High Stakes (5 page)

‘Time off?’ Shelley frowned.

‘Yes, I haven’t had a holiday in two years so I have quite a bit of leave accumulated.’

‘Oh, I see. So you’re putting your career ambitions on hold for a while?’ Her tone was quite sharp.

‘You could say the ambitions are turning in a different direction.’

Shelley stood up, ‘Well, I hope you know what you’re doing, both of you. Opportunities like this don’t come along very often you know.’

I looked at Pete and smiled. ‘Yes, I know.’

12:30pm: I was sitting in Shannon’s with Pete having lunch.

‘Well, it looks like we’ll both have some time on our hands soon,’ I said.

‘You’re just taking some leave, aren’t you? You’re not quitting or anything.’

‘I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to think about that.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘That depends.’

‘On what?’

‘What’s the weather like in England in February?’

He made his crooked little smile. ‘Lousy, but of course the continent is much better.’

‘Trouble is I might need a tour guide. Someone who knows their way around.’

‘I think I might know just the guy.’

‘Will he be free do you think?’

‘I guarantee it.’

1:30pm: We walked back to the office feeling elated. We still had a month left here and already we had planned a few of our weekends. Mum, I warned him, would insist on at least one more family meal. ‘She’s very bossy, you know.’

‘Not unlike someone else.’

‘I’m not bossy, I’m …’

‘Delightful,’ he kissed the top of my head before we turned towards our building.

‘Yeah, right,’ I replied, lamely. It seemed being happy had a detrimental effect on my sarcasm.

1:35pm: We went through the swing doors to the office. Mike Carmichael walked towards us with a huge grin on his fact.

‘Hey, guess what?’

‘What’s up Carmichael?’ Pete asked.

‘Shelley called me into her office. I just got a promotion. I’m going to be your new boss.’

Pete and I looked at each other and burst into laughter.

‘Good luck, Mike. You just might need it.’

Bound by her Ring

by Nicole Flockton

Luciano Morelli planned his revenge on his runaway wife from the moment he believed she betrayed him. He times his return into her life at a gala event for her father’s hotel opening. When he sees her again he’s not prepared for the emotions that flare to back to life. Can he trust them?

Jasmine Anderson has forgotten her husband. She has no recollection of the man she dated and eventually married. When Luciano storms back into her life announcing he is her husband, she is confused by the desire taking hold of her. Also his return triggers memories she thought lost.

The time they spend together ignites the passion that had drawn them to each other. But they soon realise that more than Jasmine’s memories have been lost, and they need to rebuild their trust before they can hope for a future together.

Valentine’s Dates

by Rhian Cahill

She’s done with the dating scene. He wants a lifetime of Valentine’s Dates.

Brent isn’t happy standing on the outside of yet another one of Valentine’s dates, except there isn’t a lot he can do when the woman only gives him the time of day to argue. He had his chance with Vee and he blew it. When she calls him in tears Brent’s only choice is to come to her rescue. And now that he’s got her safe in his arms, he’s going to make sure she stays there.

Vee can’t believe she let her frustration and anger with Brent goad her into accepting a date with a man she barely likes. It doesn’t matter how much she tries to convince herself her feelings for Brent were destroyed years ago, he’s still the first person she calls when her date leaves her stranded. Breaking down in his arms wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was kissing him.

Forced to face their past, they must forgive each other and themselves if there’s any hope for the love still burning between them.

Room Service

by Vanessa Stark

Natasha Raven has a secret. She may be a best-selling erotic romance writer, but she has never penned a sex scene. In fact, she’s never
experienced
a sex scene. Her sister, Liza, was responsible for the sizzle in Natasha’s books — until she passed away only months ago.

When Natasha is invited to speak at a conference workshop titled ‘From Your Sheets to the Page’, she panics. But a suggestive wink from a young hotel bellhop named Jace gives her an idea. If she can muster the confidence to have a one-night stand with Jace, she just may be able to endure the workshop without feeling a total fraud.

But can she go through with it? And is Jace really just a one-night-stand?

About the Author

Born in Canada, Robin has worked as a teacher in several countries and now lives just outside Brisbane. Writing has always been her passion and in recent years she has written several novels and short stories. She enjoys cross genre fiction, including romance, speculative fiction and history. Married with two children (three if you include Rosie, the Pomeranian), Robin is happiest when she is lost in a good story, either reading or writing it.

ISBN: 9780857990228

Title: High Stakes

Copyright © 2013 by Robin Thomas

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