dislodged his towel.

“Do you like what I’ve done?” I asked, knotting my fingers through his damp hair.

His lips brushed mine, setting off all sorts of tingles and shivers. “Do I like that you’ve gotten me naked? Yes. What do you plan to do with me?”

He kissed me long and slow, running a hand along my curves. My mind drifted into a wonderful, fuzzy oblivion as I traced my fingers down his athletic body, pausing just above the curve of his backside. His kisses became more insistent.

A low groan vibrated in his throat when I pushed the towel to the floor.

“My Lia.” The humid warmth of his breath tickled my skin. “Tell me all about your day.”

“Not much to tell,” I mumbled, stroking his lower back. The lovely kisses came to a halt as he lifted his head. My eyes were slightly more adjusted to the dark and I could see him staring at me. “Why are you stopping?”

“I missed you.”

I laughed. “So you’d rather stare at me than kiss me?”

“Cheeky. No present for you.”

The divine heat of his body disappeared when he pushed himself up off the couch. I watched him wrap the towel around his waist, wishing he’d left it on the floor. Seeming to read my mind, he grinned and draped it over his shoulder instead.

“You mean the one you sent me at work?” I asked, not making an effort to tear my eyes away from his naked body.

“No. I’m up here.”

I flicked my eyes up. “And your point is?”

He folded his arms with a wicked grin. “Give me two minutes and we’ll finish what we’ve started here.”

He flipped on a light before walking to the bedroom. I stared at his bare backside until he disappeared around the corner. I sat up, flustered and turned on and curious as to what he was up to. He reappeared, as promised, two minutes later dressed in boxers and a t-shirt.

“Why are you wearing clothes?” I asked, failing to hide my disappointment.

Fixing a dark stare on me, he flashed a sexy smile, reaching out his hand. “Come here, love.”

Spurred on by his quiet demand, I followed him to the back patio and out into the yard. Goosebumps scattered themselves all over my arms when the brisk September breeze rushed through the night. I tried my best not to shiver.

“Look up.”

I snuck at peek at him first before turning my sights to the skies. A few clouds disrupted the various clusters of stars glittering overhead. I smiled, allowing the serenity of the moment to wash over me. There wasn’t too much light pollution from the city interfering, which was a nice surprise.

“Pick one,” he whispered.

I looked at him, confused. “A star?”

“Yes.”

“Um,” I paused, staring into the heavens. They all winked at me, vying to be the one I chose. A particularly bright star caught my attention. I watched it for a few seconds to make sure it was actually a star and not a planet. Planets don’t twinkle.

“That one,” I said, pointing to the shiny one directly over our heads.

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

I felt his body behind me, standing close. He hooked his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. “Which one is it again?”

Baffled and extremely amused by this little game we were playing, I pointed again towards the star. “See it?”

Raising his hand next to mine, he pointed with me. “That one?”

“Yes, Holden. It’s ri—”

Something glinted off his index finger. I squeezed my eyes shut and re-opened them to make sure I was actually seeing this. Yep. It was there. Instead of the star winking back at me, a diamond ring sparkled in its place. Were those emeralds in there too?

Oh. My. God.

“I figured it was time we made this official, yes?”

I don’t know if it was the accent, the smile or the way he was looking at me but I couldn’t form a complete thought. My no-relationships-non-dater just out romanced every other guy in the universe.

“I thought we weren’t doing rings.”

He shrugged. “I changed my mind.”

His expression was completely blank but his eyes flickered. I eyed the ring as though it wasn’t real. It looked vintage. The diamond was round and huge and surrounded by a halo of emeralds in a platinum setting. There were even diamonds on the band.

“It’s so beautiful,” I said, reaching up to touch his cheek.

“Lia…I…”

Fiery passion ignited a glow in his eyes that I’d never seen before. Fisting his hand in my hair, he pulled me against his chest, kissing me with such fervor I couldn’t breathe. Gasping, he broke the kiss. “You are my everything.” His gaze, fringed by thick lashes, revealed an overwhelming vulnerability coupled with a never-ending intent to claim me.

Enclosed in his magnetic sphere, I took his hand and placed it over my heart. “Always.”

Swallowing hard, he slid the ring off his own finger and slipped it onto mine.

“Promise you’ll never leave.” His request hovered somewhere between a plea and an order. Knowing how hard it was for him to become emotionally attached to anyone, I ignored the slightly demanding tone.

“You’re stuck with me, chief. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”

I lost myself in his intoxicating scent the second he pressed his forehead to mine. I loved this man so much. From the top of that gorgeous head of dark red hair down to his toes, he was perfection. And right now, surrounded by the sight and scent of him, all I wanted to do was…

His emerald eyes darkened a bit, giving me a rush. “What are you thinking about?”

“If you don’t know the answer to that question by now, then—”

He hovered his mouth over mine, essentially halting me from continuing. So help me, the level of seduction he operated at was out of this world. His come-hither stare and kissable sculpted mouth made my pulse race. He wasn’t even touching me, yet my skin warmed at the mere thought of it.

A devilishly hot grin pulled at his lips.

“I know, I know,” I breathed, too wrapped up in his sexually charged haze. “The look.”

“My favorite.”

A rush of anxiety surged through me, filling me with a sense of foreboding. I shoved it away as fast as possible but not before Alastair noticed.

“Hey,” he whispered. “None of that. You’re here with me now. You’re safe. I will never let him near you.”

“It’s not that, trust me,” I said, flicking my wrist to ward off the mention of my ex-boyfriend. “Can we go to bed now?”

Alastair studied me for several seconds to make sure I was really alright. I didn’t want him to worry over what was probably just my self-doubt rearing its ugly head at the most inopportune time.

Placing my hands on his chest, I smiled. He smiled back, melting my heart. “What do you want to do in bed?”

“You.”

Nuzzling into my neck, he hugged me soundly, as though holding me in his arms was the only thing he was meant to do for the rest of his life. I wanted to bottle this moment up for as long as I could.

“You’re mine, Alastair,” I declared, tightening my arms around him.

“Always,” he said.

CHAPTER TWO

I stretched under the blankets as best I could, not wanting to disrupt Alastair’s vice-like grip on me. A delicious, satisfied soreness hummed between my legs and down my thighs. His gloriously naked body pressed into mine as he grunted in response to my movements.

“It’s not time to get up yet, is it?” he muttered in my ear.

“Almost. It’s just after six.”

I managed to free an arm and shut off the alarm on my phone before it buzzed. Alastair turned me so I faced him, opened a sleepy eye and grinned. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“Good morning, yourself. Did you sleep alright?”

“Never better.” He kissed my forehead, nose and cheeks before pulling me into his chest. The last thing I wanted to do was remove myself from this amazing cocoon of comfort. Pieces of his messy hair tickled me like they always did. Waking up with him never failed to put a smile on my face. It was one of the perks of us sharing a bed.

“You feel good,” he said, sliding his hand over my backside. And there was the other perk. “Come shower with me.”

Untangling his body from mine, he pushed back the blankets and stood up. I drank in every absolutely stunning naked inch of him. His toned, athletic physique was second to none. That body was made to please a woman and thank goodness I was on the receiving end. Lifting an eyebrow, he gazed down at me. “Look at you, all sexy and gorgeous on that bed.”

I stared at him through a lusty fog. “Why did you leave?”

“Good question.” He crawled back on the mattress. “You smell good,” he said, leaving a trail of kisses up my stomach. “So beautiful. And sweet.” Lacing his fingers through mine, he held both my hands over my head against the mattress. “And mine.”

I parted my lips, welcoming his kiss.

“I love this look,” he said with a note of satisfaction, “and seeing you this turned on.” He angled his head so his mouth hovered near my ear, making it easier for the velvet tone of his accent to slide through my bloodstream. “You’re always so ready for me. Tell me what you’re thinking about.”

Forming a coherent sentence wasn’t possible. Neither was breathing.

“Alastair,” I moaned, arching my back. “Stop talking.”

“And do what?”

“Whatever you want.”

Letting go of my hands, he wet his lips. On impulse, I nipped at the bottom one.

“Tempting,” he said, sitting up. “But what I’d like to do to you would make us both miss work and I have a full day of meetings.”

WHAT?

My expression must have dropped like a lead balloon. I sat up and pouted. Cupping my chin, he kissed me firmly. “Tonight.”

Something was off. I could see a subtle change in his demeanor.

The diamond shimmered on my finger as I stroked his cheek. “Is everything really okay with work after that board meeting?”

He tensed, retreating behind the all too familiar protective shield. “Mostly.”

“Talk to me.”

He’d made leaps and bounds in the sharing department but still hid behind the mask whenever he felt overwhelmed or flat out didn’t want to explain what was happening in his head. I brushed a few messy pieces of his hair back, waiting patiently for an answer.

“Just the usual, kitten. You know, the Holden way.”

I really didn’t know. I could only assume he was referring to his uncle.

Running both hands through his hair, he sighed. “Can we keep all talk of my family out of the bedroom? I’d rather this be a place for us to escape the outside world and lose ourselves in one another.” Tracing the edges of my lips, he aimed a white hot stare at me. I could tell he was agitated and didn’t want what little time we had together this morning to end on the wrong note.

“That sounds good to me,” I said, smiling. His expression softened, giving me that amazing, fluttery feeling in my stomach after breaking through his walls.

