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BOOK 1
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Being Yours BOOK 1
She really knew only one thing. To her, what she’d experienced in his arms had been transcendent lovemaking. Yet to him, it had been only fabulous sex. But that was okay. She misuderstood and accepted his feelings, even if it did leave a sharp ache in her heart. He hadn’t asked her to love him, even though she did, and he had certainly never promised to love her in return, which was fine. It was. Really.“I’m taking you to Helene’s.”“Okay,” she whispered, too exhausted to argue with him.In the next moment he did a strange thing for an angry man. He reached for the covers and brought them up to wrap around the two of them. Then he pulled her into his arms and gently brushed the hair from her face. “Sleep,” he whispered.And she did.“So, anyway, I'm waiting for Nathan to take me to Helene Sorge’s. I don’t know what possessed me to offer to help her granddaughter, but before I knew it, my mouth had opened and the words had come out.” Gazing down on the street from her front window, Da
Being Yours BOOK 1
“Thank you for noticing.”He heard the touch of surprise in her voice as he took a left turn. He smiled. When it came to her, she had no idea how much he noticed. “Did you get any sleep after I left this morning?”She shook her head. “I went ahead and got up. I had things to do. I’ve already taught three classes today.”“Three? You must be tired.”“Not at all.” She looked around her. “You know, I didn’t think to ask where Helene lives. Is it far?”He grinned. “You might say that. We’re heading for her estate in Connecticut.”"Connecticut?''He grinned over at her. “Don’t worry. I’m taking you back to the Tower and we’re going to catch a helicopter from there.”“Oh, Nathan, I’m so sorry. I had no idea this would turn out to be so much trouble for you.”“I’m glad to do it. After all, you are doing this for our family’s foundation.”“But Connecticut. I didn’t realize. . . . This isn’t good. Even if Cecilia is amenable to taking lessons from me, there’s no way I can commute to Connecticut
Being Yours BOOK 1
He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I’d say it was Helene’s lucky day when you walked up to her Saturday night.”She smiled at him. “Actually it was my lucky day. You always get more than you give when you help someone. That’s what I was trying to tell Cecilia. I just hope I truly will be able to help her.”“Helene certainly thinks you can. She was so impressed with you and what you accomplished with Cecilia today, she wrote me out a check for the amount that she had promised.”Her eyes widened with shock. “I didn’t know that.”He patted the breast pocket of his jacket. “I’ve got it right here.”“Frankly I’m surprised Helene went ahead and wrote the check. I thought she planned to wait and see how Cecilia did after a few lessons.”“Well, whatever her reason, I’m just glad she did.”He sighed dramatically and Dani eyed him curiously. “What?”“I suppose you know what this check means, don’t you?”The twinkle in his eyes distracted her. “That your foundation now has more
Being Yours BOOK 1
With her hands on her waist at her back, she slinked her way across the table to him, her pelvis thrust toward him. Then just as he was about to reach up for her, she playfully retreated. Each successive time she advanced, her hip movements were more provocative, more tantalizing, and she came closer and closer to him. Yet each time he reached for her, his hands found only air.She’d never in her life done such a thing, but she loved Nathan and he appeared to be absolutely poleaxed by her performance. She couldn’t have asked for a better reaction from him, or a better audience. It gave her confidence to take her performance to an even more sensual level.Entwining her arms above her head again and again, she danced in a serpentine manner around the candle, hitching her hips, first one way, then another, a combination of a Gypsy dance and a striptease. Then, in front of him once again, she slowly bent her knees and swiveled her hips from side to side.“Dani . . Her name sounded strangl
Being Yours BOOK 1
“Dani, don’t. Stop.”“What?”“I’m not sure, but I have this feeling you’re withdrawing from me.”An astute observation, she reflected. “No, really, I do understand, Nathan. I understand completely.”He eyed her carefully. “Good. Then I hope you’ll be equally understanding about what I’m going to say next. Dani, I want you to come with me.”There went her reprieve from temptation. She shook her head. “There’s no way I can do that.”“Don’t say no immediately. Think about it.”“I don’t have to. I can’t go. I have classes to give and a spring recital to choreograph.”“I’m talking about three weeks in Europe, Dani. Think of the hm we could have together.”“Fun? You’ll be there to conduct business, right? Where would the fun come into it?”“I won’t be working twenty-four hours a day. And once we get over there. I’ll make sure we have a lot of time to sightsee and shop.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin of her palm. A shiver of heat ran down her spine. “And then th
Being Yours BOOK 1
She looked so amazed, he almost laughed. “You find that hard to believe?”‘Actually I do. I can’t imagine a Damaron allowing a woman to interfere with his work.”“There was no allowing about it. I couldn’t sit in a meeting, go out to dinner, fall asleep at night, wake up in the morning, or even pick up a pencil, without my mind wandering to you, wondering what you were doing and if you were with someone else.”She looked down at her slippers. “I’m sorry.”“You damn well should be.”Her head came up and fire flashed in her eyes. “Why? Because I had the temerity to stand up to you and say no?”“Because you haven’t been able to explain to my satisfaction why you broke it off with me.”She threw out her hands. “That’s not my problem, Nathan, nor is it my responsibility. I’ve said everything I can on the subject. The rest is up to you.”“I don’t believe you.”Instantly her brows drew together. “What? What don’t you believe?”“I don’t beheve you’ve said everything you can. There has to be s
