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A Precious Inheritance
Paula Roe
He won the auction…Vanessa Partridge has a good reason for wanting the manuscript offered at auction – it is her twins’ legacy. But she doesn’t count on the winning bidder, financial guru Chase Harrington, showing up on her doorstep. Now he wants the woman…Chase has a new obsession – Vanessa. There’s more to the former socialite-turned-working-single-mum than meets the eye… and he’s going to find it. He’s got secrets of his own – secrets threatened by the sexy Vanessa.More than anything Chase wants to give in to their sizzling attraction… but can he afford to play with fire?‘Feisty heroes and even feistier heroines!’ – Helen, Receptionist, Swansea www.paularoe.com
He won the auction…
Vanessa Partridge has a good reason for wanting the priceless manuscript being offered at auction—it is her twin babies’ legacy. But she doesn’t count on the winning bidder, financial guru Chase Harrington, showing up on her doorstep.
Now he wants the woman…
Chase has a new obsession—Vanessa. There’s more to the former-socialite-turned-working-single-mom than meets the eye…and he’s going to find it. He’s got secrets of his own—secrets threatened by the sexy Vanessa. More than anything, Chase wants to give in to their sizzling attraction…but can he afford to play with fire?
“Why did you really agree to come out with me?”
Chase leaned in, and his lips hovered close to her ear as he added, “If this is you trying to persuade me to sell you the manuscript, it’s going to take more than just one date.”
Vanessa jerked back, a frown marring her forehead, cheeks coloring as she glared at him. “Two dates, then?”
His deep chuckle aroused her as his warm breath fanned over her cheek. She bit her lip to stop a groan escaping.
“You are something, Vanessa Partridge. But you’re definitely not the type to offer yourself up Indecent Proposal-style—am I correct?”
“You …” She had to close her eyes to gather her wits as her heartbeat quickened. “You don’t know that.”
He eased back to study her. “So what are you offering?”
Her eyebrows went up. “What do you want?”
THE HIGHEST BIDDER
At this high-stakes auction house where everything is for sale, true love is priceless.
Don’t miss a single story in this new continuity!
GILDED SECRETS by Maureen Child
EXQUISITE ACQUISITIONS by Charlene Sands
A SILKEN SEDUCTION by Yvonne Lindsay
A PRECIOUS INHERITANCE by Paula Roe
THE ROGUE’S FORTUNE by Cat Schield
GOLDEN BETRAYALS by Barbara Dunlop
Dear Reader,
When I was at school, we didn’t have a “popular” group—it was more like a “loud and obnoxious” group. :-) Now I’m in Romance Writing World, and rubbing shoulders with writers I read, admire and generally want to be when I grow up. So when I was asked to join this particular group—which includes some of my favorite Mills & Boon Desire authors—I couldn’t say no!
So I started Chase and Vanessa’s story with my most favorite part of writing—delving deep into their pasts to discover what makes them tick. Vanessa’s baggage seemed to fall into place a lot easier than Chase’s.… That man just wouldn’t give up his secrets easily! But when I finally pieced together his childhood, everything else started to flow. And as always, I did a lot of surfing (read: research) and discovered some fascinating websites on New York, Washington, hedge funds, the Library of Congress… Now I desperately want to see it in real life and not just via Google Earth!
I hope this story comes alive for you, this fourth book in The Highest Bidder continuity. I had such a great time writing it. I’d love to hear from you at www.paularoe.com (http://www.paularoe.com)!
Paula
A Precious Inheritance
Paula Roe
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Despite wanting to be a vet, choreographer, cardsharp, hairdresser and an interior designer (although not simultaneously!), British-born, Aussie-bred PAULA ROE ended up as a personal assistant, office manager, software trainer and aerobics instructor for thirteen interesting years.
Paula lives in western New South Wales, Australia, with her family, two opinionated cats and a garden full of dependent native birds. She still retains a deep love of filing systems, stationery and travelling, even though the latter doesn’t happen nearly as often as she’d like. She loves to hear from her readers—you can visit her at her website: www.paularoe.com
Recent titles by the same author:
A PRECIOUS INHERITANCE
BED OF LIES
PROMOTED TO WIFE?
THE BILLIONAIRE BABY BOMBSHELL
Did you know these are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk
This book would never have come about without two groups of people: first, the fabulous Mills & Boon Desire editorial team (Jessica and Liba, for their awesome editing, and Charles, who has the delightful task of answering all my questions and queries and fielding my out-there ideas with tact and patience). And my writing group, The Coven, who hold my hand (both metaphorically and literally), talk me down off the ledge when things get crazy and generally keep me sane. I love you, girls!
Also, a separate special thanks goes to Kitty and her friend Betsy, for answering my questions on what it takes to be a teacher in the States.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Paula Roe for her contribution to The Highest Bidder miniseries
Contents
Chapter One (#uddec5f3d-c867-5935-b7b3-edd131860f03)
Chapter Two (#u40dd1b7a-a627-5666-a088-82dffab7b9e5)
Chapter Three (#u88afba7a-1dd8-5a15-9e4a-d511326f161f)
Chapter Four (#u6ab2e67e-f1b4-54cc-b0e6-d355a0ff2045)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Bonus Story (#litres_trial_promo)
Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)
One
“Five hundred thousand. I have half a million dollars, ladies and gentlemen. Any more bids?”