* * *

Alastair kissed me a little too long in the backseat of the Mercedes SUV after Paxton pulled to the curb in front of my building.

“I want you spend all day wondering about all the different things I’m going to do to you tonight,” he whispered on my lips. “I want you to anticipate every touch, every kiss, every move.”

I swallowed hard, glancing at the driver’s seat to see if Paxton heard any of that. He seemed oblivious, staring out the window.

“Amelia. Look at me.”

I met his heated stare and shifted on the leather seat. “This is the second time you’ve gotten me hot and bothered this morning without following through, Holden. I think you’re enjoying it.”

His sexy grin only made it more difficult for me not to tear off his expensive, three piece suit and have my way with him in the back of the car. Seeming to read my thoughts, he cupped my chin. “Control it. Channel what you’re feeling right now and save it for later. Just think how much more satisfying it will be.”

“You’re a piece of work,” I muttered, squeezing his thigh. “But I love you anyway.”

“I know.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

Eyes darkening, he angled his body closer to me. “What I feel for you is more powerful than love. It’s consuming and relentless.” Our lips brushed together briefly. “You will think of me all day and you will be just as overwhelmed by this feeling as I am.” His kissed me again, long and slow. “Go to work.”

Resigned to the fact that he’d captivated me with his words yet again, I climbed out of the car and walked into the building. Shaking myself out of this seductive haze proved to be challenging. I twisted my engagement ring around my finger as I rode up in the elevator. Since I wasn’t alone, I made it a point not to flash it out in the open. I waited until I was safely at my desk before admiring the way the diamond and halo of emeralds sparkled in the light. A smile tugged at my lips as I thought about what he had planned for me tonight.

“Lia.” Julian burst through the door, scaring the crap out of me. “I have to reschedule our lunch today. My apologies. I’ve been asked to give a quick talk at one of the schools for some…thing that I had no idea I was signed up for.”

His frown matched the dour look in his eyes.

“That’s okay. I’m sure we ca—”

“We’ll meet for cocktails after work tonight. I have a table at Pulse any time I need it. Be there at eight.”

There wasn’t time for me to give a response. He left too fast. Only the echo of his words lingered behind.

“Lunch? Cocktails? You’ve certainly managed to charm him.” Robbie leaned against the doorframe. “Can’t say he ever spent time outside the building with Gemma.”

Gemma? Oh, right. The person I replaced.

“Was she really that bad?”

Robbie walked in and left the door partially open.

“It’s not that she was bad, per se,” he said, sitting across from me. “She just didn’t have the temperament for Julian. As you know, he’s a handful but he’s not a horrible person. However, if you’re unlucky enough to land on his bad side it’s over.”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t have anything to worry about. If he’s offering you alcohol consider yourself bonded to him for life. Listen, while I’ve got your attention, I wanted to talk to you about the interview with Brent Garrison.”

My eyebrows shot straight up. I’d been so wrapped up in my personal utopia I’d forgotten about that. Plus, he owned Pulse, the destination that Julian tossed out for our cocktail meeting.

“You know him, right?”

“Uh, well, sort of,” I stammered, remembering our brief encounters all too well. “We’ve bumped into one another socially a few times.”

“You’re dating Alastair Holden so you will find yourself in the company of the city’s upper echelon.”

Keeping my hands hidden under the desk, I twisted the ring again. My personal life had been a hot topic at my former news station in Orlando thanks to the fact that Alastair’s company purchased our rival. But here? It was always on display no matter the circumstance. People were so curious about me and how I’d managed to tame Britain’s most eligible bachelor.

“Just so you know, Julian is ripe with questions for you. He’s been dying to have Alastair as a guest for ages. Tonight’s cocktail adventure could be his way of loosening you up.”

“He knows enough to back off when it comes to my relationship. Don’t worry about me.”

Once Robbie left my office I set to work. A couple of the correspondents stopped by to review their package scripts with me and discuss placement in the show. I’d managed to stack the first twenty minutes by lunchtime and ran the segments by Sam to get any needed feedback. So far, so good.

At one, I decided to take a break and grab something to eat. Plus, I had to call Stephanie and tell her the news. Even though we’d technically been engaged since July, Alastair and I had kept it between us. The summer had been such a stressful time for both of us that we decided to stay quiet until I was settled here and we were ready to let everybody else in on the secret.

I stopped myself mid-dial. My parents. I had to tell them first. And my sister. Lowering the phone back into the cradle I considered my options. It was early back home, barely past eight in the morning. My mother was probably having her third cup of coffee and debating whether or not to meet her circle of friends for a leisurely lunch. My dad was most certainly working. Even though he’d retired a few years ago he still did consulting work for the bank on the side.

I should do a video call. A small laugh escaped my lips. Trying to explain Skype to them would be nothing short of hilarious if I wanted to tell them face to face.

My dialing was interrupted a second time by a knock on my door.

“Sorry to bother you. These were just delivered.” Meredith walked in carrying a sizable bouquet of red roses.

“They’re lovely,” she said, placing them on the desk. “You’re quite lucky.”

Not saying anything further, she left. I searched for a card and found one nestled in with the baby’s breath.

If my calculations are correct, these will make you smile. Looking forward to tonight.

Yours, ARH xx

Oh no. Tonight. Dammit.

I grabbed the phone and dialed his office.

“Holden World Media.”

“Hi, Simone. It’s Lia. Is he busy?”

“Hold please.”

His assistant sounded miffed at my familiarity on the phone. Or maybe I was just being paranoid. I stroked the pretty petals while listening to some rather dire sounding hold music. They should probably play some of their own artists’ music instead of this, I thought, twisting the phone cord.

“Holden,” he answered, irritated.

“I’m not bothering you, am I?”

“Amelia.” The desirous way he said my name gave me an unexpected rush. “Not at all, kitten. Did you get my special delivery?”

“I did. They’re beautiful.” I paused. “Is everything okay? You sound stressed.”

Silence permeated through the phone before he answered. “Everything’s fine. I’m about to go sit with the finance team so you caught me just in time.” He lowered his voice. “Have you been doing as I asked all day?”

The phone nearly slipped out of my hand from the tremor of yearning that shot through my body. I composed myself before lowering the boom about tonight. “Um, so, I’ve been invited out for cocktails tonight with Julian. Well, invited is too kind. He sort of told me it was happening and where and when to meet him.”

“Did he?” he asked, clearly annoyed. “What time?”

“Eight. He said he has a table at Pulse already reserved so—”

“Will Garrison be there?”

I could hear the scowl in his tone.

“Not that I’m aware of. Do you want to come with me?”

“This wasn’t quite what I had in mind for us,” he muttered. “I should stay here later seeing as you’ll be out. Maybe I could stop by around nine?”

“If you’re not too tired. Julian likes to harass you into appearing on the show every time he sees you.”

“I’m never too tired for you. Plan on seeing me at nine then.”

* * *

The taxi arrived to pick me up at quarter to eight. I gave my hair one last fluff and checked my lip-gloss. I’d read a little bit about Pulse and my impression was that it was fairly swanky. I did another quick check in the hall mirror at my black sparkly tank dress and was off.

As the cabbie drove me through Glasgow’s West End, I soaked in the city. Old world charm weaved itself through modern flair. It was loud. It was quiet. It was bright. It was romantic. This was certainly a far cry from the brightly colored print shirts and never-ending flip-flops that defined tourist central, otherwise known as Orlando, and I loved every last bit of it.

Pulse was located inside a large stone building. It looked rather nondescript on the surface, more like an old bank than an ultra lounge. From what I’d heard, Pulse had become quite the hot spot since Brent opened it over the summer. I noted with pride a glossy advertisement by the entrance that Stephanie had designed. She’d certainly found her calling, and her passion, with graphic design work.

A rather large, intimidating looking bouncer walked over to me.

“Miss Meyers?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Follow me please. Mr. Archer is waiting inside.”

I pulled out my cell phone and checked the time as he led me inside the building. It was only five past eight. Apparently, I was late. When I looked up from the phone, I gasped. This place was incredible. Dimly lit in shades of blue, cream and lavender, the whole room gave off a cool, modern vibe. White leather couches shaped like trapezoids were chaotically organized throughout the space. Small, cube shaped chairs flanked dark wooden tables. I couldn’t help but stare at the ceiling as we weaved our way through the crowd. It was made entirely of lights that were fragmented into triangles but were perfectly positioned to look like a huge stained glass window all in white.

Every person I passed was better dressed than the last. I appreciated this being a high-end bar but found myself wishing it was a little less pretentious and a little more relaxed.

“Ah, Lia.” Julian stood up from the reserved table and kissed both my cheeks. “Gorgeous dress. Have a seat. What do you fancy for a drink?”

“Um,” I glanced at the drink menu, “I’ll have the Secret Crush please.”

He grinned at me slyly after giving our drink orders to the server. My brows lifted a bit as I smiled back, anticipating what could possibly come out of his mouth.

“Is there a specific reason why you negotiated your contract to last only three months, which incidentally, is the length of your temporary visa?”

My stomach dropped and I did that really attractive fish mouth thing where my lips parted but nothing came out.

“Well,” I started, finally finding my voice, “I wanted to see if this job was a good fit for me. For us. For the show.”

“I see.” His blue eyes narrowed slightly. “And if it is?”

