Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4. Dani Collins

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СКАЧАТЬ and indicated the main exit. ‘My limousine has just pulled into the kerb.’

      ‘I’ve ordered a cab.’

      He turned slightly and shot her a measured look. ‘Cancel it.’

      ‘No.’

      If he brought up the twenty-four-seven thing again, she’d be strongly tempted to verbally lash out at him. It had been a long day, fraught with delays and interruptions beyond her control...throw in Jason Tremayne, and her composure was beginning to shred. More than anything she wanted the familiarity of her home and a blissful night’s sleep.

      ‘Do you particularly want to cause a scene?’ His voice was a dangerously soft drawl, and she silently challenged him for several seconds, unwilling to capitulate.

      The sight of a cab swooping to a halt directly behind the limousine proved perfect timing.

      ‘There’s my ride,’ she indicated with polite civility, only to see Alexei cross to the cab, pay the driver, then return to the waiting limousine and indicate the open rear passenger door.

      If a look could kill, he should have collapsed onto the pavement. As that didn’t happen, she had to content herself with a flame-fuelled stare...one which, much to her mounting anger, he met with glittering dark eyes and held for what seemed a ridiculous length of time.

      ‘Get in the car.’ His voice was quiet. Yet only a fool would ignore the steel beneath the deceptive calm.

      She tilted her head a little, for even in killer heels her height didn’t come close to his own. ‘You neglected to add please.’

      Are you crazy? The answer had to be a definite yes.

      He held the balance of power, and thwarting him to any degree was the height of folly.

      For years, hell, most of her life, she’d complied, content to fit in. Happiness equated to family, good friends, satisfying job, and a pleasant lifestyle. Not that she didn’t possess views, nor was she afraid to voice them when the occasion warranted it.

      Easygoing, fun, joyful...until five years ago when everything had fallen apart.

      Since then she’d toughened up...on the inside. Outwardly there appeared little change in her demeanour. As far as anyone knew, she’d survived and regained her former easygoing persona.

      Only she knew it to be a protective shell. There were nights when vivid dreams haunted her sleep, occasionally so painful and stark she’d awake with tears dampening each cheek, emotionally and mentally exhausted by painful images.

      ‘Natalya.’

      Okay, enough with the hissy fit. One of them had to give in, and it was clear it wasn’t going to be Alexei. Conceivably, how long could they remain standing here, Paul and the limousine waiting, in a deliberate face-off?

      She gave Alexei a look that should have seared his soul.

      ‘Go to hell.’ The words were quietly spoken, but there was little doubt of the heartfelt meaning as she moved past him and slid into the rear seat, reached for the seatbelt, fastened it, and steadfastly ignored Alexei’s presence as he joined her.

      Silence is golden?

      Really? It felt like a thick fog encompassed the car’s interior as it moved quietly through the city streets.

      She wanted to lash out at him in verbal rage...so much so it became a palpable entity.

      ‘Nothing further you’d like to add?’

      Natalya spared him a hard brief glance. The temptation to tell him precisely what she thought of his macho tactics was almost irresistible. ‘Not at the present time.’

      For a millisecond she imagined the gleam of humour in his dark eyes, and her own narrowed at the thought he might be amused.

      She was tempted to take him up on it. Although the joke would be on her if it could have simply been a trick of reflected light in the car’s dim interior.

      Focussing her attention on the passing traffic, the bright neon billboards, worked for a few scant minutes, until unbidden memories rose to the surface.

      Remembering too well vivid images of his mouth on her own. The way his tongue sought, teased in wicked exploration, and possessed until she became totally lost in the magic of his touch...and the response it evoked as she matched the sensual fervour to a point when foreplay ceased to be enough...

      The images came to a sudden screeching halt as her mind went into involuntary shutdown.

      She was so not going there.

      Couldn’t, if she was to retain a shred of sanity.

      At least she managed to exert strict control during her waking hours...

      Now he was there, five days out of every seven, invading her space, a constant reminder of what they’d once shared.

      A deliberate manoeuvre in his plan for revenge.

      Against her father...without question.

      Her? How many times had she lain awake in the dark of night emotionally agonising for a possible answer?

      Too many times to count.

      Alexei had done his homework too well, ensuring Natalya’s one way out would involve irreparably breaking her mother’s heart, and she hated him for it.

      Worse, the all-consuming emotional war was gradually tearing her apart.

      Had that also been part of his plan?

      It said much for her resolve that she managed to regain a semblance of apparent calm until Paul turned off the main thoroughfare and eased to a halt outside her home.

      Natalya unclipped her seatbelt, offered a polite goodnight, and made her exit, assuming a normal pace as she walked the path to the front door, inserted the key, entered the foyer, then closed the door behind her.

      Inside the car, the driver spared his employer a questioning glance via the rear mirror. ‘Seaforth, Alexei?’

      He inclined his head, and issued a brief affirmative. Home was a beautiful mansion high on a promontory with enviable views. Professionally decorated and furnished, with staff to cater to his slightest whim.

      Hard work, long hours, a penchant for electronic design...add the three Ds, determination, dedication and desire...had seen him succeed beyond his wildest dreams.

      Some of his contemporaries had described him as driven. Only he knew the true reason why he’d deliberately chosen to bring Roman Montgomery to his knees, and make Natalya pay.

      There was a personal need to push the boundaries...which surprised him. So, too, did Natalya’s concerted intention to become the quintessential PA.

      Absent was her smile, replaced by an efficiency he couldn’t fault.

      Had she changed so much from the beautiful young woman in mind and spirit with whom he’d once fallen in love?

      Haunting СКАЧАТЬ