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BOOK 5
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Being Yours BOOK 5
On Monday morning, Cliff heard her laughter before he saw her and his head snapped back with enough force to jar him. The joyful sound of that laughter sliced into him, and, though he’d never heard her laugh before, he knew exactly who was in the corridor. Even his second of advance warning wasn’t enough to prepare him adequately. Grant, entering after a brief knock, ushered her in, beaming as if he’d personally followed the rainbow and located the pot of gold. ‘Look who’s joining us after all,’ he said to Cliff. Cliff rose to his feet. ‘Miss Castle,’ he said, wishing his voice had sounded stronger, hoping its ragged edge hadn’t given away the strength o the jolt the sight of her had produced. How could merely looking at her make him dizzy? Dammit, it hadn’t. His immediate and potent response to this woman ... woman? — hell, she was scarcely deserving of the term — this girl, could be put down to his having stood too abruptly, or having overslept and missed breakfast. It had nothi
Being Yours BOOK 5
“It's going to be great, guys!’ Lynne flopped back on her motel room bed following her first day at work. Her brother and sister-in-law, each of whom was on an extension phone in their home, tried to speak at once, but Lynne cut them off. ‘After I accepted the job, I had lunch with the junior partner, then spent the rest of the day getting my office organized.’ She laughed. “Though “‘office’”’ is something of an exaggeration, I have to admit. There’s room for a small desk, a computer, a visitor’s chair, and me and not much else. But at least it has a window.’ ‘With a view?’ Ann asked. In the background Lynne heard baby Mandy fussing. ‘A view of a perfectly gorgeous gray concrete wall,’ Lynne said. ‘I’m hoping some enterprising artist will paint a beautiful scene on it, but I’m not holding my breath.’ She laughed. ‘Even some graffiti would be an improvement, but unless it was so innocuous as to be totally uninteresting, I’m sure Cliff Foreman would personally paint over it. He’s as
Being Yours BOOK 5
Littte boats scurried out of the way as even the behemoth car ferry responded to the forces of tide racing through Active Pass, being forced this way, that way, its path twisting and turning between the close shores of the two islands flanking the pass. The warm, gold and green slopes of Galiano Island to the left and Mayne Island to the right rose in rocky humps, their broken reflections dancing sunlit in the sea. Lynne’s coppery hair flew around her face until she turned into the wind, which then molded her soft silk blouse to her shape, forcing Cliff to avert his eyes. ‘What would you do if a big, international accounting firm moved in next door and started undercutting your rates, taking your clients away from you and you had to start laying off employees?’ she asked, surprising him by bringing up the subject again. ‘I wouldn’t like it, but I’d have to learn to live with it.” He shrugged. “Then, on the other hand, maybe I would like it.” Putting his hands on her shoulders, awar
Being Yours BOOK 5
'She’s all clean and changed, Mommy,’ Lynne said, glancing at her sister-in-law. ‘And she really was awake. I heard her when I went in to put the coffee on.’ ‘Right,’ Ann said, disbelief in her tone, but her expression held nothing but loving indulgence. Lynne continued to rock the baby, stroking a finger tenderly along the Mandy’s cheek. In response to that touch, a small, pursed mouth made sucking motions as the infant turned her head toward Lynne’s breast. ‘Wrong fountain, angel-face,’ she said with a laugh, dropping a kiss on the soft, downy, pale red hair before passing the baby over to Ann. ‘Better go see your mom.’ Ann, quite unselfconsciously, discreetly lifted her T-shirt, snuggled the baby close and let her nurse. Cliff looked at Lynne, and the heavy, dragging pain grew to unmanageable proportions. ‘I have to go,’ he said, abruptly shoving back his chair. ‘Thanks for dinner.’ ‘Oh, dear, I’ve embarrassed you,’ Ann said. ‘I’m sorry. Come on, Lynnie, let’s us girls go ins
Being Yours BOOK 5
Lynne spent the next hour wandering through the main floor and basement, making notes of pieces of furniture she thought would fit in her apartment. There was so much here! All her mother’s things, all Taylor had bought when he had his own apartment, and all of Ann’s things as well. In the basement were boxes and boxes of dishes, cutlery, knick-knacks and linens. There’d be no difficulty finding enough. The difficulty would be in trying to choose. Tomorrow, she reminded herself. She’d worry about it tomorrow. Now, she’d go to bed, sleep like a log, and be ready for a hard day’s work. But, as she lay there breathing in the perfumed breeze, picking out the individual aromas of nightscented stocks, nasturtiums and freshly cut grass, sleep was far away. She wandered to the balcony and watched the moon reflect on the water of the river, silvering a rippled path that seemed to arrow right into her heart the way Cliff’s kiss had. No. He was too old. He really didn’t like her. He was all s
Being Yours BOOK 5
Mindful that Lynne had left her bicycle in the office building over the weekend, Cliff arrived at her house Monday morning in what he thought would be plenty of time to offer her a ride to work. Once he learned from the old man upstairs she had set out walking half an hour before, he slammed his car door so hard, it likely did internal damage to its workings. Why couldn’t she have waited for him? Didn’t it occur to her that he’d come by to get her? When he arrived at the office, she was safely ensconced behind her desk, peering at the top sheet of a sheaf of papers as Joe tapped a pencil on it and explained something to her. Unseen, Cliff watched as Lynne slanted a smile up at Joe and thanked him for his help. Before they could notice him, he slipped into his own office and shut the door. All the rest of the day, he forced himself to keep his office door closed, to ignore the sound of Lynne’s voice, her laughter, both of which he heard during the lunch break. He knew half the men
Being Yours BOOK 5
Stay away from her. Cliff clenched his teeth and repeated the sentence over and over silently every time he found himself drawn to Lynne’s office during the next week. He checked once per day to make sure she wasn’t having any difficulty with the tasks he assigned her, but beyond that, he kept to himself. It did him no good at all and it was his own fault. He’d kissed her that evening upon leaving her brother’s home. And he’d kissed her again outside her apartment. What a fool! If he hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t remember the soft trembling of her lips, the way they’d parted shyly for him, the feel of her in his arms. Her scent somehow lingered in his car, even days after she’d last been in it. She invaded his dreams at night to the point where he wondered if he should even bother trying to sleep. When it became impossible to escape thoughts of her, he’d put on jogging clothes and run until he was physically exhausted. Sometimes after that he could get a few hours’ rest. When, one
Being Yours BOOK 5
“Yesss ...’ His breath whistled in and out and then, as she made the same motion again with her hand, he capitulated. He covered her hand with his and moved it just the way he wanted, then, only moments later, he tore it from him and entered her in one strong thrust that filled her with his power, sent need spiraling again deep inside her. This time, he moved slower, holding her so she couldn’t increase the pace, taking it slowly, kissing ‘her eyelids, her face, her mouth, all the while stroking in and out of her with a deliberate rhythm. The sensations grew stronger, rippling through her, sending her head tossing from side to side, making her squeeze her eyes tightly shut. ‘Look at me,’ he said raggedly, and she opened her eyes to see the darkness of his turned even blacker, lines of strain in his face, his mouth a hard, taut slash. She managed to lift one trembling hand and cup his cheek with her palm. He pressed his lips into it, thrusting with his tongue as he thrust with his bo
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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
