âAlone at last.â
Roark came up behind her, his breath warm and provocative against her neck.
âI think our engagement party was a success.â
Was that her, sounding breathy and turned on? All night sheâd been swamped with the longing to feel his hands on her.
âWe achieved what we set out to do. The auction house board knows that beauty has tamed the beast.â
Despite the way his fingers wandered along her waist, with turbulent results, Elizabeth chuckled. âI think Iâd characterize you more like the big bad wolf.â
He spun her around so abruptly her mouth opened in a startled huff.
âThen prepare to be gobbled up.â
She knew this was what she needed to guard against. But then his lips captured hers, robbing her of breath, torching her senses, and a wave of longing crashed into her, drowning all thought⦠.
CAT SCHIELD has been reading and writing romance since high school. Although she graduated from college with a BA in Business, her idea of a perfect career was writing books for Harlequin Mills & Boon>®. And now, after winning the Romance Writers of America 2010 Golden Heart Award for series contemporary romance, that dream has come true.
Cat lives in Minnesota, with her daughter Emily and their Burmese cat. When sheâs not writing sexy, romantic stories she can be found sailing with friends on the St Croix River, or in more exotic locales like the Caribbean and Europe. She loves to hear from readers. Find her at www.catschield.com or follow her on Twitter @catschield
Recent titles by the same author:
THE NANNY TRAP
A TRICKY PROPOSITION UNFINISHED BUSINESS A WIN-WIN PROPOSITION
Did you know these are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk
To my Aunt Sophie
* * *
THE HIGHEST BIDDER
At this high-stakes auction house where everything is for sale, true love is priceless.
Donât miss a single story in this new continuity!
GILDED SECRETS by Maureen Child
EXQUISITE ACQUISITIONS by Charlene Sands A SILKEN SEDUCTION by Yvonne Lindsay A PRECIOUS INHERITANCE by Paula Roe THE ROGUEâS FORTUNE by Cat Schield GOLDEN BETRAYALS by Barbara Dunlop
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Cat Schield for her contribution to The Highest Bidder miniseries.
One
He sauntered through the well-dressed crowd, bestowing his lazy smile on those who gushed their congratulations. Tall and powerfully built, heâd been ogled by half the women heâd passed. He, in turn, seemed uninterested in the stir he created as he charmed his way through the two hundred guests assembled for the premier wine auction.
As he scanned the room like a secret service agent, only his penetrating eyes gave away the fact that he wasnât as relaxed as he appeared.
Most people wouldnât have noticed Roark Black was on edge. Most people didnât have super-sensitive radar for the dangerous types.
Elizabeth Minerva did.
âThe shrimp is running out!â
Jolted out of her ruminating by Brenda Stuart, her quick-to-panic âassistantâ on this event, Elizabeth ripped her gaze away from the handsome adventurer and skimmed damp palms from her waist to her hips.
âI just checked and thereâs plenty of shrimp left,â Elizabeth told Brenda. Annoyance with herself fed her impatient tone. There was also plenty of champagne and canapés and a dozen other things Brenda had fussed about in the last hour. âWhy donât you make yourself a plate and go relax in the back?â
Anything to get rid of the former wedding planner to the middle class. Josie Summers, Elizabethâs boss, had saddled her with Brenda because as always Josie had underestimated what Elizabeth could handle. It was the womanâs second event as Elizabethâs second in command, and rubbing elbows with Manhattanâs rich and famous was spotlighting exactly why Brenda wasnât ready to be here. Instead of projecting a confident, capable vibe as she moved invisibly through the party, Elizabethâs assistant had badgered a server in front of Bunny Cromwell, one of the cityâs most prolific hostesses, and scolded a bartender for not making a city councilmanâs drink properly.
âI canât relax,â Brenda exclaimed, her sharp tone catching the attention of two nearby guests. The women exchanged disgusted expressions. âAnd you shouldnât either.â
Plastering on a serene smile, Elizabeth seized Brendaâs arm above the elbow, fingers pinching ever so delicately. âIâve got everything under control here. The auction will be starting in a half an hour. Why donât you head home?â
âI canât.â Brenda resisted Elizabethâs grip as she was hauled toward the screens set up at one end of the enormous loft space to conceal the food prep area from the party-goers.
âSure, you can.â Elizabeth used her soothing voice as she marched the older woman away from the party. âYouâve put in so many hours this week. You deserve to get out of here. I can handle the rest.â