Contracted_corporate wife Read online

  'But most of all, I need to see you. I need to know that you'll come home to me. I need to be able to reach out and touch you whenever I want.'

  A smile hovered around her mouth. 'And what I need absolutely most of all is for you to kiss me.'

  Patrick was staring at her, as if unable to believe what he was hearing.

  'Now,' she prompted in case he had misunderstood, and a smile that started deep in his eyes spread over his face.

  'If you insist,' he said, and Lou leant to meet him halfway, and then they were kissing, deep, sweet kisses that went on and on as they shifted to get closer, wriggling to touch, to press against each other, to feel each other. Patrick's hands were sliding under her jumper, hot against her skin, exploring her, unlocking her until she sighed with pleasure.

  'I need you to love me,' she whispered between kisses. 'Do you think you can do that?'

  Patrick pulled her down so that she slid underneath him. 4 Yes, I can do that,' he said, kissing her throat, his lips warm and possessive, and she shivered luxuriously.

  'Only me? Nobody else?'

  He paused and lifted his head. 'What, not Grace and Tom?'

  'No, I don't mind you loving them,' she conceded, pulling his shirt free of his trousers.

  'What about my mother?' he teased her.

  'Nobody young and beautiful that you're not related to,' said Lou, trying to sound stern, but it was hard when his hand was curved over her breast and his smile was warm against her skin.

  'No, I won't love anyone like that,' he promised. 'I'll just love you...and my car. You don't mind that, do you?'

  Lou smiled and wound her arms around his neck. 'I can live with that,' she said and sank back into his kisses.

  'You're the only woman I've ever loved like this,' Patrick told her shakily a little later. 'You're the only one I've ever wanted like this. I haven't been able to think about another woman since that night in Newcastle.'

  'Ha, and I suppose you were just playing tiddly-winks with Ariel in the Maldives!'

  His lips twitched. 'I only took her to prove to myself that I wasn't obsessed with you, and it didn't work.'

  'I don't believe you were obsessed with me at all!'

  'I was. Utterly. I have been ever since I looked over that table and wondered whether you were wearing stockings or not. After that I couldn't stop wondering. I used to fantasise about you all the time.' He looked down into Lou's dark eyes. 'You can tell me now. Were you wearing stockings under all those little suits?'

  Lou smiled and put his hand on her knee. 'Why don't you find out?' she whispered.

  Patrick's hand slid under her skirt, feeling the warmth of her thigh beneath its sheer covering, drifting upwards until he caught his breath as his fingers found the top of the stocking, the clip on the suspender belt.

  'If we weren't already married, I would ask you to marry me,' he said, his voice ragged with desire.

  'And I'd say yes,' said Lou, no steadier.

  'Would you? Would you marry me, not my money?'

  'If you'd promise to love me for ever and not even look at a blonde again.'

  'I promise,' he said seriously.

  'It looks as if we won't be needing that divorce after all, then,' she said. 'You're stuck with me.'

  Patrick laughed and pulled her closer. 'You're the only one I want to be stuck with!' he said as he kissed her again.

  'You know, I had a plan to seduce you this evening,' said Lou breathlessly, long delicious minutes later. She wriggled on top of him so that her hair swung down and tickled his face and began to unbutton his shirt, kissing his chest as she went.

  'That's the trouble with you middle-aged women,' Patrick pretended to grumble. 'You're only interested in sex. You haven't even told me that you love me!'

  Lou kissed her way back up his throat. 'I love you,' she said, dropping soft kisses on his mouth between each promise. 'I love you, I love you, I love you.'

  Patrick smiled against her kisses. 'It looks like you're going to get lucky, then,' he said, and rolled her over so that they slid off the sofa onto the hearthrug. His hands were warm on her thigh, fingering the top of her stocking, and Lou forgot about the need for a match. Their very own fire was already blazing high, and nothing could stop it now.

  H A R I F Q^U I IN K O IM A JN C7 F

  This September don't miss the first instalment of Margaret Way's brand-new duet...

  •Mm Smtam

  These sisters get a lot more than they bargained for:

  an outback inheritance, sibling rivalries—

  and men they can't live without....

  Brought to you by Harlequin Romance®!

  The Outback Engagement

  On sale September 2005 (#3859)

  Darcy Mclvor is shocked at the contents of her late

  father's will. He's given overall control of the ranch to

  Curt Berenger, a man whom Darcy once nearly married!

  When her estranged, gold-digging sister returns and starts

  making a move on Curt—her Curt—Darcy knows that she'll

  have to tell him exactly why she ended their affair all those

  years ago...or else risk losing him forever!

  Coming soon...

  Marriage at Murraree

  On sale October 2005 (#3863) Available from Harlequin Romance

  HARLEQUIN®

  Live the emotion™ www.eHarlequin.com hrtms

  E Q_U I -IN' F O IM A N -C E

  From city girl—to corporate wife!

  Working side by side, nine to five— and beyond.... No matter how hard

  these couples try to keep their

  relationships strictly professional,

  romance is definitely on the agenda!

  But will a date in the office diary lead to an appointment at the altar?

  This month Harlequin Romance® brings you...

  The Business Arrangement

  Natasha Oakley

  On sale July 2005 (#3854) Next month look out for...

  The Corporate Marriage Campaign

  Leigh Michaels

  On sale August 2005 (#3857) Available wherever Harlequin Books are sold.

