She might not be the Jezebel he thought she was, but women like Lily Wild always knew what they were about.
Heâd had enough of the simmering tension between them, and knew just how to kill it dead.
âOkay, thatâs it,â he said softly, placing his empty glass on the antique sideboard with deliberate care. âIâm giving you fair warning. Iâm sick of the tension between usâand the reason for it. Youâve got exactly three seconds to get moving before I take up what we started six years agoâand this time thereâll be no stopping. Youâre not seventeen any more, and thereâs no secretary to interrupt like yesterday. This time weâre on our own, and Iâm not of a mind to stop at one kissâand neither, I suspect, are you.â
From as far back as she can remember MICHELLE CONDER dreamed of being a writer. She penned the first chapter of a romance novel just out of high school, but it took much study, many (varied) jobs, one ultra-understanding husband and three very patient children before she finally sat down to turn that dream into a reality.
Michelle lives in Australia, and when she isnât busy plotting she loves to read, ride horses, travel and practise yoga.
This is Michelle Conderâs first novel for Mills & Boon>® Modern⢠Romance!
For Paul, who always takes the kidsâeven when it means missing a surfâfor my kids, who so graciously accept when Mummy is busy, for Laurel, who tirelessly reads my dodgy first drafts, and for Mum, who is always there when I need her most.
And for Flo for her keen insights and endless encouragement.
Thank you all.
âIS THIS your idea of a joke, Jordana?â Tristan Garrett turned away from the view of the Thames outside his tenth-storey office window to stare incredulously at his baby sister. She sat in one of the navy tub chairs on the visitorsâ side of his desk, legs crossed, immaculately groomed, and looking not at all like a crazy person sailing three sheets to the windâas she sounded.
âAs if I would joke about something so serious!â Jordana exclaimed, gazing at him, her jade-green eyes, the exact shade of his own, wide and etched with worry. âI know it sounds unbelievable but itâs true, and we have to help her.â
Actually, her story didnât sound unbelievable at all, but Tristan knew his sanguine sister had a tendency to see goodness in people when there was none to see at all.
He turned back to stare at the pedestrians lining the Thames and better able to enjoy the September sunshine than he was. He couldnât stand seeing his sister so upset, and he cursed the so-called friend who was responsible for putting these fresh tears in her eyes.
When she came to stand beside him he slung his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. What could he say to placate her? That the friend she wanted to help wasnât worth it? That anyone stupid enough to try and smuggle drugs out of Thailand deserved to get caught?
Normally he would help his sister in a heartbeat, but no way was he getting involved in this fiascoâand nor was she. He gave her an affectionate squeeze, but he didnât try to contain the edge of steel in his voice when he spoke. âJo, this is not your problem and you are not getting involved.â
âIââ
Tristan held up his hand to cut off her immediate objection, his solid-gold cufflinks glinting in the downlights. âIf what you say is true then the girl made her bed and sheâll have to lie in it. And may I remind you that youâre eight days away from the wedding of the year. Not only will Oliver not want you getting involved, but I doubt the Prince of Greece will want to sit beside a known drug-userâno matter how beautiful.â
Jordanaâs mouth tightened. âOliver will want me to do whatâs right,â she objected. âAnd I donât care what my wedding guests think. Iâm going to help Lily and thatâs that.â
Tristan shook his head. âWhy would you risk it?â
âSheâs my best friend and I promised I would.â
That surprised him. Heâd thought their friendship had died down years ago. But if that was the case then why was Lily to be maid of honour at Joâs wedding? Maid of honour to his best man! And why hadnât he thought to ask that question two weeks earlier, when heâd found out Lily was coming to the wedding?
He frowned, but decided to push that issue aside for the more pressing problem at hand. âWhen did you speak to her?â
âI didnât. A customs officer called on her behalf. Lily wanted to let me know why she couldnât meet me, andâOh, Tristan, if we donât help her sheâll probably go to jail.â