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Tempted
Kimberly Van Meter
Her greatest temptation…As far as Harper Riley is concerned, attraction can't be trusted. Money, on the other hand, lasts forever. Which is why Harper's on a singles cruise for her latest target: a wealthy widower who might just need a new wife. So why can't she keep her eyes—or her dirty thoughts—off the ruggedly hot guy in the room next to hers?Of course, the charming ones are always broke, and Teagan Carmichael is both ridiculously charming and inexcusably broke. Worse still, there's some serious heat sizzling between them. But Harper has too much riding on this job to have her head turned by Mr. Deliciously-Sexy-But-Poor. She already knows that giving into a little temptation can turn into a whole lot of trouble…
Her greatest temptation...
As far as Harper Riley is concerned, attraction can’t be trusted. Money, on the other hand, lasts forever. Which is why Harper’s on a singles cruise for her latest target: a wealthy widower who might just need a new wife. So why can’t she keep her eyes—or her dirty thoughts—off the ruggedly hot guy in the room next to hers?
Of course, the charming ones are always broke, and Teagan Carmichael is both ridiculously charming and inexcusably broke. Worse still, there’s some serious heat sizzling between them. But Harper has too much riding on this trip to have her head turned by Mr. Deliciously-Sexy-But-Poor. She already knows that giving in to a little temptation can turn into a whole lot of trouble...
“You stood me up.”
“I never agreed to a date. You shouldn’t make assumptions,” Harper said.
Teagan chuckled, taking careful note of how a subtle shiver rocked her body. “Caught a chill?” he teased, knowing full well it wasn’t a chill that caused her to shake. “Lucky for you, all’s well that ends well. I have an open spot at my table for you.”
Teagan released her and moved in front, daring her to turn him down.
She met his gaze with a subtle smile playing on her lips. “Maybe I’m already meeting someone.”
“You are. Me.”
“Not you,” she said with a small laugh. “Someone else.”
“Impossible.”
“Your ego is quite healthy, isn’t it?”
“So is my libido.”
Color flushed her cheeks a pretty pink. “What makes you think I’m interested in you like that?”
Teagan reached over to lightly caress the goose bumps still rioting on her arm. “Because your body tells me so.”
Dear Reader (#u09b05772-6b88-5bd3-a31e-7c25db34b4c1),
I love witty banter. If a scene between characters can make me laugh, I know it’s a keeper. But even better than creating winning banter is a story that can make me laugh and cry—now, that’s a real success.
I confess, I did cry at the end of this story. Hot, sexy, emotional, funny...Tempted is the entire package and I hope you agree.
I won’t lie—I struggled with this book. Not because I didn’t love the story or the characters but because I wanted to do them justice. I wanted to ensure that my readers experienced the full gamut of emotion that happens between two stubborn people who are determined to have their own way but ultimately realize that sometimes when you win, you lose.
Anyway, please enjoy and if you did, tell a friend! Or drop me a line and tell me what you thought.
I love hearing from readers. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter or drop me an email. Or you can also write me a letter at PO BOX 2210, Oakdale, CA 95361.
Kimberly
Tempted
Kimberly Van Meter
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
KIMBERLY VAN METER wrote her first book at sixteen and finally achieved publication in December 2006. She writes for the Harlequin Superromance, Blaze and Romantic Suspense lines. She and her husband of seventeen years have three children, three cats, and always a houseful of friends, family and fun.
To all those brave souls who open their hearts to the most wonderful and terrifying adventures one can have in life...I wish you the courage to try and the strength to hold on.
“Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star.”
—E. E. Cummings
Contents
Cover (#u86638a6c-191c-5b09-bc2f-f5181a5f0f16)
Back Cover Text (#ubb89aa09-37a9-5cc3-91d1-a39c9a16864c)
Introduction (#udd6ab081-1ea1-56d4-aea9-bfd61a574010)
Dear Reader (#uc508577c-7346-5311-814b-a856eed11715)
Title Page (#uf7b6a04e-1fda-56bf-a061-65b564712c19)
About the Author (#u22ebae51-165d-52a4-8b75-926676bf264f)
Dedication (#uf5500ef3-9b4e-588e-ac28-729fef06971f)
Chapter 1 (#u23666f2c-a4c3-5856-aa0f-69944a826e04)
Chapter 2 (#ucba0782d-ec72-5db8-963a-cabd0dc81dba)
Chapter 3 (#u8b0a6b63-3dc1-58e0-ac4f-21927bb02750)
Chapter 4 (#ucadbc7ef-a0c5-5403-bf8c-26ad3220ef98)
Chapter 5 (#ubee4f042-7374-5b44-8cef-5098dfb01c37)
Chapter 6 (#u714608e9-bcc9-5141-939d-19a0a930bddd)
Chapter 7 (#u543a01a3-c302-58fd-8914-0154c7378e2f)
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)
Chapter 24 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 25 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
1 (#u09b05772-6b88-5bd3-a31e-7c25db34b4c1)
FORMER AIR FORCE pilot Teagan Carmichael didn’t do cruises.
