He won the auctionâ¦
Vanessa Partridge has a good reason for wanting the priceless manuscript being offered at auctionâit is her twin babiesâ legacy. But she doesnât count on the winning bidder, financial guru Chase Harrington, showing up on her doorstep.
Now he wants the womanâ¦
Chase has a new obsessionâVanessa. Thereâs more to the former-socialite-turned-working-single-mom than meets the eyeâ¦and heâs going to find it. Heâs got secrets of his ownâsecrets threatened by the sexy Vanessa. More than anything, Chase wants to give in to their sizzling attractionâ¦but can he afford to play with fire?
âWhy did you really agree to come out with me?â
Chase leaned in, and his lips hovered close to her ear as he added, âIf this is you trying to persuade me to sell you the manuscript, itâs going to take more than just one date.â
Vanessa jerked back, a frown marring her forehead, cheeks coloring as she glared at him. âTwo dates, then?â
His deep chuckle aroused her as his warm breath fanned over her cheek. She bit her lip to stop a groan escaping.
âYou are something, Vanessa Partridge. But youâre definitely not the type to offer yourself up Indecent Proposal-styleâam I correct?â
âYou â¦â She had to close her eyes to gather her wits as her heartbeat quickened. âYou donât know that.â
He eased back to study her. âSo what are you offering?â
Her eyebrows went up. âWhat do you want?â
THE HIGHEST BIDDER
At this high-stakes auction house where everything is for sale, true love is priceless.
Donât miss a single story in this new continuity!
GILDED SECRETS by Maureen Child
EXQUISITE ACQUISITIONS by Charlene Sands A SILKEN SEDUCTION by Yvonne Lindsay A PRECIOUS INHERITANCE by Paula Roe THE ROGUEâS FORTUNE by Cat Schield GOLDEN BETRAYALS by Barbara Dunlop
Dear Reader,
When I was at school, we didnât have a âpopularâ groupâit was more like a âloud and obnoxiousâ group. :-) Now Iâm in Romance Writing World, and rubbing shoulders with writers I read, admire and generally want to be when I grow up. So when I was asked to join this particular groupâwhich includes some of my favorite Mills & Boon Desire authorsâI couldnât say no!
So I started Chase and Vanessaâs story with my most favorite part of writingâdelving deep into their pasts to discover what makes them tick. Vanessaâs baggage seemed to fall into place a lot easier than Chaseâs.⦠That man just wouldnât give up his secrets easily! But when I finally pieced together his childhood, everything else started to flow. And as always, I did a lot of surfing (read: research) and discovered some fascinating websites on New York, Washington, hedge funds, the Library of Congress⦠Now I desperately want to see it in real life and not just via Google Earth!
I hope this story comes alive for you, this fourth book in The Highest Bidder continuity. I had such a great time writing it. Iâd love to hear from you at www.paularoe.com!
Paula
Despite wanting to be a vet, choreographer, cardsharp, hairdresser and an interior designer (although not simultaneously!), British-born, Aussie-bred PAULA ROE ended up as a personal assistant, office manager, software trainer and aerobics instructor for thirteen interesting years.
Paula lives in western New South Wales, Australia, with her family, two opinionated cats and a garden full of dependent native birds. She still retains a deep love of filing systems, stationery and travelling, even though the latter doesnât happen nearly as often as sheâd like. She loves to hear from her readersâyou can visit her at her website: www.paularoe.com
Recent titles by the same author:
A PRECIOUS INHERITANCE
BED OF LIES PROMOTED TO WIFE? THE BILLIONAIRE BABY BOMBSHELL
Did you know these are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk
This book would never have come about without two groups of people: first, the fabulous Mills & Boon Desire editorial team (Jessica and Liba, for their awesome editing, and Charles, who has the delightful task of answering all my questions and queries and fielding my out-there ideas with tact and patience). And my writing group, The Coven, who hold my hand (both metaphorically and literally), talk me down off the ledge when things get crazy and generally keep me sane. I love you, girls!
Also, a separate special thanks goes to Kitty and her friend Betsy, for answering my questions on what it takes to be a teacher in the States.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Paula Roe for her contribution to The Highest Bidder miniseries
One
âFive hundred thousand. I have half a million dollars, ladies and gentlemen. Any more bids?â
The auctioneerâs French-accented baritone rose above the electric whispers spreading through the eager crowd at Waverlyâs. The atmosphere was a living, breathing thing, undulating in intense waves of excitement and curiosity, and Chase Harrington could practically feel the energy bouncing off each and every bidder in the room, the familiar subdued rumble of gossip reverberating off the velvet-papered walls.