“Then I suppose you’ll be stuck with me.” I smiled at the server as she placed our drinks on the table. Grabbing mine, I took a long sip of the raspberry flavored cocktail. The shrewd look Julian still aimed in my direction led me to believe he wasn’t satisfied with my response.

“I’ve had a revolving door of executive producers over the last four years. Creative differences, incompetence, laziness, you name it. You came highly touted not only from your station in America but also from Sam and Robbie. If I’d known they were going to agree to such a short contract I would never have let you in the building.”

This must be the bad side Robbie warned me about. I sank further into the plush cushion, nursing my drink and feeling more than a little bit guilty.

“Wait a second,” I said, snapping out of my funk. “You didn’t know that I’d only signed on for a few months?”

“No.”

“They told me you knew. They said you’d be okay with it.”

“Did they,” he grimaced. “Sneaky bastards.”

“I’m so confused.”

Julian downed his bourbon like a champion and leaned forward. “The two of them have been scheming behind my back for months. They kept Gemma on for much longer than was necessary just to watch me slowly implode. They want me out. There’s some younger, hot shot presenter from London making the rounds. His ratings are astronomical and the fine people at our parent company want to jump on the bandwagon. We’d be used as a satellite location for interviews and such but The Archer Hour would essentially go away.”

The alcoholic fruity goodness of my drink slipped down my throat way too easily. I stared at the bottom of the empty glass, ordering another one through telepathy. I should have known being offered a three month contract in a different country without any pushback was too good to be true. Clearly, I was part of Sam and Robbie’s master plan to watch it die a slow death.

Good thing I didn’t sell my car and kept the apartment in Orlando.

Another cocktail appeared on the table in front of me.

“Looked like you needed a refill.” Julian smiled and squeezed my knee with more affection than was necessary.

“Thanks.” I drank this one a little slower not wanting to give off the impression I was an uber lush. For some reason the drinks in Scotland tasted much better than the ones in Orlando.

“Sorry I laid all that out on you. You’ve been with us a month and I just assumed you were the savior I’d been waiting for. My job has meant everything to me and the thought of it being given to some little tit who’s nothing more than a glorified tabloid reporter pisses me off.”

I felt bad for the guy. I really did. If I’d learned anything from my former night team it was to always stay ten steps ahead of the next generation. That rang especially true for the on-air talent. I could practically hear Cynthia Steele’s strong, melodic voice in my head saying there was always someone younger with no morals waiting in the wings. I was fairly certain she’d been exaggerating about the no morals part but there had to be a grain of truth in there somewhere.

“Well, I’m not going to spend my time there going through the motions,” I asserted, taking another sip of my drink. “I’m working my ass off to make sure you have the best produced news magazine show in all of Great Britain. If Sam and Robbie don’t like it, tough shit.”

“Lia Meyers,” Julian said loudly. “You are amazing. If they do end up sacking me, you and I will start our own program.”

I laughed, enjoying the level of passion he exuded for his craft. Grabbing my drink-free hand, he squeezed it.

“We’re going to get on just fine, you and I. And by the way,” he paused, “nice ring. I had a feeling we’d be celebrating an engagement soon enough. If you can melt the notoriously frigid Alastair Holden, you can work magic with my television show.”

Shocked, I stiffened a little. I shouldn’t be surprised though. The ring was like a beacon.

“Not to worry. I won’t pester you to get an interview with him for me right now. I’m a bit of prat but I’m not that callous.”

CHAPTER THREE

“And then,” I said, perching on the edge of the desk in Alastair’s home office, “he called himself a prat and ordered another round of drinks.”

Alastair half-smiled, looking up from the computer screen. “Sounds like you two got along quite well.”

“We did. Most television personalities aren’t as horrid as they appear.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he responded dryly. “Sorry I wasn’t able to meet you there.”

Swinging my legs around so they draped over the arm of his chair, I grinned. “You’re forgiven, chief. This time.”

He sighed, running a hand along my left calf. I hadn’t changed yet and the fuzziness from all the fruity drinks I’d had suggested that I give him a strip tease in the middle of the room. I would have if he hadn’t been staring so intently at the open file on his desk.

“Hey,” I said, nudging him with my foot, “come to bed. It’s late.” I sensed he was stressed and bothered by his day at work but I knew better than to pry. He’d tell me when he was ready, if he wanted.

Silence spread through the room. I tried to see if I could get a read on what was going on in his head. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Hopping off the desk, I hitched up my dress and straddled him on the chair.

“Amelia.”

The strained way he said my name triggered an immediate response in me. I kissed him desperately, feeling him shudder in my embrace.

“Come with me,” I requested, skimming my lips over his.

I melted when he smiled.

“You like stealing my phrases.”

“What can I say? You’re quotable.”

Squeezing my waist gently, he laughed. The sound of it always filled me with such joy. Leaning his forehead to mine, he closed his eyes. Bit by bit, the protective shield locked into place. I ran my hands down his chest, disheartened to feel him stiffen beneath my touch.

“Sorry, love,” he said flatly. “I have to be in London for the rest of the week. I leave early tomorrow morning. Paxton will be here to make sure you get to and from work safely.”

I swallowed down my disappointment like it was a spoonful of salt. “Why do y—”

“My fucking uncle,” he snapped. “He’s trying to undermine my decisions regarding the music division. He set up an investor meeting behind my back and now I have to go talk everyone off a ledge.”

“What happened?”

Scrubbing his face with both hands he grimaced. “My grandfather is trying to convince me to dissolve the music end of the business and use the extra funds to launch a production company. I told him no and gave him my reasons but fucking Jason keeps,” he paused, scowling. “My uncle and I don’t see eye to eye on this and he’s constantly up my grandfather’s ass about it.”

Not really knowing what to say, I could only play with his hair in the hopes it would calm him down. He never talked about work and I never asked so I knew nothing of the intricacies involved with running a worldwide media empire.

“Well,” I said, “you’re the boss. Jason has to answer to you and your grandfather is retired so he really has no say, right?”

Alastair laughed bitterly. “If only it were that simple.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know—”

“My dad created the music division about a year before the accident,” he interrupted. “I was so young, I had no idea what it was but I do remember him being rather excited about it. He’d play records really loud on the weekends and my sister and I would dance around the living room. I think,” he paused, swallowing hard, “I think this was my dad’s dream. I think maybe he’d started it because he wanted to step out of my grandfather’s shadow. Jason was strictly the business minded one and yessed Samuel to death. My dad was the creative one.”

He looked up at me. “Since Jason and Katherine have no children, I’m the last one in line. If I fuck up the business, it dies along with all the hard work my dad put into it.”

“You’re not going to fuck up the business. You’re too smart to let that happen.”

His frosty exterior thawed. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

“No, you shouldn’t have. Watch those sore spots, chief.”

“Fair point.” He pulled me closer so our faces were inches apart.

I kissed him because I could and because that’s really all I’d been wanting to do since I returned home.

“Tell me to stay here with you.”

His quiet words ripped through me, shredding my soul into a thousand pieces. Oh, Alastair. I hugged him, marveling again at the tremors shaking his body. He never failed to surprise me with the strength of his affection.

“I love you so much, it hurts,” I whispered against his neck.

Gently breaking our embrace, he looked at me with clear, bright eyes. We didn’t have to say anything for us both to know what I’d meant. “Come with me to London. I don’t want to be away from you for one second.”

I smiled, completely aware of how easy it was for him to disarm me. “You know I can’t.”

“Then come down this weekend. I’ll have the plane ready and waiting for you after work on Friday. We’ll go stay at the May Fair and never leave the room” -he kissed me- “or I’ll send you to the spa and do whatever else you want.”

“Tempting,” I murmured, tracing my fingers along his jaw. “Why don’t we go to your cottage here instead?”

He frowned. “I may not be back for the weekend, Lia. I don’t want to leave you alone here.”

“I won’t be alone. I have Stephanie and Darren.”

“Maybe your sister would like to see you. She does live in London, you know.”

“Wow.” I laughed. “When did you turn into my mother?”

A sharp squeeze at my waist made me flinch. “I see your smart mouth also made the journey across the Atlantic.”

“It’s a package deal, Holden.”

Uncoiling a bit from his annoyance, Alastair kissed me firmly. “We could get married this weekend,” he said, playing with my hair. “Have a civil ceremony at Islington Town Hall. It would be just the two of us.”

The thought left me breathless. Every cell in my body, from my toes to the tips of my fingers, hummed with anticipation. Images of us exchanging vows and spending the entire weekend blissfully alone and entwined with each other filled my mind. It was perfect. It was…

“My family will kill me,” I blurted.

Alastair raised an eyebrow. “Not if I have anything to say about it. Besides, they’ll get over the shock. We’ll have a massive party back in the States. That’s why everyone has a wedding anyway, right? For the party.”

“But don’t we need, like, paperwork and licenses? And witnesses? We can’t just walk in and—”

He kissed me quiet and essentially halted all talk of eloping. “You really need to do something about this habit of overthinking.” The smile in his eyes and on his lips sealed the deal for me.

“Fine. You’re right.” I tugged on his tie. “Is there a reason why you’re still in CEO mode at home? I mean, the suits are hot and stuff but it’s well past quitting time.”

“There’s no rest for the wicked.” He smirked. “Would you rather I sat here naked?”

I slung my arms around his neck and grinned. “It would be an improvement.”

“Cheeky.” He felt his way down my body. “We do have some unfinished business to attend to, don’t we?”

