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His Perfect Match
Elaine Overton
Eight years ago, Elizabeth Donovan made the biggest mistake of her life. She left Darius North standing at the altar. Her dependable, rock-steady high-school sweetheart was her first–and only–lover. Now someone close to her is in desperate need…and Darius is the only one who can save him.But the man Liz finds on a far-off, exotic island is burning with revenge. Darius has never forgiven her for her cruel betrayal–or for the desire she still arouses in him. With passion reigniting, Darius demands something from her: the honeymoon they never had. Forced to accept his devil's bargain, Liz vows to surrender her body but never her heart. Not even when Darius discovers the secret she's been hiding all these years….
“Damn.” His hungry eyes roamed over her slender body.
“That dress has been driving me crazy all night. I’ve been dying to see you in the light.”
Liz smiled and turned in a slow circle, lifting her arms behind her head. “Well, here I am.”
In a flash Darius was across the room and had her wrapped in his arms. “And all night I’ve been thinking about taking it off you.”
His mouth went to her neck, as he began removing the thin material with his teeth and sliding it down her body, kissing his way along the path he was creating.
Liz felt as if her whole world was spinning on its axis as he lifted her in his arms, carrying her to the bed. “Wait! What about Dee and Marc?”
Darius paused. “What about them?”
“What if they come in and hear us?” Liz was trying to focus, but it was hard when all his sun-gold skin was being revealed inch by beautiful inch.
A smile spread across his face. “Then, I guess you’re gonna have to keep it down, huh?”
ELAINE OVERTON
currently resides in the Detroit area with her son. She attended a local business college before entering the military and serving in the Gulf War.
She is an administrative assistant currently working for an automotive-industry supplier and is an active member of Romance Writers of America.
His Perfect Match
Elaine Overton
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Be still, and know that I am God…
—Psalms 46:10
Thank You for always reminding me.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read His Perfect Match. I hope you enjoy Darius and Liz’s story. Like fine wine, sometimes love needs time to age and evolve into something rich and wonderful. Darius and Liz discover this the hard way, but thankfully life gives them a second chance to get it right.
I love to hear from my readers, so feel free to write me at elaine@elaineoverton.com. I look forward to hearing what you think!
And make sure to look out for my next Kimani Romance title, Miami Attraction, coming out in April 2010.
Elaine
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Prologue
Ten years earlier…
Cincinnati, Ohio
As he stepped off the train Darius North listened to a voice mail introduction of his fiancée’s cell phone before speaking. “Liz, it’s me. I’ve been trying to reach you for two days. I need to talk to you. Call me as soon as you get this message.” He started to hang up before adding. “I don’t know why you’re not returning my calls, but whatever it is I’m sure we can work through it, just call me. Okay?” He tucked the cell phone back into the case attached to his belt.
Slinging his tote bag over his shoulder he moved through the crowded train station and out to the main entrance where cabs waited for fares. His troubled mind was running in a thousand directions. Something was wrong. She was having second thoughts. Darius knew it as certain as he knew his own name. He could feel it.
He climbed into one of the available cabs.
“Where to?” the driver called over his shoulder.
Darius gave his home address and a few seconds later the car was in motion. He settled back in the seat knowing it would be at least twenty minutes before they reached his apartment complex.
He stared out the window at the passing cityscape as his problems raced through his mind. Whatever was going on with Liz had started over a month ago. She’d changed almost overnight. Now, if he said up—she said down. If he said left—she said right. He’d tried to talk to her before leaving on his trip and she’d just brushed him off.
Which was extremely unusual. Liz was the most agreeable person he knew. He thought back to the last getaway they’d had. He’d planned a romantic weekend retreat to a local medieval-style castle. She’d not even known where they were going until they had arrived, and the surprise on her face when they pulled up to the castle had been well worth the effort. They’d had a terrific time that weekend, but that was before all the wedding plans had begun.
