âHunterâs emotionally rich tale
will make readers laugh and cry along with the characters. A truly fantastic read.â âRT Book Reviews on Revealed: A Prince and a Pregnancy
âThis is a dynamite story
of a once-forbidden relationship, featuring two terrific characters who have to deal with the past before they can finally be together.â âRT Book Reviews on Exposed: Misbehaving with the Magnate
âThis story starts out on a light, fun and flirty note
and spins into an emotional and heartfelt tale about coming to terms with the past and embracing the future.â âRT Book Reviews on Playboy Boss, Live-In Mistress
Accidentally educated in the sciences, KELLY HUNTER has always had a weakness for fairytales, fantasy worlds, and losing herself in a good book. Husband ⦠yes. Children ⦠two boys. Cooking and cleaning ⦠sigh. Sports ⦠no, not reallyâin spite of the best efforts of her family. Gardening ⦠yes. Roses, of course. Kelly was born in Australia and has travelled extensively. Although she enjoys living and working in different parts of the world, she still calls Australia home.
Kellyâs novels Sleeping Partner and Revealed: A Prince and a Pregnancy were both finalists for the Romance Writers of America RITA>® Award, in the Best Contemporary Series Romance category!
Visit Kelly online at www.kellyhunter.net
âHANNAH, wait up!â Jolie Tanner slipped out of her house yard and slammed the wire gate shut behind her as she raced to catch up with her friend. Usually Hannah called out on the way past, or Jolie waited on the step for herâthe plan wasnât foolproof but theyâd been walking to school together since kindergarten and, unless one of them was sick, they had the routine down pat. âHan!â
But Hannah didnât slow down or turn around. Hannah kept right on walking.
Cole walked with Hannah today and that was unusual. Cole was Hannahâs big brother. Big as in seventeen years old and tall and strong and in his final year of high school. Big as in handsome, and popular, and good at absolutely everything.
Cole had shaggy black hair, olive skin, and green green eyes framed by dark curling lashes. Cole left every Hollywood teen heartthrob for dead. Including the vampires.
Hannah adored her brother. Jolie adored him too, although Jolieâs adoration of late had been tinged with an awareness she couldnât describe. Sheâd begun to feel tongue-tied around him. She didnât know where to look or what to do. Hannah had noticed. Hannah had started teasing Jolie about her stupid reactions to Cole.
Was that why Hannah wouldnât turn around?
Because Jolie knew Cole was too old for her, too everything for her, and that he would never look at her like that. It was just a phase she was going through. That was what her mother had said when Jolie had mentionedâkind ofâthat she got clumsy around Cole Rees these days. Rachel Tanner had smiled her crinkly smile and told Jolie sheâd grow out of it eventually.
Her total crush on Cole Rees was nothing to worry about. It was just a phase.
âHannah, wait up.â Slinging her bag more securely over her shoulder, Jolie began to run to catch up.
âJust keep walking,â said Cole.
âBut what do I say?â asked Hannah, her eyes stricken and her expression piteous. âCole, sheâs my best friend. What do I say?â
âNothing.â
âDo you think she knows?â
âHow would I know?â Cole Rees didnât know anything any more. Heâd thought his parentsâ marriage was solid. Not great, but solid. Heâd thought his father walked on water. Reality had come as a shock. His father had been having an affairâfor over a year now heâd been having an affair. With Jolie Tannerâs mother. His father had admitted it last night in a blazing row. His father wanted a divorce. Cole and Hannah had been upstairs but theyâd heard it all. The accusations, the acknowledgement, and then the tears.
So many tears.
Jolie called out again, and Cole kept right on walking. Little Jolie T might have been just a kid but she was already a beauty. Hair the colours of firelight and big grey eyes that seemed to see everything. Jolieâs mother was one of the most beautiful women Cole had ever seen. Jolie would be the same. Just give her time.
And then Jolie was beside them on the footpath, those big grey eyes bright and her red ponytail bouncing. âHannah, did you do the homework for the test?â
Hannah said nothing. Hannah shot him another pleading glance and Cole wished himself somewhere, anywhere, else.