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BOOK 1
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Being Yours BOOK 2
If one more overdressed, intoxicated, holly-jolly male patted her cheek, or any odier part of her anatomy, Justine Miller was going to scream. In fact, if anything else went wrong today, she’d explode.Any normal person who had just gone through what she had would feel this way, she reassured herself. She forced yet another smile and moved through the boisterous Christmas-party crowd, skirting around the huge tree that twinkled merrily with lights. No, she corrected grimly, any “normal” person would have broken down by now and cried. But Justine didn’t break down or cry easily, and she wasn’t about to start.“Sis.”Her already tense body tightened as the need to escape nearly overwhelmed her. The grip she had on a still full glass of champagne became perilous. But she’d never run from a problem. Never. Besides, this was her beloved brother. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. Slowly she turned to face the tall young man with the too-serious blue eyes that matched her own. “Devlin.”“Hi.” His
Being Yours BOOK 2
Then Justine blinked, and the hurt and mistrust came back in a flash.“Is it true?” she said to Devlin, her petite hands listed at her sides. “You sold the Daily News to him ?” She jerked her shoulder toward the “him” in question.“Well . . .”“Devlin!”“It’s true,” Mitch said. Gently, he took her bare elbow and turned her back to face him. Simply touching her made his hand shake. Her skin felt incredibly soft. She wore the same scent, that irresistible blend of innocence and sensuality that drove him wild. “The paper is mine. But I only bought it because—”“I asked my brother." Each word was grated out through clenched teeth. The glass at their feet crunched as she yanked her arm free and backed up a step. Her chest heaved with each breath, and the already plunging neckline of her dress sank even lower, making him wonder just how secure she was in that gown.“Ask me , Jussie,” he said, aching at the hurt on her face. “I’m standing right here. You can’t ignore me forever.”“Why not?”
Being Yours BOOK 2
“It has to be off the record.”“Why?” she demanded. “Still hate publicity? It’s a little late for that, after the entrance you made.”He couldn’t handle the hostility in her eyes. “I want to talk to you, not the entire population of Heather Bay.”“Then why did you show up like that? You knew everyone would be there, you knew we’d draw a crowd.”“I had to see you right away.”He didn’t add that he’d come to her as soon as he could. The threat to him was gone, and Hopkins had released him from both the Federal Witness Protection Program and his obligation as a special agent for the FBI. Reluctantly, but he’d done it. “I knew if I showed up at your house or at work, you’d refuse to listen.”“You have no idea how I’d react to anything. Not anvmore.”There was a hitch in her breathing he was afraid to analyze. “Jussie—”“No. We’re over.” Her voice wavered and he leaped on that.“I can explain—”“I know,” she said sadly. “And the worst thing is, I’d probably believe you, fool that I am. I u
Being Yours BOOK 2
More to continue touching her than anything else, Mitch held on and decided to bear the fury that flashed in her eyes. He’d worked through that temper plenty of times in the past, and he could only hope he still had the knack for soothing it. “You look good, Jussie.” With his other hand, he cupped her cheek. “Real good.”She blinked, clearly flustered. Then she slapped his hand away. “Don’t.”“Don’t what?” he asked pleasantly. “Don’t look at you? Or don’t say nice things?”“Either,” she said, scowling when he laughed. “And while you’re at it, go away. I’ve got work to do.” She paled a bit. “If I still have a job.”His good humor slipped. “You think I can know how much the paper means to you, and take away your job?”“I don’t know what to think,” she said quietly.Mitch looked at her carefully, seeing the faint purple circles beneath her eyes, the wariness etched in her eyes.Exhaustion, he thought with remorse. His fault. And Hopkins’s as well. His ex-superior had tried to placate Mit
Being Yours BOOK 2
He’d see about that. “And you’ll work with me?” Please , God.She dragged her lower lip across her teeth as she contemplated him, and Mitch’s gaze hungrily followed die movement. He’d wondered whether their unbelievable sexual sizzle would still be there when he saw her again. His painfully aroused body gave him his answer.“Yes, I’ll work with you.” The words were unrelentingly hard. “But only because I refuse to quit, and I can’t afford to buy this paper back from you. Yet”He smiled easily and felt like jumping for joy. It was a small victory, but he’d take it.* *“I won’t kiss you,” she promised, eyeing him as if he was planning on jumping her. “Not ever again.”“Maybe you should reserve judgment until after I’ve told you again where I’ve been.”“You’ve told me enough. The rest doesn’t matter to me one little bit.”“Don’t lie,” he said quietly.“Fine,” she exploded, raising her hands. Her chest heaved. “ Fine . It matters. Too much. But I just can’t—I don’t w r ant to—please. I n
Being Yours BOOK 2
“I’ve listened.”“But you don’t believe.”Surging to her feet, she paced the room. “Tell me.” She rounded on him so fast, he blinked. “You want me to know so badly, let’s hear it. All of it.”“I think Mitch should—”“You tell me,” she said emphatically, crossing her arms and glaring at him in the way she knew would make him squirm.He did. “Okay, but only a little, because I promised. “You know that he’d been planning to leave the SEALs, but that they weren’t thrilled with him going, that they were trying to keep him.”“Yes. Don’t you dare tell me some story about diem kidnapping him and keeping him these two years.”“What happened isn’t all that different, believe me.”“Dev.”“All right. You know he wanted to be a private investigator. He wanted to be home more, for you and the kids you’d have.”It’d been their dream. Mitch would leave the high-risk world for a calmer one, while still doing what he did best. Justine would do what she’d always wanted to do— run the paper. “Yes.” The f
Being Yours BOOK 2
Sleep hadn’t come as easily for him, but rage had. He’d spent most of those years filled with it, promising vengeance on the man he felt had destroyed his mother’s happiness.Mitch had vowed this, even as he continued to blame himself for what had happened to his happy little family. He knew damn well it would have killed his mother to know how much he believed the fault to be his. That he believed his father had left because of him.But by then she’d sunk so far into her own loneliness and depression, she didn’t, or couldn’t notice.Mitch had stayed angry and filled with the need for revenge for as long as he could, but the anger had eventually succumbed to sheer aloneness. He tried, desperately, to get his mother to crack the shell she’d put up around herself, to no avail.In the end he’d been left to fend for himself, but he’d learned quickly enough. He’d gotten good at being alone, had even liked it.Until Jussie had come into his life; sweet, caring, beautiful Jussie.She’d reope
Being Yours BOOK 2
Mitch thought of Jussie, and the life he hoped to have with her. "I’ve never been so sure of anything in all my life.”He’d finagled the parking spot right next to hers, Justine discovered a short time later. It came as a shock, seeing the convertible that looked so like his old one, only this car had been completely cherried out.It wasn’t the one from their youth, but it was close enough to have her squirming with the memories.Mitch had taught her to drive in that car, among other things. Heat flooded her face as she remembered some of those other things now, and despite the cold morning breeze, she felt hot. Unable to help herself, she glanced at the backseat, remembering more than a few dark nights. Long, drugging kisses. Steamy embraces that had led to fumbling for leg room. Muffled laughter, and then more fumbling . . . God.She closed her eyes and tried for calm, but it was nowhere to be found. Nowhere.Maybe it was someone else’s car, she thought hopefully, but she knew bette
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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