Capitalizing on his softened mood and flirty playfulness, I nuzzled into his neck, kissing his warm skin and enjoying the low groans vibrating in his throat. “That depends.”

“On what?”

I loosened his tie and slid it off his neck. “Did you think about me all day?”

Yearning filled what little space there was between us as he knotted his fingers through my hair. We were so close our mouths nearly touched. “Trying to turn the tables on me, kitten? If I remember correctly, it was you who had all the thinking to do.”

The gentle but firm tug he gave my hair resonated deep within me. A little smile pulled at his mouth when I tried to move.

“I have you just where I want you, Lia. Tell me” -he nipped at my bottom lip- “every thought that crossed your mind.”

I’d have figured by this point in our relationship I’d be a little more immune to his level of seduction but I wasn’t and he knew it. If that satisfied grin on his face wasn’t so damn hot I’d have been able to form some sort of response. Leveling a dangerously sexy stare at me, he wet his lips.

“Are you going to tell me?”

“I’m going to show you,” I replied in a much lower, much more seductive tone than I normally used. Alastair’s grin grew larger but he wouldn’t loosen his grip on me.

“Fancy a shag on the desk, do you?” He pulled on my hair again. “I’d rather you come to my office building for that.” He sucked on my earlobe, making me squirm with pleasure. “I’ll spread you out on my big desk and have you for lunch. I do like the way you taste.”

An animalistic, guttural moan rushed out of my mouth so hard I clutched onto the back of the chair. I swear, his level of sexy should be illegal.

“Is my kitten enjoying herself?” he asked, keeping his mouth so close to my ear I could feel his lips brushing against it. I’d be lying if I said no. This more aggressive side of his had me firing on all cylinders.

Peeling my fingers off the chair, I ripped his shirt open. Blinded by the raging lust that overpowered me, I couldn’t move my hands fast enough to undo his belt. If I didn’t have mind-blowing sex with him right now, I’d go insane.

I stood up and yanked my dress over my head, dropping it to the floor in an unceremonious heap. Pushing himself off the chair like a predator about to strike, he pulled me against his body.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” I said, grabbing at the waistband of his pants.

I was a split second away from shoving him back onto the chair so I could mount him when I was halted by the detached way he looked at me.

“What is it?” I asked.

Shaking his head, he lifted my left hand and turned it towards the light so the diamond and emeralds sparkled. Immense sadness seized his beautiful face for the briefest of seconds but it was enough to deflate my mood.

“This was my mum’s ring,” he said in hushed tone. “It’s been sitting in a box at the house in Ascot for years. My aunt told me it was mine to give to the girl I wanted to marry.”

Oh my God…NOW he wants to get all emotional?

“She would have liked you.”

Partly controlled by my ravenous libido and partly by my fierce love for him, I lunged forward, knocking him back onto the chair and climbed on his lap. Holding both sides of his face, I covered him in kisses before hugging him tight. I knew how difficult it was for him to talk about his parents. Running my knuckles down his cheek, I tried to compose myself. I think he sensed I was having a problem with that and smirked.

“Did I interrupt your saucy ways by being too soppy?”

“Yes.”

He arched an eyebrow.

“Shit. I mean…you didn’t but…” I was so wired and flustered that nothing was coming out right. “You just have me so turned on and I’m a little buzzed and then you drop that on me out of the blue and it…what you said is so sweet and romantic and I just…I’m so focused on wanting to…to fuck your brains out that—”

“You thought it was sweet and romantic?”

“I…yeah. Who wouldn’t? It’s your mom’s ring. And coming from you that means a lot to me.”

“Does it?”

“Of course, Alastair. But you could have given me a plastic ring from a toy dispenser at a bowling alley and I would have loved it all the same because it’s from you.”

He looked thoughtful. “So I’ve finally conquered being cheesy, then?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “For now, Mr. No-Relationships-Non-Dater.”

“You,” he grabbed my waist and squeezed, “are asking for trouble.”

“No. You are. I was all ready to—”

“Fuck my brains out?” The dominant spark returned to his eyes, which drove me wild.

“If you keep interrupting me, then no.”

He squeezed my waist harder, making me jump. “I’m going to keep you up all night, kitten.”

“You don’t have an off switch, do you?”

“Not when it comes to you.” Running the pad of his thumb along my mouth, he remained quiet for several seconds. The same sadness that ghosted across his face before returned.

“Hey,” I said. “What’s going on in there?”

My pulse revved up as he caressed my cheek. A suffocating aura of want enveloped us. Hovering his lips above mine he said, “I love you.”

The vulnerable edge to his tone hit me hard. Hearing him say those words to me was a rare occasion. Sure, he showed me in so many ways all the time but hearing it? I never thought three little words could light up my entire being the way they did coming from him.

Without saying a word, I stood up and led him to the bedroom where I peeled off the rest of his clothes. He finished undressing me, brushing his fingers over every inch of my hyper-sensitive flesh before pulling me down on the mattress.

We remained tangled together in comfortable silence for awhile. I thought maybe he’d nod off seeing as I kept running my fingers through his hair and his breathing had become deep and heavy.

I knew on some level he was still struggling with finding a balance between trusting his emotions and keeping them protected. Shifting slightly on the bed, he inadvertently flexed his hips into mine kicking my heart rate up to a frantic pace. I heard a small moan vibrate in his throat. We were breathing in unison now. When he opened his eyes I inhaled sharply. Gone was the sadness. It was replaced by a craving so powerful I could feel it cloaking my body.

“All night, Lia,” he growled, rolling on top of me, the muscles in his face taut with lust and want.

At the rate we were going, we’d never sleep another full night for the rest of our lives. Not that I particularly cared. Feeling him inside me and knowing all of his love and attention was focused only on me was intoxicating. So were his soft moans and the unfiltered way he looked at me as we possessed one another, grabbing, caressing and claiming.

We were so connected now, so completely whole as a couple that we were unbreakable.

* * *

The next morning we showered together and spent our time talking, laughing and enjoying one another’s company. I loved watching Alastair when he was carefree and smiling. The way he carried himself with such quiet control always hit all my hot buttons but seeing him relaxed and sated made him even more beautiful.

I rode with my handsome Englishman to the airport and hugged him with all my might on the tarmac before he boarded the plane. For a brief moment, I considered ditching work and flying to London with him. The steely, all-business look in his eyes was the only thing that had stopped me. Dressed in a dark blue double breasted suit, Alastair had morphed from insatiable lover into CEO-mode on the ride over. It was sexy as hell but I knew better than to poke the bear.

Grabbing me and kissing me briskly, he promised to be back by Friday evening.

When I arrived at my office I was in a great mood and felt indestructible. Noticing a small silver envelope on my desk, I sat down and opened it. Inside was a rather expensive looking invitation. I hadn’t lived here long enough to be invited to anything so my curiosity was well and truly piqued.

You are cordially invited to a Bridal Shower

honouring Olivia Garrison

Saturday, 17 September 2011

I stopped reading and dropped the fancy piece of paper like it was on fire. All the blood in my body had run cold. The girl who nearly turned Alastair’s carefully controlled world upside down wanted to socialize with me? At her bridal shower? This had to be someone’s idea of a sick joke. What the actual fuck?

CHAPTER FOUR

I didn’t have a chance to dwell on the invitation thanks to Julian’s demands and Robbie’s constant interruptions. Wednesday went from awesome to annoying no less than twenty minutes after I sat at my desk. When I finally had two seconds to myself I called Stephanie.

“What are you doing for lunch?”

“Spending it with Brent Garrison,” she said. “He loved my work for Pulse so much he wants my help on a campaign for a new residential complex he’s preparing to open. Why? Did you need something? Is everything alright?”

I leaned back in my chair and added this to the list of things that had officially annoyed me today.

“Everything’s fine.”

“No it’s not. You forget that I can see through your bullshit even on the phone. What’s going on?”

I glared at the silver envelope. “I’ve been invited to a bridal shower.”

“Really? Who do you know here that’s getting married?”

“Brent’s sister.”

Stephanie was quiet for a full five seconds, a record for her. “Interesting. Want me to do some digging when I see him for lunch? I can be discreet.”

I snorted. “Sure.”

“Lia! How long have you known me? I have a way with getting information from unsuspecting people. Besides, Brent will think I’m flirting with him. He loves that.”

“Does he?”

“Yeah. I’ll tell you all about it later.” She paused. “Darren doesn’t have any lunch plans. I’ll tell him to meet you in the lobby in twenty.”

* * *

I’d barely walked out of the elevator when Darren hugged me and spun me in a quick circle before we walked outside. He might have been Stephanie’s friend since they were teenagers but I adored him as if I’d known him for years and years. His sunny disposition always put a smile on my face.

The cafe wasn’t too far from our building. Timid rays of autumn sunshine poked their way through some clouds, then had second thoughts and were eventually swallowed up.

“I hear this place has one hell of a mozzarella and tomato panini,” Darren said, holding the door open.

The cafe was so warm and cozy I thought we’d mistakenly walked into someone’s home. Several patrons were ordering at the mahogany counter while others were chatting at various tables spread throughout the dining area. The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air. Darren motioned for me to grab a table and offered to place our orders. I found a table by the dark brown brick wall and people watched.

“So,” Darren said, placing our sandwiches down, “how’s everything at the new job? Is Archer on your nerves yet?”