At first, he’d assumed it was just the usual nervousness that came with getting married. After all, he was experiencing his own share of it. The idea of taking responsibility for the financial and emotional well-being of another human being was daunting to say the least.
But he was prepared. Probably more prepared than most twenty-four-year-old men. After all he had a successful business to provide for them. And not only was it successful but thriving.
At the age of eighteen, straight out of high school, he’d signed up for the franchise-training program at the deli he worked in. Within a year, he was opening his own store. Two years later, another, and another across town, and now he was returning from a planning meeting in a city fifty miles away where he was preparing to open more delis and supermarkets.
Liz, a recent college graduate with a philosophy degree, could do much worse than him, he thought. So, what was her problem? His phone rang and he quickly answered it.
“Hey, man, where are you? I called the hotel you were staying at and they said you checked out.”
“Hey, Darren. Yeah, I decided to come back a day early. What’s up?”
There was a long pause before his brother finally said, “Nothing—nothing, just wanted to see if you needed any last-minute help with anything.”
Darius frowned. “No, you just make sure you bring the ring.”
“Of course.”
His frown deepened. He loved his big brother, but Darren wasn’t exactly the reliable type. “Did your tux arrive?”
“Um…yeah, about that.”
Darius laughed, already knowing what his brother’s complaint would be. “What about it?”
“It’s green.”
“Sage.”
“What?”
“Sage. Liz picked the colors—not me.”
“At the shop we tried on black tuxes.”
“That was just for sizing. I thought I told you that?”
“You know damn well you didn’t say anything about green tuxedos.”
Darius laughed again. “Sorry, brother, but I’m just trying to make my new bride happy.”
“Are you sure you can?”
Darius felt a chill of premonition run down his spine. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He waited for several seconds but when no response came he prompted his brother again. “Darren, what the hell did you mean by that?”
Darren’s only response was a grunt.
Darius instantly realized his brother knew more than he was saying. “Look, Darren, if you know something, say it.”
“Nothing to say—I don’t know anything.”
“Then why did you say that?”
“Just messing with you. It was a joke. You’re too sensitive. Chill.”
Darius’s eyes narrowed. His brother was lying. “Darren, as my brother I would expect you to tell me if you saw something or even heard something about Liz while I was away.”
“Man, you’re overreacting.”
“Am I?”
“Look, I just called to see if you needed some help with the wedding stuff. Never mind.”
Darius listened as the phone went dead on the other end before turning off his own. Darren knew something. Something he was obviously hesitant to share. That short conversation was just enough to confirm Darius’s suspicions.
Before he could change his mind he leaned forward and knocked on the glass. “Instead, can you take me to 5682 Willard Avenue?”
The driver gave him a quick annoyed glance. “That’s thirty minutes in the opposite direction.”
“I know. I’ll make it worth your while.”
That seemed to appease the driver because as soon as he could find an appropriate place to turn around, he did, and headed back across town in the direction of Willard Avenue.
Thirty-five minutes later Darius was stepping out of the cab and paying the driver his fee and a fifty-dollar tip. The man nodded his satisfaction before pulling away.
Darius stood in the drive of the small family home belonging to the Donovans. Liz’s compact car was sitting in the drive right behind her father’s pickup truck.
He walked to the door and knocked. It was a warm June evening, so although he waited a few minutes and knocked again a couple of times, it was not an uncomfortable wait.
Finally, the door cracked partially and half a face topped with a couple of pink rollers appeared. “Darius? What are you doing here?”
“Evening, Mrs. Donovan. Sorry to disturb you so late. I was hoping to talk to Liz.”
Marian Donovan closed the door to remove the chain and opened it wide. “I’m sure she’s in bed already. Is something wrong?”
“Who is it, Marian?” A gruff male voice called from the top of the stairs.
“Sorry to wake you, Mr. Donovan, I was hoping to see Liz,” Darius called up the stairs.
The stairs creaked as the large man descended. “Darius? What’s wrong, son?”