The auctioneer’s French-accented baritone rose above the electric whispers spreading through the eager crowd at Waverly’s. The atmosphere was a living, breathing thing, undulating in intense waves of excitement and curiosity, and Chase Harrington could practically feel the energy bouncing off each and every bidder in the room, the familiar subdued rumble of gossip reverberating off the velvet-papered walls.
The chandeliered auction room with its tufted high-backed chairs and polished wooden floor was a far cry from Obscure, Texas. And for once, no one was gossiping about him: they were all fixated on the auction.
Being able to offer D. B. Dunbar’s hand-notated final draft for sale had been a massive coup for Waverly’s, one of New York’s oldest—and most scandalous—auction houses. Millions around the world had been riveted by the tragic death of America’s famous children’s author in a plane crash last October. But after the usual outpouring of grief, commentary quickly turned to the issue of the reclusive thirty-year-old’s final book in his acclaimed Charlie Jack: Teenage Ninja Warrior series. Countless Facebook fan pages, regular trending on Twitter and fan fiction sites were all about one thing—was there a fourth book and, if so, when would it be published?
Now, that was full-scale attention.
Chase’s fingers tightened on his paddle, nerves as tight as a teenager on his first date. Enter the distant relative, some cousin twice removed, desperate for money and fame.. Walter…Walter…Shalvey, that was it. Yeah, Shalvey was a narcissistic bottom feeder, but unfortunately he knew how to play the media, drip-feeding just enough information to keep the story in the public eye for months. The guy was not only set for life, thanks to lucrative royalties and associated licensing fees from the first three books. There was also a fourth book—Dunbar’s agent had just sold it for seven figures last week, with a scheduled publication date of April.
Which was way too late.
Chase cast an impatient glance over the crowded room. Judging by the turnout today, the hype had worked. Not that it was any old public auction, oh, no. Invitation only meant handpicked rich, famous or otherwise connected. He’d already spotted a politician and a socialite, plus an incognito actor who was rumored to be interested in the movie rights for his production company.
The extremely private Dunbar would probably be rolling over in his grave right about now.
“Any more bids?” repeated the auctioneer, his gavel poised and ready to call the sale.
Chase may have spent years honing his “detached and aloof” expression, but inside, a triumphant smile itched to escape. That manuscript would be his. He could almost taste it.
“Five hundred and ten thousand dollars. Thank you, ma’am.”
A unified gasp coursed through the crowd, drowning out Chase’s soft curse. Fist clenched tight on his paddle, he smoothly lifted it.
The auctioneer nodded at him. “Five hundred and twenty.”
The sharply dressed blonde sitting next to him finally looked up from her cell phone. “You do know the book is being published in six months, right?”
“Yes.”
She paused, but when Chase said no more, shrugged and went back to her phone.
Another wave of murmurs bathed the spectators, then… “Five hundred and thirty thousand dollars.”
Oh, no, you don’t. Chase raised his paddle again then followed the auctioneer’s gaze.
His rival was on the far side of the room, three rows up, standing with her back against the wall. Petite, huge eyes, fiery-red hair pulled back into a no-nonsense hairdo, grim expression. He noticed all that within seconds then, oddly, that severe black suit isn’t working with her pale skin.
Right. But she was determined, judging by the way she countered his bid again, her brows dipping before her chin tipped up defiantly.
She was also, he realized as he ruthlessly picked her apart, a woman totally focused on projecting a haughty, untouchable facade. A woman obviously used to getting her own way.
And just like that, a broken fragment of his past jabbed him, flattening his mouth as a thousand sour memories filled it.
Oh, no. You are not sixteen anymore and she is definitely not a Perfect.
The Perfects… Man, he’d managed to not think about those three jerks and their catty girlfriends in years. Perfect in looks, perfect in social skills, perfect in freezing out anyone labeled “unsuitable” by their beautiful standards. Goddamn Perfects had made high school a living hell. He’d barely gotten out alive.
He glared at the woman, cataloging the familiar arrogant tilt of her chin, the aura of entitlement and control, the superiority as she looked down her nose at everyone. Judging him, finding him lacking. Unacceptable. Unworthy.
Get it together, man. You buried that life a thousand times over. You’re not that helpless boy with the white-trash parents anymore.
Yet he couldn’t take his eyes off her. His teeth ground together so tightly his jaw began to ache.
He finally tore his gaze back to the auctioneer before the poison filled him, and called out loudly, “One million dollars.”
The ripple of surprise erupted into a tsunami. Chase glanced over at his rival, his face expressionless. Try beating that, princess.
She blinked once, twice, those huge eyes studying him with such silent intent that he felt a frown furrow his brow.
Then she turned away, her paddle loose at her side as she shook her head at the auctioneer.
It was over a few seconds later.
Yes. Victory pulsed through him as he stood and made his way down the row of congratulatory observers.
“Congratulations,” the blonde said as she followed him through the tightly packed crowd. “Me, I could think of better things to spend a million bucks on.”
Chase gave her a thin smile then glanced across the room one last time.
She was gone.
He scanned the crowd. Blonde. Blonde. Brunette. Not red enough. Ah…
His gaze lingered and people began to move, finally parting to offer a better view.
She was talking to a tall blonde woman in a sharp suit, and as that woman turned, recognition hit.
Ann Richardson, beleaguered CEO of Waverly’s.