I chuckled to myself. “Not yet. Ask me again next week.”

“Steph says you went for cocktails with him last night. You should have thrown a drink in his face.” The sour expression Darren employed shocked me. I’d never heard him talk so negatively about someone.

“Alright. Spill it MacCourty. What did he do aside from being an overzealous, loud mouth TV guy?”

“My ex-girlfriend used to work for him as an associate producer. He likes to get friendly with the ladies on his staff. A little touching here, a little bum slap there. She didn’t like it and when she called him out on it, he fired her. The twat.” He took a large bite out of his sandwich and stewed in the anger of his distant memory.

I was shocked but not overly surprised to hear this. Julian did like the hands-on approach when he talked to me. I didn’t think much of it because it never went further than a shoulder squeeze but I made a mental note to keep an eye on him.

“Sorry that happened to her,” I said, sympathizing. “What does she do now?”

“She moved to France and works on some detective show there. I haven’t talked to her in a couple years but she was really turned off by Archer. That guy is a massive knob. I’d—” He stopped and stared at my left hand.

I held the sandwich in front of my wide open mouth and stared back at him. We both must have looked like mental patients.

“You are engaged,” he said with a smile. “That’s brilliant, Lia. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” I put my sandwich down and showed off the ring. “He gave this to me the other night but we haven’t said anything publicly yet. Well, he actually asked me to marry him in July when you guys were in Orlando but we’ve kept it quiet.”

“July? How have you both managed to keep it quiet?”

“Well, you know Alastair. He’s a man of few words.”

“True that. But if I scored a looker like you I’d shout it from the mountain tops.”

I laughed. “It hasn’t been easy not saying anything, trust me. We both decided after the summer we’d had that we just wanted to have something for ourselves.”

Darren studied me with astute eyes. “The press over here is going to love you. You’re pretty, smart and loads of fun to be around. They’re so fascinated with Alastair and every little move he makes. He dodges them pretty well though, only giving his requisite face time and then disappearing from sight.”

That had been Alastair’s M. O. for years. He lived as private a life as one could, being the heir to a billion dollar mega corporation. When his grandfather retired and he was named CEO over the summer, the spotlight shined a little brighter on him. As his girlfriend, that also meant some of the light focused on me. I was used to it to some degree thanks to my previous relationship with a U.S. senator’s son. I had a feeling this time around, the media attention would be more intense.

“There haven’t been too many issues yet, knock on wood,” I said. “Only an occasional photographer here and there. Having Paxton with me most of the time seems to help. I’m such a nobody anyway. They probably look at me as just another piece of eye candy for him.”

“Once the news of your engagement gets out you won’t be a nobody.” Darren looked at me solemnly. “The gossip sites are already feasting on your taste in shoes and how you like to wear workout clothes while buying groceries.”

The more I listened to Darren, the more uncomfortable I became. I’d had a sneaking suspicion the handful of photographers I’d seen were only hounding me for fluff pieces like that. For the most part, it didn’t bother me but I knew it was only the tip of the iceberg. Alastair and I hadn’t discussed how our lives would be affected by public scrutiny too much. He just made sure I was always under the watchful eye of Paxton or someone from his security staff. He also knew how much I disliked having babysitters and made sure they were inconspicuous. Most days I was oblivious to the bodyguard detail.

“Our boy is quite protective of you. We both know the lengths he’ll go to keep you safe.”

I swallowed another bite of my sandwich and nodded. If there was one thing everyone knew about Alastair, it was how close he kept me to his vest.

“Anyway,” Darren said, brightening the room with his infectious smile, “Steph will go ballistic if you don’t tell her about this engagement straight away.” He winked and took another bite of his sandwich.

“I know. I was going to tell her today but she’s off with Brent Garrison.”

“She’s been seeing quite a bit of him recently.” The look on his face spoke a million words after he said that. “Damn. I wasn’t supposed to say anything. She’ll kill me if you tell her I told you.”

I’d made it no secret that Brent wasn’t one of my favorite people on the planet. He’d never been mean or horrible towards me but his history with Alastair was so salty and tense that I’d made a conscious decision not to bother with him unless it was necessary. Hearing that my best friend might be dating him threw a wrench in that.

“Like, ‘seeing’ him seeing him? Or just business lunches?”

“It started as business but they’ve been hanging out on the weekends and what not. I’m surprised she hasn’t told you yet.”

You and me both.

“He seems like a decent guy,” Darren said, clearly trying to play the peacemaker. “I’ve done some work for him in the past and got on with him quite well. Alastair knows him from years ago.” He paused and smiled sheepishly. “That’s not news to you though. They went to university together at Oxford.”

I stopped mid chew. “They did? I didn’t know that.”

“No? Brent was a year ahead of him. They played rugby together and were pretty friendly until something happened.” He shrugged. “I always assumed Brent was jealous of Alastair’s social ranking what with the family business and all. He seemed quite determined to make a success out of his real estate venture to steal some of the thunder from the Holden clan. Not sure why though, since they do media and what not. Seemed a bit odd to me.”

I kept eating my sandwich in the most nonchalant way possible as Darren continued spilling details about Brent. Nothing about it was earth shattering, just interesting enough to fill some of the holes that Alastair left out. I felt better having a clearer picture of their past interactions outside the sphere of Alastair’s relationship with Olivia.

“Your fiancé is a frosty one to try and be friends with Lia. And I say that with no disrespect. Whatever happened between him and Brent must have been huge because they were like brothers at university. At least that’s what I hear.”

The fact that Darren loved to gossip could work in my favor. My curiosity was insatiable and anytime I learned a new nugget about Alastair it left me craving more. For the time being, I chose to stifle the questions and just enjoy the rest of our lunch.

“You have exactly twenty-four hours to tell your best friend about that ring, lass,” he said on our walk back to the building. “I can’t keep a secret like that from Steph forever. We live together. She’s up my arse all the time wanting to know if Alastair has told me anything. I’m surprised I haven’t gone mad yet from all her pestering.”

I laughed heartily as we walked into the elevator. “You’re a saint, Darren.”

“True that.” He winked and gave me a little wave when we reached his floor.

Even though my dealings with Brent had always been a little stressful, I decided to have a little fun at Stephanie’s expense and texted her when I returned to my office.

1:43pm How big is it?

1:47pm ??????????

1:48pm Brent’s wonder stick

My desk phone rang within seconds.

“Yes?”

“Amelia Grace Meyers,” she hissed, “you’re not funny.”

“Sorry.” I laughed. “I couldn’t help myself. What are you doing after work?”

“Finding a new roommate.”

I laughed even harder. “Aw, don’t be mad at Darren. You know he can’t stay quiet about big news like that forever.”

“There is no big news. We’ve hung out and stuff. It’s really nothing.”

“Alright. Whatever you say.”

“Lia,” she whined, “he’s not even my type. He’s too buttoned up and proper. I like ’em carefree and wild.”

“You’re protesting too much.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “We had dinner a couple of times. That’s it.”

I tapped a pen on my desk, wanting to be judicious with my words. “Listen, um. Just, you know, be—”

“I know,” she snapped. “You hate him and Alastair hates him so I have to hate him too.”

“That’s not what I was going to say. I just…I know how you are when people say negative things about—”

“Oh my God,” she grumbled. “Do you really think we sit around and talk about Alastair like he’s some fascinating subject? Jesus Christ. He’s your boyfriend. He has a bad history with Brent and his sister. I could give three flying shits about all that because it’s really none of my business. You need to stop convincing yourself that your relationship with Alastair fucking Holden is the end all, be all of the world.”

I sat in stunned silence, confused as to how this conversation took such a sour turn. When she was heated, Stephanie could be irrational.

“Fuck,” she muttered. “Look, I didn’t mean to fly off the handle like that. I’m PMS-ing and this deadline for creative is stressing me out and” —she sighed— “you know I love Alastair. And I love you. And you’re far from being the girl who thinks their relationship is the most important thing on the planet to everyone else. Did I cover them all?”

“I’m coming down to bring you Pamprin.”

“Smart ass. I’d rather have ice cream.” She paused. “I really am sorry.”

“Wow.” I snickered. “You hate apologizing so that PMS must be severe.”

”And yet you continue to test my limits, Amelia Grace,” she said. I could hear the smile in her voice. “We should get together this weekend and do something fun. Maybe we could take the train into Edinburgh for some lunch.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Fantastic. I gotta run. We’ll talk later.”

Shaking my head at Stephanie, I placed the phone in its cradle and emailed my sister to give her a quick update on how I was doing. I also promised to come visit her soon. I flirted with the idea of calling my mom but decided to wait until this weekend. She’d most likely want a detailed report on how everything was going here and wouldn’t take too kindly to being ushered off the phone after a brief conversation.

Eyeing the silver envelope again, I finished reading the invitation for Olivia’s bridal shower. The Hotel du Vin? I did a quick search online and learned it was a luxury boutique hotel in the West End. It looked quite lovely from the photos.

Maybe I should go.

I exorcized the thought from my mind before it had a chance to fester and grow. The last thing I wanted was to spend time with that girl.

* * *

Steady rain tapped against the windows, its delicate rhythmic dance relaxing me as I walked into the living room. Being alone in this big house put me on edge a little but only because I was still getting used to its size and some of the weird noises it made late at night. I decided against watching TV and chose to be nosey. Seeing as Alastair kept decorations to a bare minimum, there wasn’t much to see. Yes, the earth tones that drenched the room were gorgeous and luxurious but aside from the framed photos I’d put out the other night there wasn’t much here that screamed him.

