Secret Weapon (26 page)

She smiled in total contentment. This felt so right. There might still be hurdles ahead, but she knew in her heart they would absolutely find a way to make it all work.

*   *   *

Janine gazed at Derek across the table as she told him their news.

Liam and Sloan sat on either side of her at the round table in the outdoor riverside café that she frequented with Derek.

“So you and Sloan are moving into a committed relationship. That’s great.” Derek smiled at her warmly. “I’m really happy for you.”

“And we’re hoping you and Liam will still join us, just like always,” she said. “Jonas, too, when he’s in town.”

He glanced at Sloan, who nodded.

Derek’s grin broadened. “That’s an invitation I sure won’t turn down.”

Liam chuckled. “Smart man.”

“Now, at the risk of being tossed out as a troublemaker, may I make an observation?” Derek asked.

Janine’s eyebrows arched. “Sure. What is it?”

“Well, the gender dynamic seems to be wildly out of balance.” He sent her a devilish grin. “I’m thinking maybe there should be another woman in the mix.”

Sloan grinned and settled back in his chair. “Actually, that’s a great idea.”

Liam chuckled. “I’m game.”

Janine gazed from one smiling masculine face to another. All their gazes rested on her, waiting for her response.

Watching Liam and Derek make love to another woman … Watching
Sloan
make love to another woman … How did she feel about that?

She narrowed her eyes and gazed at each man in turn. “Another woman? Hmm.” She drummed her fingers on the table absently, as if carefully considering the suggestion. Finally, she leaned back in her chair, folding her arms in front of her. “Well, you know what I think about that?”

Sloan nodded, looking wistful. “I’m pretty sure.”

She allowed a slow smile to spread across her face. “I think it’s an exceptional idea.”

Sloan’s eyes widened. “Really?”

She had to stifle a giggle at his shocked expression. “Sure. I think it would be incredibly hot.”

Derek chuckled. “Sloan, this woman is going to keep you off balance constantly. Are you sure you can handle it?”

Sloan’s arm curled around her waist and he tugged her tight to his body, then captured her lips in a firm kiss.

“Not only will I handle it”—Sloan grinned at her, melting her heart—“I’m going to love every minute of it.”

She smiled back at him, joy swelling through her. So would she!

A
LSO BY
O
PAL
C
AREW

Total Abandon

Pleasure Bound

Bliss

Forbidden Heat

Secret Ties

Six

Blush

Swing

Twin Fantasies

A
CCLAIM FOR THE
N
OVELS OF
O
PAL
C
AREW

“A blazing-hot erotic romp … a must-read for lovers of erotic romance. A fabulously fun and stupendously steamy read for a cold winter’s night. This one’s so hot, you might need to wear oven mitts while you’re reading it!”

—Romance Junkies

4 stars! “Carew’s devilish twists and turns keep the emotional pitch of the story moving from sad to suspenseful to sizzling to downright surprising in the end.… The plot moves swiftly and satisfyingly.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Fresh, exciting, and extremely sexual, with characters you’ll fall in love with. Absolutely fantastic!”

—Fresh Fiction

“The constant and imaginative sexual situations keep the reader’s interest, along with likable characters with emotional depth. Be prepared for all manner of coupling, including groups, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and same-sex unions.… I recommend
Swing
for the adventuresome who don’t mind singeing their senses.”

—Regency Reader

“Carew pulls off another scorcher.… [She] knows how to write a love scene that takes her reader to dizzying heights of pleasure.”

—My Romance Story

“So much fun to read … The story line is fast-paced with wonderful humor.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

“A great book … Ms. Carew has a wonderful imagination.”

—Night Owl Romance Reviews

“Opal Carew brings erotic romance to a whole new level.… She writes a compelling romance and sets your senses on fire with her love scenes!”

—Reader to Reader

4 stars! “Written with great style … A must for any erotic romance fan, ménage enthusiasts in particular.”

—Just Erotic Romance Reviews

“Plain delicious in its sensuality. Opal Carew has a great imagination, and her sensual scenes are sure to get a fire going in many readers.”

—A Romance Review

4 hearts! “Humor, angst, drama, lots of hot sex, and interesting characters make for an entertaining read that you will have a hard time putting down.”

—The Romance Studio

“Opal Carew has given these characters depth and realism.… A thrilling romance, full of both incredible passion and heartwarming tenderness, and Opal Carew is an author to watch.”

—Joyfully Reviewed

“Wonderfully written … I highly recommend this tale.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“An outstanding novel … I encourage you to read this exceptional book.”

—The Road to Romance

“This book is extremely hot! Ms. Carew had me squirming in my seat while reading this story.… This book was so great I want to read more stories by this author.”

—Coffee Time Romance

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

SECRET WEAPON.
Copyright © 2011 by Opal Carew. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover photographs: couple by B2M Productions/Getty Images; man with handcuffs by Gregg Wiener

e-ISBN 978-1-4299-9600-0

First Edition: September 2011