BLURB
Ophelia
Broulliard’s life has always been linked to the wealthy and powerful DuChamps
family. The granddaughter of the family’s housekeeper, she’s worshipped Vincent
DuChamps from afar--the ever unattainable prince in her fairy tale dreams.
Little does she know that Vincent harbors his own secret feelings for her, but
other darker secrets that he sees as an insurmountable obstacle to ever being
the man she deserves, have prompted him to avoid her altogether.
When Thomas,
the family patriarch dies, his will bears some unpleasant surprises for them
both. Thomas wants nothing more than for Vincent and his siblings to be happy,
and in his final act as the only father figure they’ve ever had, engineers a
series of contingencies in his will that require them each to face their
demons. Only too aware of what Vincent
really feels for Ophelia, Thomas creates a situation that will force Vincent to
confront his feelings. Unless, Vincent
and Ophelia marry, Vincent and his siblings will lose everything, including the
family business.
Forced into
such close proximity, denying their attraction for one another becomes
impossible. But even as they grow
closer, other threats to the future of DuChamps Hotels and all that Vincent
holds dear threaten to destroy their burgeoning relationship. Ophelia has
played it safe her whole life. Taking a risk on Vincent is a frightening
prospect. Will it be worth it, or will his secrets break both their hearts?
EXCERPT
The
girlhood crush had never quite vanished, but this almost painful need was too
much to bear. She could smell his
cologne, the scent light and subtle, but wholly masculine. It made her want to rub against him like a
cat, just so she could smell his scent on her.
While
he stared down at her hand, applying the small bandage, she stared at his face,
noting the dark shadows beneath his eyes.
They told the truth of how difficult it was for him. It wasn’t just that he and Thomas were
family. Thomas had been his mentor, his
friend, and the only father he’d ever known.
Vincent respected and admired him, but more than that, he needed
him.
“You
look tired, Vincent.”
He
quirked an eyebrow, his expression sardonic.
“So I hear.”
It
had slipped out, an admission that she shouldn’t have made. Acknowledging to anyone how frequently
Vincent crossed her mind or how often she studied his face was dangerous.
When
he looked up at her, their gazes locked and Ophelia’s breath simply froze. Her lungs seized and she could do nothing but
stare into his coal-black eyes and pray that everything she felt for him wasn’t
written all over her face.
It
was only when he drew her hand up and placed it against his chest, directly
over his racing heart that she realized he’d even still been holding it. The firmness of muscle and the springy mat of
chest hair beneath the cotton of his shirt was too much temptation to
resist. She caressed that muscle lightly
and watched as his eyes blazed with lust.
His
expression changed to something she could only describe as carnal, predatory
even. He stepped closer to her, backing her against the island.
She
let out a sigh, savoring the sensation of his closeness, of the heat from his
body scorching her.
His
mouth was only inches from her and the anticipation of waiting for the kiss
that seemed so inevitable was agonizing.
“Tell me to stop,” he demanded.
“You
shouldn’t,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.
“I
shouldn’t stop or I shouldn’t kiss you, Ophelia? Which is it?”
She
knew the right answer, the answer she ought to give. Instead, she sank against him, savoring the
heat, the hard planes of his body against hers.
Her eyes closed softly as she raised her lips to his.
The
heat between them sparked, flared, then raged out of control. She might have initiated that first tentative
touch of their lips, but he quickly seized the reins.
His
lips were firm as they settled over hers, demanding. When his teeth scraped her bottom lip,
nipping roughly and then soothing with his tongue, she couldn’t hold back the
low moan. Each gentle tug and pull as he
sucked at her lips, the sensual glide of his tongue against hers as he swept it
into her mouth was overwhelmingly intense.
It
was as if he’d peered inside her and knew what she wanted even before he she
did. Heat suffused her, spreading throughout
her body. He tasted of bourbon and the
spice that was simply him. Sliding her
hands up and over the breadth of his shoulders, she clasped her hands behind
his neck, bringing them even closer.
His
hands moved over her back, down to her hips, pressing against her.
Release Date
6-11-13, only at Amazon. Priced at
2.99. Next book in the series will be
out in August!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
