скачать книгу бесплатно
The Heiress's Secret Romance
Martha Kennerson
From undercover lovers to happily-ever-after?Investigator Kathleen Winston’s task is clear: uncover the truth about the alleged safety violations at Kingsley Oil and Gas. But one look at ruggedly sexy VP Morgan Kingsley and her scrutiny transforms into seduction! Kathleen can’t deny their explosive chemistry during the work day…or the unbridled passion in his arms at night. But can the emotionally guarded bachelor forgive Kathleen once her identity—and her heart—are revealed?
From undercover lovers to happily-ever-after?
Investigator Kathleen Winston’s task is clear: uncover the truth about the alleged safety violations at Kingsley Oil and Gas. But one look at ruggedly sexy VP Morgan Kingsley and her scrutiny transforms into seduction! Kathleen can’t deny their explosive chemistry during the workday...or the unbridled passion in his arms at night. But can the emotionally guarded bachelor forgive Kathleen once her identity and her heart are revealed?
MARTHA KENNERSON’s love of reading and writing is a significant part of who she is, and she uses both to create the kinds of stories that touch your heart. Martha lives with her family in League City, Texas, and believes her current blessings are only matched by the struggle it took to achieve such happiness. To find out more about Martha and her journey, check out her website at www.marthakennerson.com (http://www.marthakennerson.com).
Also By Martha Kennerson (#ulink_558cd346-43e0-5dfb-9797-5a57804452df)
Protecting the Heiress
Seducing the Heiress
Tempting the Heiress
Always My Baby
An Unexpected Holiday Gift
Be My Forever Bride
The Heiress’s Secret Romance
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
The Heiress’s Secret Romance
Martha Kennerson
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08603-5
THE HEIRESS’S SECRET ROMANCE
© 2018 Martha Kennerson
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Morgan slowly rose from his seat. “Excuse me.” His brows snapped together, and he came out from around his desk.
Kathleen stood defiantly in front of him. “You asked me out, then, what...changed your mind or got a better offer?”
Morgan was confused, but by the scowl on Kathleen’s face he knew she believed what she was saying.
“And another thing, mister.” She used her right index finger and poked him in the chest. “You don’t say all those beautiful things to a woman and just kick her to the curb without an explanation.”
Morgan grabbed her finger and held it at his heart. “I didn’t kick you to the curb, and I certainly didn’t blow you off. You said you were leaving early and doing something with your sister this weekend. I’d say you blew me off.”
“No, I didn’t.” Kathleen stepped forward, closing the gap between them.
Morgan watched Kathleen’s face morph from anger to confusion to desire. He could see how sincere she was, and he was overwhelmed with emotions. Morgan lowered his head and gently kissed her on the lips. Kathleen slid her hands up and around his neck, pressed her body against him and moaned his name into his mouth. Morgan deepened the kiss.
Dear Reader (#ua6d577af-6ea2-5bd9-8aca-d2027141437c),
If you have read any of my books, you know how important it is that my stories come from a place of love, based in some truths, and showcase strong and sometimes unique family dynamics. I hope The Kingsleys of Texas hasn’t disappointed. So far, you have met three amazing men. Now it’s time to meet the final Texas Kingsley.
In The Heiress’s Secret Romance, Kathleen Winston is a special agent for OSHA determined to bring down the Kingsleys for perceived malfeasance against their employees. Morgan Kingsley, the second eldest of the Kingsley brothers and a proud commitmentphobe, finds himself second-guessing his thoughts on the subject after spending time with Kathleen.
I love interacting with my readers. Please let me know how you liked Morgan and Kathleen’s story. You can contact me on Facebook or Twitter, @kennersonbooks (https://twitter.com/kennersonbooks?lang=en). I hope to bring you more exciting stories of fascinating families shortly.
Until then,
Martha
I’d like to dedicate this story to all my faithful readers. If not for you I would have all these stories and characters stuck in my head with nowhere to go. Thank you for your continued support.
Acknowledgments (#ua6d577af-6ea2-5bd9-8aca-d2027141437c)
I would like to acknowledge all the survivors of Hurricane Harvey. Houston showed the world just how resilient we are.