I ran my fingers along a gold key that sat in a small crystal dish on one of the shelves while looking at some of his books. They were mostly reference books about various financial topics. Almost lost among them was a book that appeared to have no title on its spine.

“What’s this,” I mused, pulling it off the shelf. The soft, dark leather was old and worn, so I assumed it had to be a favorite novel of his or something. Opening it, I discovered it was an old diary. I saw the name Rose Taylor Holden handwritten in the front. Though small, I felt its weight in my hands after seeing his mother’s name. I scanned the shelf again, hoping to find another hidden treasure. One by one, they made themselves known; a tattered children’s book, an old photography manual, a comic book about someone named Moven Marvin.

The closer I looked, the more I could see that he did keep pieces of himself in this house. He just kept them hidden and protected, like he did with everything else.

A surge of love flowed through me as I returned the books to their proper places. What I first assumed to be nondescript decorations must have belonged to his parents. Every little figurine or bookend or delicate vase must be something from his childhood home.

His well-versed ability to show the world only what he wanted them to see extended to the privacy of his own house but was so subtle it went unnoticed. I trotted off to the bedroom and grabbed my phone.

10:49pm I miss you

11:02pm The plane is fueled and ready. Fly here now

11:03pm Wish I could

11:07pm You can. I’ll handle Archer

11:10pm Next time, Holden. You’re busy with work anyway. I’d be bored

11:11pm Not if I can help it

11:14pm Now you’re just teasing me

11:16pm Are you in bed?

11:18pm Yep

11:21pm Dream of me x

Curling up on the mattress, I hugged his pillow tight and smiled.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Why didn’t you call me as soon as it happened?” Stephanie shrieked, staring at my hand. The handful of people standing to our left on the sidewalk gave her a dirty look. She didn’t care one bit and carried on. “Jesus Christ, it’s Friday. You’ve known all week and didn’t say anything. I mean, what’s the point of being your official-best-friend-unofficial-big-sister if you don’t tell me the important things?”

Shivering, she pulled the jacket around her body tighter and shook her head. Her jet black hair had grown even longer, nipping at her shoulders like a swath of sultry, dark silk.

I gazed at the diamond, not bothered by her dramatics. “I’m telling you now. Before telling my actual flesh and blood sister and before telling my parents.”

“But you told Darren?”

“Hey, I called to see if you were free for lunch and you sent him in your place. Don’t blame me.”

She started to say something then stopped, knowing full well I was right. I smirked.

“Darren is so dead,” she muttered. “Did you set a date?”

“No.”

She flailed her arms. “Why not? We need to start planning this wedding immediately.”

I didn’t have the heart to quell her excitement…yet. She rummaged through her purse while spouting off all sorts of suggestions for a venue, a dress, a DJ, honeymoon destinations and photographers. When she ventured into the realm of having two weddings in two countries I had to put a stop to the insanity.

“I have an idea,” I interrupted her, putting my hands up. “How about Alastair and I enjoy being engaged for awhile before I scare the crap out of him with your cyclone of ideas and suggestions?”

“You’ve been engaged since July. How much longer do you need to enjoy it?”

“Steph.” I gave her a stern look.

“Fine.” She folded her arms. “But I’m throwing you an engagement party and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” Her eyes widened. “Your birthday is next week. Two parties!”

“Oh my God,” I snorted. “You’re out of control.”

She threw her head back in an exaggerated sigh and followed me toward the cafe to grab some coffee. Before I reached the door half a dozen guys holding cameras jumped up from one of the small tables out front and blocked my path. They all started snapping photos and talking at once.

“Let’s see the ring,” one shouted.

“When’s the wedding?”

“Are you pregnant?” another one yelled in my face.

Frozen with shock, I stared at them.

“Hey, leave her alone douche nozzle.” I heard Stephanie’s voice from behind me, then felt her grab my arm and yank me into the cafe. “Don’t those ass hats have any concept of personal space?”

Some of the people inside the cafe pointed and mumbled God knows what to each other. I shoved my left hand into my coat pocket. So this is how it starts.

A hard knock on the window startled me, rattling my now frayed nerves. I turned and saw yet another photographer snap pictures through the glass. When he finished, he smiled and walked off. Every eye in the cafe was now on me.

“Show’s over people,” Stephanie said, glaring at some woman in a brown pantsuit. “Don’t you all have jobs to get to or something?”

I heard a few people mutter and was relieved to see them all returning to their morning routines.

Stephanie, the gem that she was in situations like this, diverted my attention from the paparazzi by filling me in on her job. Not only had her campaign designs for Pulse been a huge hit, she’d also been tapped to design the ads for a new perfume and a new clothing boutique. She practically glowed telling me all about it.

“Cassie told me if I keep going at this pace I’ll have her job in six months.”

I laughed. “Try to remember us little people when you’re skyrocketing to the top.”

“Stop it. What about you? How’s everything at the show?”

“So far, so good. Julian’s a trip.” I tapped my nails on the counter. “I think he’s paranoid though. He seems to believe Sam and Robbie are out to replace him with some guy from London. I can’t see why he would think that. Sam is very focused on improving the show and Robbie is one of the most talented producers I’ve come across.”

“Paranoia runs deep with those on-air people. You know how I feel about their constant neediness and always having to be reassured that they’re the best and nobody else compares and blah, blah, blah. I’ve said it before. You’re a saint to put up with that crap day in and day out. I’m surprised you don’t keep a bottle of wine at your desk just in case.”

“Maybe I should.”

“So, do you think you’ll stay there once your contract is up? I mean, you were pretty adamant about only wanting it to be for three months but that seems a little weird to me. You can’t not work. You’ll go insane from the boredom.” She paid for the coffee and we walked back out onto the sidewalk.

I did a quick scan of my surroundings to make sure no other photographers jumped out at me. A few people still stared a little too long.

“I don’t know. I like doing the whole television thing but I’m starting to get burned out, you know? I never thought I’d be doing this for as long as I have.”

“Six years isn’t that long.”

“Oh no? Working in TV news can be soul sucking, trust me.”

“What else do you want to do?”

“I haven’t a clue.” I shrugged.

“What does Alastair have to say about that? He did make you move here and take that job.”

I stopped short and gave her a look. “First of all, he didn’t make me move here. I wanted to. Second, I took the job because I thought it would be a great stepping stone for my career.”

“Okay, okay. PMS.” She put her hands up in retreat. “I suppose it’s convenient that he has dual citizenship if he wants to relocate and work out of the New York office though, right?”

“I don’t know if he’ll do that. It’s not really something we’ve ever talked about.”

“Keep the option open,” she said, pushing through the revolving doors. “What are you doing tonight? Come over and hang out until Alastair gets back from London. I’ll be home alone.”

“Um, sure. I don’t know what time he’s coming back though.” Or if he is.

“Then leave him a love note and tell him you’re at my place, naked and tied up on the couch.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “So you either want him to think he’s walking into an orgy or I’ve been kidnapped?”

Stephanie laughed good and loud as we waltzed through the lobby toward the elevators. “I suppose I should have worded that better. What time do you go off the air again?”

“Six. Unless I royally screw up and they throw up bars and tone in the first segment.”

“You’ll be amazing,” she smiled. “Come by the townhouse whenever. I’ll order Chinese.”

More magical words had never been spoken. I could already picture myself diving into a carton of egg rolls and shrimp lo mein. At some point I should really get back into my jogging routine. To say I’d been lazy since moving here was an understatement. Then again, I’ve more than made up for the lack of jogging with bedroom activities.

“I’ll be there with bells on,” I said as the doors swished open.

“Fabulous. Oh, and call your mother,” she yelled over her shoulder walking out of the elevator.

* * *

“Lia.” Meredith burst through the door breathless and flushed. “Julian is on his way. He wants more time for the interview.”

“We’re stacked pretty heavy,” I smiled, amused at her blatant fear of the man. If she wanted a career in television she’d have to shore up her intimidation factor and face these people with more confidence. “Tell him no.”

She paled and ran out. Seconds later Julian strolled in.

“Lia,” he smiled. “Love, I need an extra five minutes.”

“Five?” He must be drunk.

“Yes, five. We only have three in the segment. It was originally longer and I don’t see any scenario that will enable me to accomplish my interview in a responsible, informative manner that doesn’t include an additional five minutes.”

“So, you want to subject the viewing public to eight minutes of you and Brent Garrison?” I rolled my eyes. “No offense but neither one of you are that interesting. Besides, he’s only here to promote himself and his real estate accomplishments.”

“I’ve already looked at the next segment. There are stories in there you can bump or kill or whatever,” he said, ignoring my remarks. To humor him, I scrolled through the rundown as he continued to butter me up with flowery language and pearly white smiles. He even worked in a brief shoulder massage. There were a couple of stories I could shuffle and one I could bump to next week. I managed to finagle them without destroying the program’s flow.

“I can give you an extra two but that’s it. Don’t waste the time.”

Julian grinned triumphantly. “You’re an angel.” He rubbed his hands together and left with just as much zeal as when he entered. Leaning back in my chair, I sighed. Meredith appeared at my door, looking unsure of herself.

“Come on in,” I grinned.

“You handle him so well. I wouldn’t know what to say because he’s always talking so fast and moving from one topic to another.”

