He was expected to laugh, but it was taking all his concentration just to breathe because sheâd forgotten not to look at him.
And then he could see that it wasnât just him. They were both struggling with the zing of lightning that arced between them.
âSince Plan B was a threat to sue me for malicious damage â¦â
Her voice was thick, her pupils huge against the shot-silk blue. What would she do if he reached out and took her hand and held it against his zip? If he sucked her lower lip into his mouth?
â⦠I didnât think there was much point in hanging around.â
He turned away and crossed to the kettle, picking it up to make sure there was some water in it before switching it on. Any distraction from the thoughts racketing through his head. The same thoughts that had driven him from her office amplified a hundred times.
He had no problem with lust at first sight. With uncomplicated, lifeâs-too-short sex that gave everyone a good time and didnât screw with your head. This was complicated with knobs on. He should never have let her stay.
But he could not have sent her away â¦
Dear Reader
Iâm absolutely thrilled to be able to bring you FOR HIS EYES ONLY in the iconic blue covers of the Modern Tempted⢠series.
One of the joys of writing is research, and the setting for Hadley Chase was inspired by a visit to historic Ashdown House, where my guide was historical novelist Nicola Cornick. Itâs on the Wiltshire/Berkshire borders, set in beautiful downland, and Charles II and Prince Rupert went there to hunt and have a good time. The house at Hadley Chase was a gift after a visit to Great Chalfield Manor, just down the road from my home. Gorgeous scenery, lovely gardens and brilliant fun.
It was enormous fun to stretch myself a little in new directions, too, and I hope youâll enjoy getting to know Natasha Gordon and Darius Hadley as much as they enjoy getting to know one another! If youâd like to see some of my inspiration for the book, do come and take a look at their âboardâ at Pinterest.
All love
Liz
LIZ FIELDING was born with itchy feet. She made it to Zambia before her twenty-first birthday and, gathering her own special hero and a couple of children on the way, lived in Botswana, Kenya and Bahrainâwith pauses for sightseeing pretty much everywhere in between. She finally came to a full stop in a tiny Welsh village cradled by misty hills, and these days mostly leaves her pen to do the travelling.
When sheâs not sorting out the lives and loves of her characters she potters in the garden, reads her favourite authors, and spends a lot of time wondering, What if â¦?
For news of upcoming booksâand to sign up for her occasional newsletterâvisit Lizâs website: www.lizfielding.com
This and other titles by Liz Fielding are available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk
DEDICATION
With thanks to Kate Hardy and Caroline Anderson for their never-failing belief.
And to Gail McCurry Waldrep for the fudge frosting.
ONE
âWhatâs got Milesâs knickers in a twist?â Natasha Gordon poured herself half a cup of coffee. Her first appointment had been at eight and sheâd been on the run ever since. She had to grab any opportunity to top up her caffeine level. âI was on my way to a viewing at the St Johnâs Wood flat when I got a message to drop everything and come straight back here.â
Janine, Morgan and Blackâs receptionist and always the first with any rumour, lifted her slender cashmere-clad shoulders in a donât-ask-me shrug. âIf thatâs what he said, youâd better not keep him waiting,â she said, but, shrug notwithstanding, the ghost of an I-know-something-you-donât smile tugged at lips on which the lipstick was always perfectly applied.
Tash abandoned the untouched coffee and headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time. Miles Morgan, senior partner of Morgan and Black, first port of call for the wealthy flooding into London from all corners of the world to snap up high-end real estate, had been dropping heavy hints for weeks that the vacant âassociateâ position was hers.
Damn right. Sheâd worked her socks off for the last three years and had earned that position with hard work and long hours and Janine, who liked everyone to know how âinâ she was with the boss, had casually let slip the news on Friday afternoon that he would be spending the weekend in the country with the semi-retired âBlackâ to discuss the future of the firm.
âDown, pulse, down,â she muttered, pausing outside his office to scoop up a wayward handful of hair and anchor it in place with great-grandmaâs silver clip.
She always started out the day looking like a career woman on the up, but haring about London all morning had left her more than a little dishevelled and things had begun to unravel. Her hair, her make-up, her shirt.