The Party Dare

‘The party hasn’t started yet.’

His voice took on a persuasive tone that brushed over her skin like velvet. He seemed to draw something from her that she’d never known she had. Was she out of her depth with this one?

‘Do you think I’m going to abandon my hostess responsibilities for a frolic across the sheets with you?’

He raised a dark brow. ‘Are you?’

The scary thing was she had a feeling that was exactly what was going to happen.

He closed the door, muting the sound of the party below.

She clutched the edge of the dressing table on either side of her hips. If she touched him she might not be responsible for her actions, and with him she very much needed to be responsible.

His head dipped … his mouth hovered. ‘I’ll admit to a little curiosity of my own,’ he murmured, and touched his lips to hers.

Dear Reader

Brie’s story hadn’t fully formed in my mind when I began writing my last book, MISTLETOE NOT REQUIRED, where Brie makes her first appearance. Brie supported her friend Olivia when she had to make some heart-wrenching decisions. Likewise, Olivia was there for Brie as Brie struggled to improve her relationship with her long-lost brother, Jett.

Because that’s what friends are for.

From the start, Olivia’s party-loving friend was demanding to be noticed—so much so that I had to promise her a book of her own, and here it is.

Digging into Brie’s past to find out why she’s such an attention-seeker was the fun part—giving her a worthy opponent even more so.

Leo Hamilton is a short-term, casual kind of guy when it comes to women and relationships. His brutal past and consequent responsibilities have made him a bit of a control freak, and this aspect of his personality immediately clashes with Brie’s sassy independence.

He’s also a man of integrity—as Brie is about to find out for herself …

Anne

ANNE OLIVER lives in Adelaide, South Australia, and with its perfect location and relaxed lifestyle why would she want to leave?

In another life Anne was an early childhood teacher, but not long after she began writing paranormal and time travel adventures as a weekend escape she knew it was more than a hobby. Eventually preferring the fun of writing contemporary romance, she dreamed of swapping yard duties for the life of a published author.

It happened in December 2005, when she was accepted by Mills & Boon^>® for their Modern Heat™ series. The dream continued when her first two published novels won the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year in 2007 and 2008. She considers herself very lucky to have been a finalist for the same award in 2012 and 2013.

Other interests include animal welfare and conservation, quilting, astronomy, all things Scottish, and eating anything she doesn’t have to cook.

Visit Anne at her website: www.anne-oliver.com

DEDICATION

To make a friend you first have to be one.

With thanks to my critique partners:

Kathy, Linda, Lynn and Suzie.

Thanks also to my editor, Meg Lewis, who read the story and asked the right questions.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

DEDICATION

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

ONE

‘I should forewarn you the purchaser intends to renovate. Big time.’

‘Renovate? Big time?’ Breanna Black blinked at her soon-to-be departing next-door neighbour, Carol. ‘Do you know what that involves, exactly?’

‘I overheard elevator and wall demolition to make way for indoor pool mentioned. Amongst other things.’

The words were still echoing in Brie’s head at Carol and George’s farewell dinner more than twenty-four hours later. She shook her head as she rinsed her hands in Carol’s upstairs bathroom. The Reece-Bartons had sold their beautiful mansion, East Wind, to a moron. East Wind was a mirror image of Brie’s West Wind next door, built by brothers in the late nineteenth century. Obviously Leo Hamilton—her new clueless neighbour—didn’t appreciate historical structures or their significance. She swiped up the hand towel, rubbing away at the excess energy she didn’t know what to do with. An indoor pool? For heaven’s sake. If he wanted—

‘Apologies for the interruption, George.’ An unfamiliar voice drifted up the stairs. ‘I didn’t realise you had company.’

Deep and rich and silky, the timbre seemed to harmonise with the foyer’s warm wood-panelled walls where she imagined the recent arrival standing. Pushing the bathroom door wider, she cocked an ear in the direction of the stairwell and listened.

The actual words were muffled by the flautist’s rendition of “Greensleeves” and the disorder of mingled conversations from the twenty or so guests, but it was the tone that hooked her attention. Would he look as scrumptious as he sounded? she wondered. A shiver of lust shimmied down her spine. Would he sound the same in bed?

Then George and his visitor moved from the foyer, their voices merging with those at the dinner party.