“He’s all bluster. I’ve learned over the years to let them spout off whatever they feel is so important to say and then tell them what’s actually going to happen. Being straightforward and firm with them will get you far. It all comes with time.”

Meredith flopped onto the chair in front of my desk. Conservatively dressed in a tan pencil skirt and dark blue blouse, she looked the part of a hopeful network employee; her dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, stylish glasses rested on her nose and her gorgeous mocha complexion glowed. She didn’t wear much make up, just a little gloss on her lips and a touch of mascara to bring out her round, dark brown eyes. She was unassumingly pretty with a shy, quiet way about her.

“Did the files I dropped off on Monday help with preparing for Mr. Garrison’s interview?”

“Absolutely. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, good. I’ve done some additional research on him if you need to fill the extra time Julian requested.”

“I’m think I’m all set, unless there’s something else about him I need to know.”

“Well,” she looked down, “he’s gorgeous.” The blush that stained her cheeks was vibrant.

“I meant anything professionally.”

Laughing nervously, she fidgeted with her skirt. “He’s very charming, intelligent, direct and to the point.” She thought for a second. “He rarely does interviews like this. I suspect that’s why Julian is so excited.”

In all of my encounters with Brent he’d seemed quite outgoing and not opposed to being the center of attention. Or maybe that was just when Alastair was around and he felt the urge to needle him whenever possible.

“You’re exactly his type, you know,” she continued. “He’s only thirty-two and you’re what, twenty-seven? He’ll probably ask you out.”

“I’m actually in a serious relationship,” I said, twisting my ring.

“I’m sorry. That’s right. You’re engaged to Alastair Holden.” Her blush deepened. “I shouldn’t be talking about this at work anyway.”

* * *

‘Hurry up and wait’ should be painted in large letters on walls in every single newsroom and television studio in the world. Sure, the hectic times were insane but for the most part, we waited. We still had about an hour and a half before going live so I decided to see what Julian was up to. He was relaxing and reading through scripts when I popped into his office for a brief meeting.

“You are becoming the toast of the town,” he announced, swiveling his monitor so I could see the photos of me from the coffee shop that had been posted online. One caption in particular made me cringe: HOLDEN’S AMERICAN ARM CANDY WINS THE DIAMOND

“Everyone wants to know about you. These idiots don’t know how to handle a story of this magnitude. I say we do an exclusive with you next week—d”

“Stop right there,” I interrupted. “Hell will freeze over before I say one word to the media about my relationship. It’s not for sale and it’s not a story. People will get bored with me soon enough when they realize—”

“They will never tire of Alastair Holden. Don’t you understand? He’s the golden child of a billion dollar media empire who also happens to have one of the most tragic back stories I’ve ever heard. People are fascinated by him. They can’t get enough of him because he’s so goddam private. You’re their window into his life. Just think of the—s”

I stormed out before he could finish. What an ass. I expected photographers to jump out at me and strangers to stare but not my own co-workers. Fuming, I locked myself in my office. A silver piece of paper caught my attention. The invitation.

Grabbing it, I glared at Olivia’s name. To think I had to fake pleasantries with her brother in a little while gave me a headache. I could handle it though. I’d been in worse situations.

After my mood cooled off, I spent the final thirty minutes before the show went on the air in the control room. It was the heart and soul of any working station. Monitors covered an entire wall, all of them glowing with moving images. A massive board of lights and levers blinked, waiting for the technical director to give them a press or a pull. Of course, a giant digital clock ominously ticked the minutes away as a reminder for me and everyone else to remain on time. I found my seat, said my hellos and plugged in my headset to listen to the pre-show chatter between the director and his crew.

Once the opening music sounded and the final countdown given, I was in full-on producer mode. Robbie sat to my left, diligently working.

During a pre-packaged piece toward our final segment, I noticed the floor director motion for someone to walk on set. I watched curiously as Brent moved into view. I hadn’t seen him since our unexpected meeting at dinner in New York. Tall, broad shouldered and, yes, handsome, he made his way to the chair. Piercing, hazel eyes darted around the set as he waited to get mic’d up. Wavy chocolate brown hair framed his angular face. There was no hard edge to him, no hidden agenda, just a powerful energy that radiated off him.

“Thank you for coming in today, Mr. Garrison. I appreciate it,” Julian greeted him with a smile.

“My pleasure. I hope I can enlighten your audience.”

Hearing his rich Scottish accent come through my headset caught me off guard. I’d only ever talked to him at a normal, human distance. This seemed a little too intimate for a guy who despised my fiancé. Shaking off the weird feeling, I glanced at the clock. The show was coming back live in one minute and I needed to focus.

“Okay, Julian. We’re coming up on you cold in sixty. You have three minutes, then toss to the package.”

“Thanks, Lia. Oh, be sure either you or Robbie get in my ear when we’re thirty away. I don’t want our guest to be cut off mid thought.”

“Will do.”

Robbie nodded in my direction to signal he’d take care of the timing.

“That was Steve Berman reporting. We’re pleased to be joined now by Brent Garrison, owner and CEO at Summit Enterprises. Good evening, Mr. Garrison. Thanks for being here.”

“Mr. Archer.” He nodded politely.

The two men chatted about the changing climate in the real estate industry and how it was affecting jobs in the city.

“Have any of your properties suffered due to the sluggish economy?”

“Not at all,” Brent answered. “Fortunately, people still enjoy going out on occasion even though they’ve tightened their belts, so to speak. I look forward to opening a few more establishments in the coming year. New businesses mean more jobs.”

I sort of zoned out a little during their interview. Finances, business plans and all that weren’t my cup of tea. When Julian tossed to the package on job growth in Glasgow and throughout Scotland I made a mental note that we’d be off the air in less than ten minutes.

“Lia,” Julian’s voice floated through my headset.

“Yes?”

“How much longer is this?”

“One-thirty.”

“How does it look from in there?”

“Fantastic. You’re doing a great job. Although…”

“What? Although what?”

“Your tie is crooked.”

“Bloody hell,” he grumbled. “Jim, punch me up on two.”

Julian preened and fixed his tie while staring into the monitor mounted beneath camera two. Robbie cued him at ten seconds for the remainder of his interview.

“You founded Summit at such a young age and broke out onto the business scene rather quickly. To what do you credit your success?”

“Success is subjective. I look at where am I now and think there’s always room for improvement. But I do credit the success I’ve had so far to my dedicated team at Summit and to the support of my family.”

“You’re constantly listed with other notable young businessmen in Great Britain, including Alastair Holden. Obviously your background is quite different from his but do you see his success as something you’d like to emulate?”

I sat immobile, clutching a pen. That question wasn’t listed on our sheet of talking points. Sneaky bastard.

Brent smiled slightly. “As you said, our backgrounds are quite different. I wasn’t born into an established, worldwide conglomerate but I can certainly appreciate how he’s contributed to the ever-changing atmosphere of the media industry.”

“Tragic childhood aside, he’s had it pretty easy when it comes to his career. Do you see your success as more satisfying because you weren’t handed a company like he was?”

It took every ounce of my strength not to leap out of the chair and run into the studio. Livid was too weak of a word to describe what I was. This is what he wanted the extra time for? Ass.

“Now Julian, we all work hard at what we do,” Brent answered smoothly. “Nobody’s success is more satisfying than another’s. Alastair Holden is a smart and savvy businessman. Being handed a company or building one from the ground up has no bearing on whether or not one’s success is more deserved.”

Breathing out slowly I was thankful and more than a little shocked at Brent’s diplomatic answer. When the interview concluded and the show went off the air at six, I relaxed.

“Great show, Lia,” Robbie said, patting me on the shoulder. “I could tell you were caught off guard by those last couple of questions. Not many people would have handled that with such grace.”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” I muttered, rising to my feet. Visions of Julian being catapulted toward the sun put an extra spring in my step as I walked into the studio. Brent stood just to the left of the desk, waiting patiently to have his lavalier mic removed. A broad smile curved his mouth.

“Hello, Lia.”

“Hi, Brent.”

“I heard you’d started working here. How’s it going so far?”

“Fine.” I plastered on a fake smile. “Thanks for coming in for the interview. You did a great job.”

He shrugged, fixing his suit jacket once the mic was removed. “Interviews are generally boring. I could recite all that in my sleep.” He angled toward me. “Those last questions were Archer’s way of goading me. Regardless of my history with your boyfriend, I hope you know I’d never embarrass him or myself like that in the press.”

His admission came as a surprise. Nodding, I thanked him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to me.

“If you ever get tired of Julian, give me a call. I’m always looking to add good talent to my media relations team.”

I took the card and stuck it in my notebook. Standing here chatting with him like it was no big deal felt weird.

“I’m having a few people over to my place tonight. You and Alastair should come. I’ve already invited some of the staff at Finley’s, so your friend Stephanie will be there. Nice seeing you, Lia.”

More than a little suspicious at his invitation, I thanked him again. Tonight? Stephanie didn’t say anything about this earlier. I decided to text her after I dealt with Archer. He was still at the anchor desk, writing intently and ignoring my presence. Laying my hand on the paper, I blocked his furious scribbling. He looked at me with a noticeable level of dread.

“If you ever pull a stunt like that again without telling me, I will sound a foghorn into your IFB. Are we clear?”

The right corner of his mouth ticked up. “It wasn’t intentional. Lots of people have thought the same thing.”