  & HARLEQUIN*

  Live the emotion™ www.eHarlequin.com HR925

  ARLEQUIN.com

  The Ultimate Destination for Women's Fiction

  Visit eHarlequin.com's Bookstore today for today's most popular books at great prices.

  • An extensive selection of romance books by top authors!

  • Choose our convenient "bill me" option. No credit card required.

  • New releases,Themed Collections and hard-to-find backlist.

  • A sneak peek at upcoming books.

  • Check out book excerpts, book summaries and Reader Recommendations from other members and post your own too.

  • Find out what everybody's reading in Bestsellers.

  • Save BIG with everyday discounts and exclusive online offers!

  • Our Category Legend will help you select reading that's exactly right for you!

  • Visit our Bargain Outlet often for huge savings and special offers!

  • Sweepstakes offers. Enter for your chance to win special prizes, autographed books and more.

  — Your purchases are 100% —

  guaranteed—so shop online at www.eHarlequin.com today!

  INTBB104R

  If you enjoyed what you just read, then we've got an offer you can't resist!

  Take 2 bestselling

  love stories FREE!

  Plus get a FREE surprise gift!

  Clip this page and mail it to Harlequin Reader Service® W

  IN U.S.A. IN CANADA W

  3010 Walden Ave. P.O. Box 609 W

  P.O. Box 1867 Fort Erie, Ontario *A

  Buffalo, N.Y. 14240-1867 L2A5X3 A

  YES! Please send me 2 free Harlequin Romance® novels and my free if

  surprise gift. After receiving them, if I don't wish to receive anymore, I can ^A

 
return the shipping statement marked cancel. If I don't cancel, I will receive 6 ■T

  brand-new novels every month, before they're available in stores! In the U.S.A., M

  bill me at the bargain price of $3.57 plus 25c shipping & handling per book and l^j

  applicable sales tax, if any*. In Canada, bill me at the bargain price of $4.05 plus f

  250 shipping & handling per book and applicable taxes**. That's the complete ^A

  price and a savings of 10% off the cover prices—what a great deal! I i^

  understand that accepting the 2 free books and gift places me under no w

  obligation ever to buy any books. I can always return a shipment and cancel at ^A

  any time. Even if I never buy another book from Harlequin, the 2 free books and w.

  gift are mine to keep forever.

  186HDNDZ72 386 HDN DZ73

  Name (PLEASE PRINT)

  Address Apt.#

  City State/Prov. Zip/Postal Code

  Not valid to current Harlequin Romance? subscribers. Want to try another series? Call 1'800-873-8635 or visit www.morefreebooks.com.

  * Terms and prices subject to change without notice. Sales tax applicable in N.Y. ** Canadian residents will be charged applicable provincial taxes and GST.

  All orders subject to approval. Offer limited to one per household.

  ® are registered trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and or its licensee HR0M04R ©2004 Harlequin Enterprises Limited

  i

  HARLEQUIN*

  H A R L E Q_U I N R^O M A N C E®

  Coming Next Month

  #3863 MARRIAGE AT MURRAREE Margaret Way

  Discovering her father was a billionaire cattle king makes Casey McGuire one of the famous "Mclvor heiresses" She's worked hard all her life, but she's never had the prospect of money—until now. Nor has she ever truly known love, but irresistible Troy Connellan is ready to change all that. Can wary Casey let go of her past for a future with a rich, powerful—gorgeous—man? The Mclvor Sisters

  #3864 WINNING BACK HIS WIFE Barbara McMahon

  Heather's ex-husband is back! Hunter never understood why Heather walked out. Even when she confesses the truth, it seems too much has happened for a reconciliation. But Heather can see the attraction is still there—and, deep down, so is the love....

  #3865 JUST FRIENDSTO...JUST MARRIED Renee Roszel Kimberly Albert's boyfriend has just walked out and she needs the one man who's always been there for her: her best friend, Jaxon Gideon. But Jax can't be Kim's shoulder to cry on—he's in love with her. So he decides that if he can't have Kim in his life, he wants her out of it! But Kim's starting to see a new side to Jax—an irresistible, sexy side—and she likes what she sees!

  #3866 IMPOSSIBLY PREGNANT Nicola Marsh

  Keely Rhodes can't believe her luck when gorgeous Lachlan Brant hires her to design a new Web site for his radio show. The girls at the office think Lachlan is Keely's perfect man, and they tell her to go for it! But after Keely's business/pleasure trip away, she's got more gossip—what she'd thought impossible has happened: she's pregnant with Lachlan's baby! Office Gossip

  HRCNM0905

  Pi A R L E Q^U I FN ROMANCE

  From sexy bosses to surprise babies — these ladies have got everyone talking!

  Keely, Emma and Tahlia work together at a small,

  trendy design company in Melbourne. They've become

  the best of friends, meeting for breakfast, chatting over

  a midmorning coffee and a doughnut—or going for a

  cocktail after work. They've loved being single in the

  city...but now three gorgeous new men are about to

  enter their work lives, transform their love lives—

  and give them loads more to gossip about!

  First, we meet Keely in...

  Impossibly Pregnant

  by Nicola Marsh (#3866)

  A positive pregnancy test is a surprise for Keely! On-sale October 2005

  The Shock Engagement by Ally Blake (#3870)

  On-sale November 2005

  Taking on the Boss

  by Darcy Maguire (#3874)

  On-sale December 2005

  Available wherever Harlequin books are sold.

  www.eHarlequin.com

  HR0G