Imagine leaving behind all that you know and starting over halfway around the world. Imagine you’ve got no gut instinct to rely on, no natural-born ability to read people or sort out lies from truth. Imagine your heart goes haywire every time you stare into a certain pair of deeply mesmerizing dark eyes. Now you’re in Charlie Sykes’ (highly sensible) shoes . . .
Charlie Sykes takes everything and everyone at face value, and believes life would be a lot easier if everyone else did, too. Jace Knight, international Aussie hotelier and purported playboy, has never met anyone like the absurdly literal and obliviously beautiful American who applies to his personal assistant position.
The trouble is, how do you seduce a woman whose definition of flirting comes straight out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary? That, and he’s not the only one after Charlie. Seems Mr. Knight may not be a reformed criminal after all.
Charlie soon finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of dangerous international espionage that takes her from the hip streets of Sydney to the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the wild, desolate outback. A terrible trap’s being laid, but how will Charlie protect herself and prevent a devastating betrayal when she can’t even sort out what her heart’s telling her?
The Frenchman (Crime
Royalty Romance #1)
Excerpt
I slid
into a soft leather upright, and put my satchel on the floor beside me. Mr.
Knight said nothing.
I
waited, calmly, expecting him to peruse my prominent breasts, especially since
my nipples were no doubt peaked through my thin blouse and bra. But, he did
not, which I greatly respected. Instead, he openly appraised my face, and
finally, smiled.
“So
Miss Sykes, what brings such a beautiful yank to Sydney then?”
“My
looks are not at all pertinent, Mr. Knight.” His smile dropped. “I chose Australia
spontaneously,” I offered, having enough sense not to share the Muriel’s Wedding
detail. “I simply moved here to start fresh.”
He
leaned forward in his chair, examining me much closer, eyes narrowed. “There
are only a few reasons why a woman such as yourself leaves America for down
under . . . Miss Sykes.”
I
waited for his assumption.
“You’re
running from someone. An ex? Husband? Boyfriend?”
I did
not like the way he eyed me just then.
“Incorrect
on all counts,” I informed him. “I have never had any of those. But I do not
believe my sexual history, or lack of it, is pertinent to the job interview.”
As I spoke, his full lips had popped open and his eyebrows had hiked farther
up, creating strong lines in his forehead.
“Here
we go,” I thought, frowning. Something I was doing was confusing him. Of
course, I had no idea what it was. My tone of voice? Something I had said? It
was like trying to figure out an alien
alphabet. I cleared my throat. “However, you can be rest assured I am in
Australia for no reason other than a desire to live life, finally, and that I
have no intentions of leaving.” I did not want him to think I was not capable
of a long-term commitment to the company should things work out.
Teaser
About the Author
Lesley Young is an award-winning journalist by day and a compulsive
romance novelist by night. Her most recent series—Crime Royalty
Romance—features unforgettable heroines who fall in love with dangerous men
while on adventures abroad. Her fast-paced novels are rich with intricate
plots, sizzling romance and gripping character development. You'll root for her
characters from page one!
Connect with her
Other books:
Sky’s End (#1
Cassiel Winters Series)
Giveaway
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