Contents
Cover (#ua5b4cf2a-1aa4-5ebf-bd5d-69c80923acec)
Back Cover Text (#u46e512fb-d8de-58dc-8cbd-7807b54be964)
About the Author (#u85d308dc-e708-58c2-80cf-1b5f969df92b)
Booklist (#ulink_0c5d7fc7-3057-5da1-9255-af1994d7472c)
Title Page (#uc9185a38-180a-5186-8767-ff1247042cf4)
Copyright (#u78d0bab2-8971-5ed9-b4c4-1af5f388a2cc)
Introduction (#ud62d8991-ed78-5690-884f-94bc591a2e5b)
Dear Reader (#u9bd47e69-779b-5208-944c-3f68440b683d)
Dedication (#u133a9f03-ece2-5398-907c-a0889ea20ab0)
Acknowledgments (#u2a1757f6-08c6-5716-a8a5-665200d74574)
Chapter 1 (#u5be3c022-6b13-54a1-a20f-97c2b04ac8ef)
Chapter 2 (#u236ac1d2-4b3f-59b1-87f7-591dee38aad2)
Chapter 3 (#u8c239fd2-ad25-5170-ad24-518fb3e4a0ec)
Chapter 4 (#u7140f8bd-6d70-5a7a-a5b9-c5a954ca98ef)
Chapter 5 (#u04645931-e9f3-5d5a-88b1-b60fecbbc282)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 1 (#ua6d577af-6ea2-5bd9-8aca-d2027141437c)
Kathleen Winston walked into her office, still in shock at how badly her meeting with her boss had gone. Twenty-nine-year-old Kathleen was an heiress to the multibillion-dollar Winston Construction fortune, but still worked as a special agent for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. She released a string of profanity under her breath, dropping down into her chair. Kathleen turned away from the desk and looked over at the framed picture of her parents sitting on the credenza. Memories of the day her parents had sat their children down to explain their mother’s illness were very vivid. It was also the day that changed the trajectory of her life.
Hearing her mother say the words I have cancer had been a knife piercing Kathleen’s heart. She still felt as if the conversation had just taken place versus seven years earlier. Initially, Kathleen thought her parents were playing a very bad joke. At least she hoped they were. After all, their mother showed no signs of being sick. She was still strong, energetic and very beautiful. But Kathleen quickly realized how serious things were by the pained look in her father’s eyes.
Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll get them, just like I have all the others.
“What’s wrong?” a voice from behind asked.
“Everything,” she replied, immediately recognizing the speaker. “Simpson just killed my investigation into Kingsley Oil and Gas.”
“And you’re surprised? Girl, you know you can’t trust no Simpson,” Gilbert replied, laughing as he approached her desk.
Gilbert Ray was Kathleen’s assistant and best friend since they were kids. He was one of two people at her office, the only one besides her boss, who knew her background and wealth.
“What did he do now?”
Kathleen turned and faced Gilbert. She smiled at the baby-blue suit and white dress shirt he’d paired with a blue-and-white bowtie and blue-and-white loafers. Kathleen loved the fearlessness of her friend. He always knew who he was and he never cared about what others thought about him.
“My...my, don’t you look fabulous.”
“Don’t I?” He glanced down at himself. “I love that green Michael Kors camouflage dress you’re rocking too.”
“Thanks.”
“Dish—what happened at the meeting?”
“Just what I said—Simpson pulled the investigation into the Kingsleys and their company,” she explained.
Gilbert gave a nonchalant wave before he took a seat in one of the round chairs that sat in front of her desk. “Girl, I don’t know why you are tripping. You know how you beautiful, rich, bougie people do stuff like that. If you want something to go away—” he used his hands to imitate making a phone call “—like on that game show, you use a lifeline and call a friend.”
Kathleen sighed. She knew Gilbert was still upset about the way his wealthy boyfriend of nearly a year had recently ended their relationship. Kathleen sat up in her chair. “First, I know you’re still salty about what Vince did, and I hate that he made me tell you what an ass he’d been, but I couldn’t have you thinking something happened to him when he stopped returning your phone calls.”
Gilbert smacked his lips. “I know, and I love you for it.”
“Good. And I love you too. Second, I told you to stop calling me that and don’t lump me in with all bougie rich people.”
“But you are...both. Rich and high-class and you know it too.” He frowned.
“I’m a melting pot of things, and I embrace them all,” she stated matter-of-factly.