Being Yours BOOK 1
“It’s all right, Cecilia.” Stacy nodded knowingly at Dani. “You feel like you’re going to throw up, don’t you?”She was having to concentrate on not throwing up and couldn’t answer her.“And you were dizzy, weren’t you?” Stacy went on. “I know all about that. That’s how my mom feels every time she gets pregnant.”Pregnant. The nausea began to subside and Dani waited several beats, then cautiously took her hand away from her mouth. “I am not pregnant, Stacy. I think it’s just a little hot in here.”Elizabeth raced back to her and handed her a glass of water. Gratefully she took it and sipped. She supposed her symptoms did replicate those of early pregnancy, but in her case, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true.“Are you sure you’re not pregnant?” Stacy persisted.“Yes.” A cold, sick feeling suddenly gripped her and slowly she turned her head and looked in the mirror. A pale face stared back at her. Her gaze dropped lower to her breasts and stayed. Was she imagining it or were they sligh
Being Yours BOOK 1
She grabbed one of the pillows and threw it as far as she could. It landed in a pot of fringed irises. With a groan she fell back against the remaining pillows. There was no point in putting this off on him. She was the one who had been stupid.And there were more reasons not to tell Nathan she was pregnant.Protectively she laid her hand over her stomach. Dr. Robison had called this pregnancy a miracle, and it was. But there were no guarantees that another miracle could happen, and Nathan had said he wanted kids— plural.Then there was the fact that Dr. Robison had asked her to cut out everything strenuous. To her that meant it was entirely possible she might lose the baby before she could bring it to term.And something else too. Thanks to her, Nathan thought she and John were having an affair. Consequently Nathan would automatically think the baby was John’s. Great. Just great.As for herself, her hormones were running amok, carrying her spirits to dizzying heights of joy about the
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Being Yours BOOK 9
Lohano Tiki drove his bright yellow Ferrari up the long gravel incline and parked in front of the huge pillared portico that was the entrance to the Black Orchid Palace.He climbed out of the car, and quickly ducked down to check his hair in the wing-mirror.Good. Nicely wind-ruffled and carefree.A handsome, square-jawed face looked back at him, tanned a deeper colour by the desert sun.By the Nevadan desert sun, to be exact.His shirt was dazzling white and casually opened at the throat to reveal a strong dark column of neck and the first few wisps of dark chest hair.His jacket was white linen, faultlessly tailored, his slacks a dark green. His loafers came from Rome. His only piece of jewellery was a modest, leather-strapped watch from Switzerland.He was dressing to impress Koki’Hana as much as his rebellious and strong-willed granddaughter.He sprang lithely up the four rounded steps, that were spread out like a fan and led to the huge, impressive, carved oak doors of the palace
Being Yours BOOK 9
George Dixon watched the large crocodile of people emerge from the intermediary house by the east wall.As the owner of fifteen per cent of the Orchid House, he’d been asked to attend the full day’s festivities, of course, but he’d only just decided to put in an appearance.It was three-fifteen p.m.The extra waiters and waitresses hired for the lunch had been circulating in the grounds all afternoon, laden with trays of champagne, fruit juice and little nibbles. He hijacked a waiter and grabbed a glass of cold Moet et Chandon and a few smoked salmon pastries that melted in the mouth.He was lounging against the fountain that was the centre-piece of the outer grounds. Round, made of stone, and full of fish and water-lilies, it shot a fountain of water nearly thirty feet into the air.It was cooler there.George didn’t much like the heat. He was a small but very fat man, with a round belly and short, stocky legs. He could only imagine what the heat must be like inside the hot-houses.G
Being Yours BOOK 9
King Koki’Hana reached the end of the welcoming line, and finally shook hands with the last person to be presented - a tall, thin Portuguese man, whom Electra had introduced as their head groundsman. It was his job to keep the gardens outside the glasshouses looking good.Koki’Hana quite liked meeting the people who made businesses tick. Oahu, like all the islands, was a large ethnic mix of people - Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Polynesians, Portuguese and American. Here at the Orchid House, he was pleased to see that Electra Stapleton’s only criterion for picking her staff was their having the right qualifications for the job. He operated a similar policy where his own business affairs were concerned.‘Well, Alii Koki’Hana, I’m sure you can see now why the Orchid House is such a success,’ Electra said quietly. ‘My staff are simply the best in the world.’ She said with it quiet pride but total sincerity.King Koki’Hana nodded. ‘So I see. And you are rapidly expanding, I underst
Being Yours BOOK 9
