British Bachelors: Rich and Powerful: What His Money Can't Hide / His Temporary Mistress / Trouble on Her Doorstep
Meet the British bachelors that will ignite your wildest desires!What His Money Can’t HideArchitect Drake Ashton finally has all the money a man could want. But, duped by the trappings of wealth before, money doesn’t impress Layla Jerome. So when Drake returns home to help his family, Layla’s determined to resist his golden touch. But that’s more easily said than done…His Temporary MistressViolet Drew will do anything to save her sister from Damien Carver’s revenge. Even if that means becoming his mistress by blackmail! This arrogant, sensuous CEO isn’t prepared for sweet-natured Violet to turn the tables on him, warming his cold heart…Trouble on Her DoorstepGorgeous hotel magnate Sean Beresford, turns up in Dee’s teashop with news that will kill her business. He might dress in sharp suits and those startling eyes will certainly take some forgetting, but Sean sets Dee’s blood boiling – and her pulse racing! And that’s before he kisses her…
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British Bachelors: Rich & Powerful
What His Money Can’t Hide
Maggie Cox
His Temporary Mistress
Cathy Williams
Trouble on Her Doorstep
Nina Harrington
Table of Contents
‘What if I tell you that I’ve decided that after today I don’t want to see you again?’
‘I won’t believe you. Not after what just happened between us.’
Drake’s expression was as serious and formidable as she’d ever seen it.
‘Look, I’m not interested in having some meaningless fling with you that will burn out in a few days or even a few weeks. I’ll only agree to see you if you let me into your life a little … if you give me the chance to get to know the man behind the successful veneer you present to the world. If you’re willing to at least consider the possibility, then I’ll agree to another date with you.’
‘Setting aside what I do for a living, and my public reputation, I’m a very private man, Layla. I very rarely let anyone get too close to me … especially women.’
He almost didn’t need to say the words. Straight away she detected evidence of the war that raged behind his haunting grey eyes. Tension momentarily made her breathing shallow.
‘So your previous relationships with women have usually been based on satisfying sexual desire and nothing more? Is that what you’re telling me?’
The day MAGGIE COX saw the film version of Wuthering Heights, with a beautiful Merle Oberon and a very handsome Laurence Olivier, was the day she became hooked on romance. From that day onwards she spent a lot of time dreaming up her own romances, secretly hoping that one day she might become published and get paid for doing what she loved most! Now that her dream is being realised, she wakes up every morning and counts her blessings. She is married to a gorgeous man, and is the mother of two wonderful sons. Her two other great passions in life—besides her family and reading/writing—are music and films.
‘IS THE old place just how you remember it, Mr Ashton?’
The innocently asked question from his chauffeur Jimmy, as he drove Drake to his less than agreeable destination cut him open like a knife. Yes … his home town was just as dreary and dismal as he remembered it. His memory hadn’t lied.
Glancing out through the tinted car windows, noting the rundown buildings and general sense of despair that hung like a gloomy pall in the air, he felt a sensation in the pit of his stomach right then that was very close to nauseous. Was he insane even to think of revisiting this place, when it had caused him nothing but heartache and pain? It beggared belief that he had agreed his firm of architects would accept a commission from the government to create affordable, aesthetically pleasing housing to attract new residents to the area.
Drake put it down to a moment of insanity. Why anyone in their right mind would want to live in such a soulless pit he couldn’t begin to fathom. As his grey eyes stared hard at the drab scenes that flew by the backs of his eyes burned with remembered pain.
Snapping out of his reverie, he realised that Jimmy was still waiting for an answer. ‘Yes, I’m sorry to say it’s exactly how I remember it.’
‘Certainly looks like it could use a facelift.’ The broad good-natured face reflected in the driving mirror displayed his sympathy.
‘Where did you grow up, Jimmy?’ Drake asked him.
‘I was born and bred in Essex. The family didn’t have a lot of money but we pulled together. Had plenty of laughs along the way, as well as tears.’ He grinned.
Drake forced a smile. He wished he could have said the same about his own upbringing, but sadly there had been very few laughs in his home after his mother had walked out. His father had raised him, but he’d done it with an angry and bitter resentment that had made Drake wary of making too many demands. Even the most basic requests had been apt to enrage his father and make him particularly cruel. Very quickly he’d learned to be self-sufficient and resourceful … simply because he’d had to.
Enough of this pointless and painful introspection!
Scowling, he leant towards the driver’s seat. ‘Pull over at the end of the high street, then go and park, Jimmy. I’ve just spied a coffee place and I’m in need of some caffeine and food. I’ve also got to look over some papers. Give me at least a couple of hours and I’ll ring you to come and pick me up.’
‘Sure thing, Mr Ashton. Do you want to take your newspaper with you?’
‘Thanks.’
The aroma of rich roast coffee acted like a siren, reeling Drake in as he pushed open the heavy glass door of the café he’d noticed and entered. Years ago, when he was a schoolboy, this old Victorian building had housed the newsagents where his dad had bought his newspaper and tobacco, and later—when it had become a mini-supermarket—his cans of beer too …
