âBEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Anne Oliver is an amazing story of an unrequited love that has smouldered for years and is about to come to a head. Ms Oliverâs characters are rich, and create a depth to the story that makes it a tempting read.â
âCataRomance
âMARRIAGE AT THE MILLIONAIREâS COMMAND is a terrific story. Anne Oliver has created a winner in Ben, the hot and sexy, but equally complex, hero.â
âRT Book Reviews
âAnne Oliverâs BUSINESS IN THE BEDROOM is a fun and entertaining tale about the attraction of opposites. The heroine is terrific: smart, fun and not afraid to go after what she wants.â
âRT Book Reviews
âI need a regular companion to take some of the heat off this Bachelor of the Year thing,â Dane continued.
âSomeone to accompany me to functions. Itâll be good publicity for you too, and if they do find out anything about what happened in Paris my influence with the media here could come in handy. As for financeâI have an empty room that you can use rent-free to get your business started.â
Mariel was still stuck on âregularâ. âHow regular are we talking?â
His eyes were like charcoal now, and intense. âYouâll move in with meââ
âWhoa. Hold it. Move in with you? So in the publicâs eyes weâre a couple?â
âLovers,â he corrected.
Heat spurted through her veins at the mental image. âSo weâve gone from companion and a couple of dates to lovers?â
His gaze remained steady on hers. âI wonât pretend not to want you in my bed, Mariel.â
âWhat makes you think Iâd want to be there?â she shot back.
What made her think she could resist?
When not teaching or writing, Anne Oliver loves nothing more than escaping into a book. She keeps a box of tissues handyâher favourite stories are intense, passionate, against-all-odds romances. Eight years ago she began creating her own characters in paranormal and time travel adventures, before turning to contemporary romance. Other interests include quilting, astronomy, all things Scottish, and eating anything she doesnât have to cook. Sharing her charactersâ journeys with readers all over the world is a privilegeâ¦and a dream come true. Anne lives in Adelaide, South Australia, and has two adult children. Visit her website at www.anne-oliver.com. She loves to hear from readers. E-mail her at [email protected]
With a big thank-you to my critique buddies, Kathy, Sharon and Linda, for helping me bring out the best in Mariel and Daneâs story.
Thanks also to my editor Meg Lewis, for her patience and advice during the revision process.
âREMIND me again why I dragged my jet-lagged body to a wedding with you when I could be sleeping it off in the comfort of my own bed?â
Mariel Davenport glanced at her sister Phoebe over the obligatory glass of champagneâexcept Marielâs glass sparkled with mineral water. After the stress of packing and avoiding the press, then the long-haul flight from Paris, the last thing she needed was alcohol.
She skimmed the elite crowd, dripping with diamonds and couture and French perfume. Some she knew; most were strangers. Ten years away was a long time.
Phoebe flashed a smile, brown eyes sparkling. âBecause youâre my big sister and you love me, and we havenât seen each other since that Mediterranean cruise three years ago.â
Mariel arched a brow. âNot because your boyfriend left you in theâ?â
âEx-boyfriend,â Phoebe snarled, all humour extinguished. She topped up her champagne flute from the bottle on the nearby table with a sharp chink of glass on crystal. âKyleâs history.â She tossed back a mouthful of bubbly in disgust. âMen. Whoâd trust them?â
The words pierced the thin armour Mariel had struggled to wrap around herself since leaving Paris. âWho indeed?â
Phoebeâs eyes widened in obvious dismay. âOh, Mari, Iâm sorryâ¦â
âDonât be. I was a fool; it wonât happen again.â She bit down on the inside of her lower lip. Hadnât she made that very same vow once before? Right here in her home town?
âThatâs the spirit.â Phoebeâs firm nod had her blonde bangs bouncing. âNew Yearâs resolution: no men. Until the next full moon at least.â She grinned, then tucked her hand into the crook of Marielâs arm as the band struck up a popular party hit. âLetâs mingle.â The happy couple had left but the revelry lived on. âOr we could dance,â she suggested. âItâll take your mind off things.â
Mariel shook her head. âYou know I love nothing better than a good party, but not tonight.â What sane people would choose New Yearâs Day to get married anyway? She raised her glass and pointed it towards the crowd congregating on the makeshift dance floor beyond the open French doors of the luxurious old Adelaide Hills mansion. âYou go ahead. Iâm fine. Iâll just loiter here a while.â
âAre you sure?â
âPositive.â She fixed a smile on her lips and shooed Phoebe away. âGo.â