Bevis expertly aligned the small light aircraft with the portable runway lights Electra had lit ten minutes ago, and lightly touched down. He taxied neatly to the end of the runway, turned, and then parked the plane near a stand of hua trees, where it was partially hidden.He went through his checklist, making sure all the systems were shut down, then locked the cockpit, grabbed his overnight bag, and jumped lithely to the ground.At thirty-eight, he looked a good ten years younger, and still retained the well-built but fat-free body that would be the envy of many men his age. His short hair was still as dark as a raven’s wing, with not a hint of grey at the temples.He gathered up the landing lights, turning them off as he went, and stowed them away in their small wooden shed, hidden in the small copse of trees, padlocking the door after him.During the short walk to Electra’s luxurious bungalow, ‘Makai Hale’, he ran a tired hand through his hair. It was good to have a break from the
Being Yours BOOK 9
Electra stroked the damp copper hair off his forehead and looked around desperately. There was only the diminishing storm, darkness and fear. She couldn’t move him - she wasn’t strong enough to get him into her car. Besides., she didn’t know if she should move him, and wished she knew more basic First Aid.She felt as if she’d been cradling the stranger in her arms forever, but it had actually been less than five minutes since the lightning strike.The rain had been gradually dwindling, and now had stopped altogether, but she could still hear the distant rumble of thunder, away to the east, as the storm headed out to sea.Suddenly another sound began to impinge on her mind, and she looked up hopefully as a small set of lights dipped and disappeared in the distance.A car! At last!Coming from the same direction as she had been. Somewhat belatedly, she realized her own car was still blocking the road, and she carefully lowered the stranger’s head to the ground and got to her feet.Her
Being Yours BOOK 9
Hawaii, or the Big Island as it was known to the locals, played host to fewer tourists than its sister island Oahu, but boasted similar moutainous lush greenery, great surfing and multi-cultural dining, all with the added bonus of spectacular black beaches, courtesy of the volcanoes.A mountainous land of plantations, myth and Polynesian mystique, it slumbered like a giant emerald in the vast blueness of the Pacific ocean.However, Hilo, its major city, was as big, busy and cosmopolitan as any city in the developed world.The Big Island, like all those in the chain, also had its fair share of hotels and tourist resorts, but, unlike Oahu, it still relied heavily on the more traditional sources of money, such as fruit plantations and coffee, to fill its coffers.Near the pretty village of Kailua, set well back in the coolness of the hills, away from the hustle and bustle of hotels and shops, lay the impressive and sprawling edifice of the Black Orchid Palace.No higher than two storeys,
Being Yours BOOK 9
Electra Stapleton turned the last page of the contract she was reading, and initialled it in the right-hand corner. She’d made a few important changes, and she made a mental note to herself to get one of her lawyers to draw up a revised draft.Not that Nationwide Flowers Inc. would complain. She’d given them all they wanted, but had cleverly slipped in a few little goodies that would be beneficial to the Orchid House too.For instance, ensuring that their chain of florists used one of the Orchid House’s flowered wrapping sheets whenever they sold one of their orchids. The free publicity that would generate would save her hundreds of thousands of dollars. And cost Nationwide Flowers not a penny.She was a bit worried about the shipment date, though; it was rather tight. She reached for her computer keyboard and punched up the details on the company’s regular transporters. Before she’d taken over, the Orchid House had had only one - a privately owned aeroplane company that had shipped a
Being Yours BOOK 9
Haldane Fox glanced up as the oddly melodious 4 ping 5 echoed around the cabin.‘Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We are now beginning our descent to Honolulu Airport. Please observe the “No Smoking” signs, and “Fasten Seat-belts” signs. Your cabin crew will be around to help anyone having difficulty with their belts. I trust you enjoyed your flight with us, and wish you all a pleasant stay on Oahu. Aloha'Haldane sighed wearily and reached for his seatbelt. It had been a long flight, from London to New York for a short stopover, then on to LA for yet another stopover before the long haul across the mighty Pacific Ocean to the fabled Hawaiian Islands.He yawned widely, trying to shrug off the fast-approaching affects of the dreaded jet-lag.A stewardess, the same one who’d been serving him throughout the flight across the pacific, lingered by the side of his seat.‘Everything alright, sir?’The soft voice made him spin his head and look up. The stewardess’s smile caught in her th
Being Yours BOOK 8
By the time they arrived at the hotel, the security gate had been forced open, and a fire engine and two police cars were in the parking area. Apart from the fact that the firemen had broken down the main door, to all other outward appearances the Alcaszar appeared to be untouched. It wasn’t enough to stop Matt from leaping from the car and running across to the main doors where a group of firemen was standing, though.By the time Alex joined them, however, he appeared to be calm. “It’s only damaged the courtyard,” he told her. “Apparently it started among the wood that was stacked there, probably caused by a careless cigarette butt. They say it’s probably been smoldering for hours.”From the tone of his voice Alex knew immediately that he didn’t believe it was accidental but that he wasn’t prepared to talk to the police about his suspicions. She glanced up at him. His eyes had darkened to the steely gray that she now knew from experience was a sign that he was very angry. She took hi