“Leave Alastair out of your on-air curiosities unless he’s sitting in front of you. And even then, keep your mouth shut.”

“You are fiery,” he assessed, leaning toward me. “And protective. That’s admirable.”

“You’re on my shit list. That’s not.”

Turning on my heel, I stalked back to my office.

CHAPTER SIX

“Finally.”

I whipped around, startled by the voice and let the door slam behind me. I swear my heart skipped at least twenty beats. Leaning against the desk smiling, hands tucked in his pants pockets, was Alastair. The casual stance did not fool me at all. He leaned against that desk like he fucking owned it. The site of him knocked me for a loop.

“What the— Jesus, Holden. Stalk much?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I’m just waiting for my fiancée. Have you seen her? Pretty girl. American. Brown hair, amber eyes. Usually nice. Definitely cheeky.”

“You’re supposed to be in London. How did you get in here?”

“Sorry to disappoint you with my return.” He grinned. “The lovely young lady at reception let me in. I made her promise not to tell anyone I was waiting for you. Judging by the look of terror of your face, I’d say she kept her end of the bargain.”

My smile was artful as I placed my belongings on a small table next to the door. “I’m not terrified, smart ass. You surprised me.”

“Good.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“And miss this priceless reaction?” He unbuttoned his suit jacket. “I wanted to come here as fast as I could. The plane landed and I could only think of two things.”

Little shivers nipped at my skin as I watched him remove the jacket with calculated ease and drape it over the chair. “What were they?”

“You,” he said, pushing himself away from the desk.

“That’s only one thing.”

He positioned his well-dressed, great smelling body in front of me and played with a loose tendril of my hair. I steadied myself against the door. Being seduced in my office wasn’t quite what I’d expected to happen today. The crazy-sexy smile curling his sculpted mouth sent tremors down my spine. When he wanted something, he went after it with full force.

“Use your imagination for the second thing.”

“You are unreal with this charm and seduction combo thing you’ve got going for you.”

“I try.”

“So,” I said, looking up at him, “how long have you been snooping around my office?”

“Snooping? I’ve been waiting patiently for the last fifteen minutes. I even got to enjoy your show.”

Oh no. That meant he saw the…

“Garrison handled himself rather well when Archer tossed those questions at him,” he said, pausing to kiss the tip of my nose. “It’s a good thing nothing surprises me that much anymore.” He cocked his head to the side. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing.” I sighed.

“You’re a bad liar,” he whispered, brushing his lips to mine. I shoved my hands through his hair and kissed him with reckless abandon. I’d missed the warmth and softness of his mouth on mine. I deepened the kiss, tasting and savoring him. He groaned, placing his hand on my hip and pulling me closer. Heat radiated off his taut body. I loved the way he felt against me. He broke our mouths apart, sliding a hand along my jaw.

“Lia.” The animalistic way he said my name made my knees buckle. So did the way he looked at me with eyes as dark as night. “I want you.”

Not much separated us from the rest of the newsroom, just a door and some glass windows covered with blinds. The thought of having sex with him so close to the people who would give anything for a juicy exclusive turned me on in a way I didn’t expect.

“What are you waiting for?”

A low growl vibrated in the back of his throat as he flexed his hips into mine, the friction from his erection teasing me with the promise of what I knew was to come. “I can’t be quiet when I’m with you. They’ll all hear me shout your name. Do you want that?”

“I’ll be quiet if you will.”

Fisting his hand in my hair, he ran his tongue along the edge of my bottom lip. I let out a long, breathy moan.

“See? You can’t do it either.”

“Take me home. Now.”

The left corner of his mouth quirked up. “I will, as soon as you tell me what’s bothering you.”

“Alastair,” I exclaimed. “Don’t do that. Don’t rile me up with your irresistible kisses and touches and say those things to me and not follow through. You’re a fucking tease and I’ve had a long day. I’m not in the mood for your games.”

“You’re hot when you’re angry.”

“Ugh, you’re impossible,” I grumbled, pushing him away and stalking toward my desk. I didn’t make it far. He caught me by the waist and spun me around.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I don’t like seeing you stressed and knowing something’s bothering you. Is it Archer?” His eyes flashed. “Is he still hounding you for an exclusive on me?”

I exhaled, leaning my head back. “Yeah but now he wants the story to focus on me. Apparently I’m the public’s window into your life.”

The muscles in his jaw twitched as the rest of his body tensed. “Dammit. I knew this would happen. Th—”

I pressed a finger to his lips to halt whatever it was he wanted to say. “Drop it for now. It’s Friday night. I haven’t seen you in days. Let’s go home.”

Staring intently at me he remained quiet. I could almost see the cogs turning in his head.

“Have the paparazzi been on your tail? Paxton said there’s been more than usual this week.”

“Half a dozen photographers leapt out at me this morning when Stephanie and I were getting coffee down the street. The pictures ended up online with headlines about our engagement.”

“Then we should probably beat them at their own game. I’ll have Simone draft a release with an official announcement.”

I wrinkled my nose as his suggestion. “No. That sounds too impersonal and stuffy. Besides, don’t you think we should tell our families first before they read about it on the society pages?”

“My family already knows.” He paused. “And so does yours.”

My mouth dropped open. “What?”

His throaty laugh filled my office. “I called your parents last weekend and told them my intentions. I also made them promise not to say anything to you. Your mum is quite excitable.”

“Alastair Reid Holden.” I shoved him playfully. “You are sneaky.”

A glowing smile brightened his entire face, melting my heart. “You know you love me anyway.”

“I do.” I kissed him hard, hooking my arms around his waist.

“Now that we have this settled, there’s one more bit I have to tell you.”

“Oh?”

Dread consumed his expression so subtly I almost missed it. “My aunt wants us to go to the house on Sunday for brunch with her, Jason and my grandfather.” He scowled. “They’re not taking ‘no’ for an answer.”

His body stiffened in my arms until he became almost statuesque. Never in my life had I seen someone grow so agitated over the thought of spending time with their family. After all, these people did take him in when his parents and sister died and provided for him. His cold reaction to their generosity didn’t sit well with me.

“Brunch with your family sounds like a good idea to me. I didn’t get to spend much time with them at the garden party and—”

“We won’t stay long. We’ll eat and then leave.”

“Stop with the interrupting. I’m not saying we have to move in with them but it would be nice if I had the chance to spend more than two minutes with your aunt and uncle. I’d really like to get to know them.”

Alastair backed away and ran both hands through his hair. I knew that meant he was over this conversation. “You’ve made a fair point, Amelia.” His frigid stare chilled my blood. “But I’m only doing this because of how I feel about you. It’s not for them.”

Thoughts swirled through my brain, trying to figure out a way to make this visit at least tolerable for him. “Just think how happy your aunt will be to spend time with you.”

Narrowing his brows so the little patch of skin between them wrinkled, he sighed. “You’re right again. How do you do that?”

“You forget that I know the truth about you, chief. You’re nothing but a big ‘ol softie underneath all those scowls and icy stares.”

“I see.” He ran a finger along his lips. What that little movement did to me. My. God. “About that second thing on my mind.” In an instant he had me caged against the door. I gasped, not from his searing kiss but from the blind sticking in my ass.

“Alastair, stop. There’s a piece of plastic in my butt.”

Amused, he let me go, craning his head to see the offending material. “Not a fan of that then?”

“Not particularly,” I deadpanned. Grabbing my belongings I led him through the now quiet newsroom towards the elevator bank. Out in the hallway, he walked in front of me. I got a nice eyeful of the way he moved with such fluid control. I caught his eye when I hit the call button. A second later he was on me, his hands holding my face as he kissed me unapologetically. My mind scrambled and drifted to that amazing place it went when we were lost in each other. Not seeing him for a few days enhanced the steady ache that grew at my core. My skin reveled in his firm grasps, warming quickly the more he touched me. We stumbled closer to the wall.

“What if someone walks by?” I asked between kisses.

A loud tone sounded signaling the elevator’s arrival. We barely pulled away from one another in time to walk in. Thank goodness nobody else was in there because as soon as the doors closed Alastair had me pinned in the corner and curled my right leg around his hip.

“I hated being away from you,” he said, cupping my backside. The way his lips glided over mine with such love and passion made me lose all sense of time and space. “My Lia,” he whispered, pushing my skirt up. “What you do to me.”

Our interlude was rudely interrupted by the elevator’s annoying tone yet again, signaling we’d arrived at the lobby. Alastair grinned and ran a hand through his disheveled hair, looking pristine and perfect and not like he’d just been making out in an elevator. I must have looked a mess but really didn’t care.

The doors swished open and in walked none other than Brent Garrison. Embarrassed, I glanced at the digital display and saw we weren’t at the lobby but on the fifth floor. I smoothed my skirt down to make sure I was covered.

Brent looked at me, then Alastair and smiled. “This is unexpected.”

“Garrison,” Alastair muttered.

“I was just talking to your lovely girlfriend earlier,” he said, ignoring Alastair’s tone. “I’m having a few friends over tonight. I’ve already extended the invitation to Lia. Has she told you?”

I noticed Brent kept the ‘doors open’ button pressed as he spoke. Alastair aimed a suspicious gaze in his direction.

“Thanks for holding the—” Stephanie trotted in breathless and stopped short. She looked from Brent to Alastair to me and remained silent.

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