Charlie Sykes takes everything and everyone at face value—and believes life would be a lot easier if everyone else did, too. Aussie Jace Knight, international hotelier and purported playboy, has never met anyone like the absurdly literal and obliviously beautiful American who applies for his personal assistant position. The trouble is, how do you pursue a woman whose definition of flirting comes straight out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary? That, and he’s not the only one after Charlie. Seems Mr. Knight might not be a reformed criminal after all.
Soon, Charlie’s immersed in a whirlwind of international espionage that takes her from the hip streets of Sydney to the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the wild, desolate outback. A dangerous trap’s being set, but how will Charlie protect herself and prevent a tragic betrayal, when she can’t even sort out what her heart’s telling her?
Excerpt
#1
I slid
into a soft leather upright, and put my satchel on the floor beside me. Mr.
Knight said nothing.
I
waited, calmly, expecting him to peruse my prominent breasts, especially since
my nipples were no doubt peaked through my thin blouse and bra. But, he did
not, which I greatly respected. Instead, he openly appraised my face, and
finally, smiled.
“So
Miss Sykes, what brings such a beautiful yank to Sydney then?”
“My
looks are not at all pertinent, Mr. Knight.” His smile dropped. “I chose Australia
spontaneously,” I offered, having enough sense not to share the Muriel’s Wedding
detail. “I simply moved here to start fresh.”
He
leaned forward in his chair, examining me much closer, eyes narrowed. “There
are only a few reasons why a woman such as yourself leaves America for down
under . . . Miss Sykes.”
I
waited for his assumption.
“You’re
running from someone. An ex? Husband? Boyfriend?”
I did
not like the way he eyed me just then.
“Incorrect
on all counts,” I informed him. “I have never had any of those. But I do not
believe my sexual history, or lack of it, is pertinent to the job interview.”
As I spoke, his full lips had popped open and his eyebrows had hiked farther
up, creating strong lines in his forehead.
“Here
we go,” I thought, frowning. Something I was doing was confusing him. Of
course, I had no idea what it was. My tone of voice? Something I had said? It
was like trying to figure out an alien
alphabet. I cleared my throat. “However, you can be rest assured I am in
Australia for no reason other than a desire to live life, finally, and that I
have no intentions of leaving.” I did not want him to think I was not capable
of a long-term commitment to the company should things work out.
Excerpt
#2
I
swung my legs around and glanced up into his eyes. Night was just beginning to
fall. I had left the window open and a lovely breeze swept across our veranda
lifting the curtain behind him. He had added a dress jacket to his dark blue
jeans and mauve dress shirt. I picked up the familiar scent of his cologne,
sandalwood and lime. His giant gold Rolex glowed in the light. His eyes held
nothing but darkness.
I
breathed out, smoothed my hair, and spotting my heels, leaned over to strap
them on.
“Do
you know why I hired you, Charlie?”
What a
peculiar question. I was about to answer yes, when I realized, given my lack of
hospitality and personal assistance experience, no, actually I could not be
sure. I shook my head as I took his hand and rose to stand. His brow was stern
and his mouth was flat.
“Your’s
was the first pair of eyes I stared into in a long time, ever really, that I
could see straight through to the bottom.”
Oh. He
must be speaking figuratively. Was that a compliment? His thumb rubbed my hand
like it was a feather. Perhaps he was practicing pretending to be lovers?
“Maybe that was wrong of me, to think how I
wanted to keep you like that forever. Maybe hiring you, bringing in you close .
. . maybe that’ll change you.”
I
stared up at him, hearing my heart pound. Wait. Maybe . . . he was suspicious.
“Are
you saying you regret hiring me, Mr. Knight?” I tugged my hand free.
I
could not meet his eyes.
“No.”
I did not dare look in his eyes. “But I’m worried I will,” he stated flatly. He
stepped close after I stepped away. “Look me in the eye, Charlie, and tell me I
won’t regret hiring you,” he demanded suddenly, his voice calm, deep and
impending.
I need
a glass of water to swallow my heart back down.
What
had happened? Why this sudden strangeness?
Excerpt
#3
“Look
me in the eye.”
I did
as he asked.
“Now
ask me.”
“Are
you,” I caught my breath, “involved in criminal activities?” I sounded very
quiet. Not myself.
I felt
a burn in my nose, and my eyes grew blurry. He blew air out of his nose and
stepped closer, but I stepped back, needing space to stay the course.
“Don’t,”
I said.
“Don’t
what?” he asked, tenderly.
I
flashed on him again, surprised. His face had grown lighter, calmer . . . maybe
as he took in my sadness. He had uncrossed his arms, and tilted his head to the
side.
No. I
knew what he was trying to do.
“Seduce
the truth away,” I answered, remembering how he had reassured me in Port
Douglas with physical affection.
His
mouth popped open.
“I
deserve better.”
He
flinched, and, after a moment, glanced away.
