Regina Duke has been writing
stories and novels since she was thirteen. Throughout her career in higher
education, she continued to write, write, write, on weekends, nights, and
vacations. When she’s not writing, she is playing with her dogs. She loves
writing romance, mystery, and even a little horror and science fiction. You can
learn more about her at http://www.reginaduke.com.
The Wedding Wager
Kevin Wake hates being rich. He
despises everything his father stands for, but he can’t abandon his kid sister
and baby brother. Their future is tied to his own. When his father threatens to
rob them all of their mother’s legacy, Kevin takes bold action to protect what
should be theirs.
Megan Mully is out of the
hospital at last. But she’s homeless, jobless, broke and alone. Love is the
last thing on her mind. Kevin is just a means to an end. She never expected him
to steal her heart!
Excerpt:
“Look,
Megan, I think you have a real chance at this job. There are some aspects of it
that I need to explain before you make your final decision. Are you an
open-minded person?”
“That
depends. If you are the head of a secret cult, then no, I’m probably not
open-minded enough for you. If you’re a legitimate employer, then yes, I may
fit the bill.”
“Oh, this is a legitimate offer of employment. But the duties may vary a bit from what most people consider appropriate for a personal secretary.”
This
time it was Megan who slumped in her chair. “Please don’t tell me you’re just
looking for a date or a masseuse.”
“No,
that’s not it at all.” Kevin liked Megan more and more, every time she opened
her mouth. She was funny and direct and fresh. She was perfect. Now if only he
could convince her to take the job.
“There’s
nothing sexual or inappropriate involved in this position at all. It’s just not
exactly a secretarial position in the traditional sense. You see, I need
someone who can listen when I talk and retain information about my family and
my business interests. I need someone who can comport themselves with dignity
and composure in social situations. I need someone who doesn’t hate small boys.”
It
was Megan’s turn to laugh. “That’s a good one. Fairly specific, too.”
Kevin
offered a crooked smile. “I have a little brother.”
“What
else do you need?” Megan was enjoying the way his face shifted from sternly
serious to truly amused. When he was stern he looked like he might be
thirty-something, but when he smiled, she guessed his age to be close to hers.
And when he laughed, he looked like a little boy. It was an attractive mix.
Kevin
hesitated. Twice he’d gotten this far, and twice the candidates had stomped out
in fury. He chose his words carefully. He did not want Megan to hurl epithets
and flee.
“I have a complicated family situation,” he began. “My parents are not in Guatemala. They are very much here in the States. And there is a hundred-year-old legal arrangement governing my inheritance. I need your help to guarantee that I meet those legal requirements. In exchange, I will pay you handsomely, cover all housing and transportation, and when everything is secure, there will be a large bonus in it for you.”
Megan
tilted her head to one side and narrowed her gaze. “Are you sure there’s no sex
involved?”
“I’ve
had a legal contract drawn up for you examine, if we get that far. The no sex
part is written into the contract. You will not be forced or coerced to do
anything you do not want to do.”
“You
were right. It’s not what I would expect from a job as personal secretary.” She
tilted her head to the other side. “On the other hand, if you have lawyers
involved, the chances of you being a serial killer are much reduced. They tend
to work alone.”
Kevin
smiled again. “We seem to have a rapport,” he said. “That is encouraging.”
###
5 comments:
Good morning, Chicki! Thanks for having me! I just got back from a dog show, so I am a little groggy this morning. LOL! It's a pleasure to share my book with your regulars, especially since I am such a fan of your own books. :-)
Have a great Monday!
Love your book cover. Interesting plot with the couple not looking for what they find in each other.
Keep writing!
Denise
Thank you, Denise! I have a lot of help with my covers. A wonderful talented lady and best-selling author in her own right, Sandra Edwards does my covers for me. I am not very gifted in that arena, but she is! :-)
This sounds like a fun read, Reigina. Can't wait to check it out. My next book is about an arrangement similar to yours, except it involves marriage. Love the cover too.
Oooh...this sounds like a good one! I look forward to reading this!
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