by Shirley Wine
"Any injury to a child is serious."
She selected a plaster from the packet in the first aid box and covered the tiny cut on Zach's foot, lifted him down from the table and watched as he ran to join his sister not even favoring the foot. "I take it you have a dozen kids?"
A dull flush crept up under his tan. "Since when has being concerned for a child's safety been a crime?"
Anger had her sucking in a sharp breath. "Who the heck do you think are you?"
Her unwelcome visitor put his hands in his trouser pockets, pulled out a cell phone and two shotgun cartridges.
Suddenly wary, Jenna's gaze winged upwards. Apprehension spiked as she saw his lips thin to a grim line. His grey eyes were as hard as polished steel.
"Gabriel Callahan. And by rights I should call the cops, have you arrested and hauled off to jail."
Ashlyn’s Bodyguard
The Second book in the series: Mulleins of Katherine Bay
© Shirley Wine 2012
An attempt to thwart thieves goes horribly wrong and Ashlyn Pritchard is forced to flee. Cast off by her wealthy high-achieving family, and with an international criminal on her trail, she accepts Jace Mullein’s offer of protection, but it comes with strings. He’ll be her bodyguard, twenty-four-seven—if she marries him.
As the danger escalates, Ashlyn learns to trust Jace.
Then she discovers the truth about his past.
It’s too late to retreat, but she needs to question everything about the man she has come to love. Does she mean anything to him at all, or is Jace using her only to exact revenge for past slights?
Excerpt:
That quickly the tension returned. His smoldering look left Ashlyn scorched. “Does everyone who comes near you have to have some ulterior motive? Or is it just me?”
“It could be because they usually do,” she muttered under her breath.
Was Jace was like every other male who sought her out, a gold digger on the prowl? Was he using this situation to his advantage?
“God you’re impossible,” he snapped goaded as he caught her muttered words. “I should have left you in that damn alley and saved myself a heap of bother.”
His words cascaded over her like an icy douche. Had he not intervened she suspected—no she knew she would be dead.
Santos’ victims don’t die easy. That urgent whisper betrayed knowledge of how that low-life operated.
“I’m very grateful you didn’t leave me there, Jace,” she said in a shaken whisper. “Do you and Callahan truly think marriage is necessary?”
He hesitated as if choosing his words carefully.
“In the past, there was bad blood between me and Callahan, before he married my sister.” His gaze never wavered. “But there’s no one whose judgment I trust more.”
And that easily her resistance collapsed.
With a soft sigh she gave in to the inevitable. “Is this about your relationship with your sister? Are you using me to mend fences with her?”
“Hardly.” Jace gave a rueful shake of his head. “I’ve not spoken to Jenna in years. It will take more than a convenient marriage to mend our relationship.”
Jenna was his sister? That information soothed a tender ache. Ashlyn couldn’t quantify how she knew, but with startling percipience, she knew Jace grieved over his estrangement from his family.
He had saved her from a horrible fate. Could she help him? “What happened between you and your siblings?”
His grip on her hands tightened to the point of pain. She gasped and he released the pressure, his glance rueful. He was silent so long she thought he wasn’t going to answer.
When he looked up, she winced at the raw pain reflected in his eyes.
“It’s old history. I wanted to leave Katherine Bay. They were set on staying. So I engineered the situation to my advantage. But it has nothing to do with us now.”
“Hasn’t it?”
He sighed harshly. “Only inasmuch as I now know how important it is to protect vulnerable women from creeps like Santos.”
“Surely you’ve always protected your family?” His actions made this claim difficult to believe. Would Jace put anyone he cared about at risk?
“Not always,” he said harshly. “But I’ve learned from past mistakes. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
Yesterday’s Sins
© Shirley Wine 2012
“Where my family comes from we believe in an eye for an eye…a life for a life…” These words changed Catriona’s life forever.
After years of running from a past she cannot bear to remember, a bouquet of flowers, unlooked for and unwanted, makes Kate Audley look over her shoulder in trepidation.
For eight years, the successful real estate agent has lived under an assumed name in the tiny South Auckland village of Clevedon after fleeing Australia and the man who threw her life into chaos. Eight years in which Kate has had time in plenty to regret the impulsive decision that saw her visit Alexandros Korda in a bid to clear her name.
Now he has found her.
Yesterday’s Sins is the captivating story of a woman’s attempt to resist the man she loves to hate and Alex’s equally determined commitment that she won’t succeed.
On her eighteenth birthday a freak accident that killed his nephew, brought Alexandros Korda into Catriona’s life.
Seven years later, she is trying to forget the horror that followed and the daughter they has together. Can she succeed?
Excerpt
By the time she reached the office, Kate was convinced she could treat Alex Korda as she would any other client.
Dave followed her into her office, closed the door and perched on the edge of her desk.
"What gives with you and Korda?" he asked without preamble.
"Nothing." Kate gave him a wary glance. "Why?"
"It's not like you to be as icy with a client, especially one as wealthy and influential as Alexandros Korda. I had the impression you had the ground knocked out from beneath your feet when you saw him in my office."
Too aware of Dave's intent scrutiny, she fiddled with a pencil; and then leaned back in her chair, rubbing a weary hand across her forehead. She couldn't pretend with Dave, he knew her too well.
"Alex and I go a long way back."
"He strikes me as a bad man to have as an enemy."
"None worse." Kate looked at him and then away, running the pencil through nervous fingers. "Korda is devious and remorseless. He's Greek to his fingertips and Nicolaides, his faithful henchman."
Kate, warmed by his obvious concern, tried to allay his misgivings. "Did he give a reason for wanting property here?"
"Nicolaides approached me a month ago." Dave's eyes were clouded with worry, "The Korda Group is extending its business empire into New Zealand, taking advantage of CER and the related tax spin-offs. Greylings is one of several properties they've acquired. Racing, farming and manufacturing all figure prominently."
So Alex hadn't come here to find her. "He wants a permanent New Zealand base?"
That's the way I read it." Dave hesitated, adding with rough concern, "Would you prefer me to show him around The Birches and have all dealings with him?"
"And let him think I'm running scared? I'll cope."
Dave stood up, nodding grimly. "If he starts putting too much pressure on you, let me know. Client or not, you come first."
"I will." Kate gave him a grateful smile.
She updated files and bookwork while she waited for Alex. She was giving the receptionist instructions on typing up a sales agreement when the outer office door opened.
She looked up and shock ripped open her heart.
The blood drained from her head and settled somewhere in her toes.
Alex walked through the doorway, eyes glittering. His face was pale and set. He held the hand of a small girl with long honey blonde hair, eyes of the same deep grey as his.
Sarah?
This smiling, engaging child could only be Sarah.<
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