And yet, here he was, handing his boarding pass to the attendant, about to board the Nautica cruise liner, still a little unsure as to how his brother, J.T., had convinced him this was a good idea.
Mexico of all places. Two months ago, he and his buddies were flying into South America to rescue his brother J.T. after he’d accepted a charter flight gig to Mexico that had started out simple enough, but had ended up with J.T. and his female passenger crash-landing near the Guatemalan border.
They’d ended up in Sao Paulo, and somehow, by the grace of God, they’d made it out alive with all fingers and toes still intact, but Teagan was fairly certain luck had been a factor.
Maybe their guardian angels had cashed in some chips, because there were times Teagan had been fairly certain their goose was cooked.
Against all odds, they’d managed to not only escape, but to come out on top, which was the biggest surprise of all.
J.T. had made a lot of boneheaded decisions, but hiring on with Dr. Hope Larsen had been an unexpected blessing in several different ways.
“Welcome aboard, Mr. Carmichael,” the sharply dressed male attendant said as he scanned the ticket electronically. “Enjoy your stay aboard the Nautica.”
Gulls squawked a racket, screeching at one another as dirty waves lapped at the dock, the smell of brine salting the air. Los Angeles harbors weren’t known for their beauty, but then no one was flocking to LA for the beaches, either.
Teagan nodded and walked up the gangplank to board the massive liner. Like most cruise ships, it was a city on water with every amenity, every luxury.
Bright pennant flags flapped in the wind, snapping like colorful towels, signaling something festive was about to happen on this boat, but Teagan was still questioning his decision to go through with the cruise.
He probably could’ve talked his buddies Kirk Addler or Harris McGoy into taking the cruise instead, but J.T. had felt strongly about Teagan going, so he’d caved.
And thanks to the fat payment from Tessara Pharmaceuticals from J.T.’s last charter—the one that’d subsequently trashed their only plane and nearly gotten them all killed—Teagan was staying in an upgraded stateroom.
“Well, aren’t you a tall drink of water.” An older, curvy, auburn-haired goddess wearing a fancy outfit and dripping with rings, was eyeing him with open appreciation. “If you’re representing what we have to look forward to on this singles cruise, then I’m all in, sugar.”
Oh, that’s another thing. J.T. had booked him on a cruise meant for hooking up.
Like Teagan needed a relationship right now. With rebuilding Blue Yonder Charter, revamping their business plan and generally trying to start over, he didn’t have time for slap and tickle on a regular basis.
Teagan chuckled, blushing only slightly because attention from a beautiful woman, even one considered a cougar, was still flattering as hell. But he wasn’t looking for a hook-up. No matter what J.T.’s advice had been before dropping him off at the dock.
“You need to loosen up, big brother,” J.T. had said, admonishingly. “You’re wound tighter than a drum. You’d think that almost dying would’ve reminded you that life is for the living.”
“You’re giving me advice?” Teagan had joked. “Is this a sign of the coming apocalypse?”
Because, yeah, Teagan was the cool head and J.T. was the screwup.
At least, J.T. was until he’d met that saucy redhead scientist, Hope. Now his little brother was becoming responsible and thinking with his head and not his...well, you know.
And maybe Teagan had been a little bit envious of how happy J.T. was with Hope, but seeing as he wasn’t about to do anything to change his relationship status, there wasn’t much he could do about that.
The woman gave Teagan a final, bold up-down appraisal and then clucked her tongue with approval as she sashayed down the hallway to find her own room.
That was definitely a cougar sighting.
And a pretty fine one at that.
But as he found his room, his neighbor found hers and he forgot all about the cougar.
Teagan wasn’t much of a believer of insta-love but he was a big fan of insta-lust, and he’d just been hit square between the eyes with a double dose.
Long dark hair curled in lazy loops and waves to the small of her back, shapely, tan legs that went on for days and the most pert, rounded breasts that he craved to touch—all he could do was stare like an idiot.
Deep blue eyes framed by incredibly lush black lashes met his stunned gaze and she graced him with a sly smile, as if she knew good and well just how primal her effect was on men.
This was a level ten hottie and she knew it.
A tremor of excitement rocked his spine as his insides did a weird tumble and roll. To be truthful, he’d never been so knocked on his ass by a single look.
He’d been around the world and seen plenty of gorgeous, exotic women but every single one of them paled in his memory the minute he saw her.
