Mistress to a King? Nathan King, powerful head of his legendary family's cattle empire, has everything -- except a woman to share his life. Miranda Wade has nothing -- except a past she is determined to leave behind, and the hope that her new job at King's Eden will give her a fresh start. Their two lives collide! Nathan wants her, but doubts she will cope with outback life. Miranda wants him, but believes her past will deny her any chance at a future with a King. The tension -- the need -- between them is overwhelming, regardless of where it might lead.
Mistress to a married man...no way!
Miranda realised she was gritting her teeth again and consciously relaxed her jaw. She'd end up grinding her teeth right down if she kept thinking of Bobby Hewson and his blithe assumption they could continue as lovers, his forthcoming marriage being no barrier whatsoever to what they shared!
Well, he could find someone else to warm his bed next time he flew into Sydney. Adultery was not her scene. She might have been a fool to have let Bobby play her along with promises for three years, but she was not going to be used for his extra-marital pleasure. She'd seen what that second-string kind of relationship had done to her mother. Never, never, never would she go down the same demeaning and destructive path!
"Miss Wade, your gin and tonic."
Miranda wrenched her mind off burning thoughts and looked up at the smiling airline hostess who proceeded to lay a serviette on the small metal drinks tray, which extended from the wide armrest of the first-class seat. A little bottle of gin, a can of tonic water and a glass with ice cubes were set down.
Nice to be treated to first-class service by her new employers, Miranda thought, and hoped the drink might help relax her. "Thank you," she said, returning the smile.
The hostess's eyes glowed with interest as she remarked, "I just noticed the book in your lap, King's Eden. Are you heading there?"
It was the book Elizabeth King had given her for background information, once Miranda had signed the two-year contract that tied her to managing the wilderness resort. A history of the place and the family who owned it might be dry reading, but mandatory in the circumstances, and the best use of these hours in flight to Darwin. Miranda sternly told herself it was time she concentrated on her future course and put the past in the past.
"Yes, I am," she answered, deciding to plumb the interest being displayed. "Do you know it?''
"I've been there," came the obviously enthusiastic reply. "It's what you might call a legendary place in the Kimberly, owned and run by the cattle Kings. Now that they've opened up the wilderness park for tourists and built a resort to cater for them, it's a very popular outback destination."
"Did you stay at the resort?"
"Not at the homestead." An expressive eye-roll. "Too expensive. A group of us stayed three days in the tented cabins at Granny Gorge."
Tented cabins, camping sites, bungalows and homestead suites-four levels of accommodation to be managed, Miranda reminded herself-a far cry from a five-star hotel. Was she mad to take it on...two years in the wilderness?
"Did you think it was worth the trip?" she asked the hostess.
"Oh, yes! Well worth it! I've never seen so many butterflies. The trees around there were filled with them. And we swam in a gorgeous turquoise water-hole fed by waterfalls off the cliffs. Great way to have a shower."
"So you'd definitely recommend it."
"To anyone," the hostess confirmed. "Don't miss the Aboriginal carvings in the caves if you go to the Gorge."
"I won't. Thank you."
Well, King's Eden had appealed to at least one person, Miranda noted as the hostess moved off. Its only appeal to her at the present moment, was the chance it offered to live her life on her own terms.
If she'd stayed with the Regency hotel chain, she might have moved from assistant manager in Sydney to an overseas posting, an ambition she'd once nursed, but it would have only happened now if she'd also stayed sweet with Bobby. He'd made that clear, offering steps up the managerial ladder as a persuader to win her compliance with his marriage, which, he'd argued, was only for the purpose of cementing an alliance between two great international hotel chains.
Another lie!
The photograph of his French fiancée in the newspaper was more than enough proof to Miranda that Bobby would find his honeymoon no hardship at all.
He'd obviously been lying to her all along-three years of lies. The only thing she'd ended up believing was his threat to stop her getting a decent position anywhere else if she walked out on him. It was sickeningly clear he'd do and say anything to get his own way.
King's Eden offered her the perfect escape from that kind of victimisation. It was a one-off resort complex, not linked to anything or anyone that Bobby Hewson could touch or influence.
She smiled grimly as she recalled one of the questions Elizabeth King had asked at the interview.
"You are...unattached?"
Detached, Miranda had almost answered, barely swallowing her bitterness over Bobby's sleazy propositions and manipulations. "I am completely free, Mrs King," she had stated. "My life is very much my own."
And that was how it was going to be at King's Eden, Miranda vowed. Her own life run by herself. She didn't care how different the environment was, what problems she'd have to cope with. Her strong sense of self-worth demanded she make good on her own abilities... not by being a playboy's mistress!
She opened the book on her lap, determined on focusing her mind on the future. A map on the first page showed the Kimberly region-three hundred and twenty thousand square kilometres, stretching from the seaport of Broome on the high west coast of Australia to the border of the Northern Territory. Blocked out in green was King's Eden-a big chunk of outback country that would be the last place on earth Bobby Hewson would look for her.
It might not be the Garden of Eden, but at least it had no serpent in it. With that blessed assurance in her mind, Miranda turned. the page and began reading, acutely aware of having turned a page in her life and there was only one way to go...forward.
Warning: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18 . When a dead, naked body is found frozen in the snow, recently promoted Detective Serena Daniels is assigned to the case. Determined to be taken seriously, she sets to work unraveling the mystery, one suspect at a time. Brody Sullivan is a man with many secrets and he also just happens to be Madison County's newest citizen. So when he ends up on the list of potential suspects, it is Serena's job to clear his name. There's just one problem: Serena's felt an undeniable attraction to Brody that ignited from the moment they first met, and if she's not careful she may lose more than her job, she may lose her heart to the man who is willing to break every one of her rules.
Several years before, Flint Mason committed the unthinkable, he left town and turned his back on his brothers and the Steel Infidels Motorcycle Club. When his best friend is murdered by a rival MC, he returns home determined to exact his own personal revenge. Veterinarian Dr. Kendra Shaw has never ignored an animal in need. So when a call comes in about an injured eagle she doesn't think twice about going alone to a secluded cabin to meet the caller. What she finds there sets her on a shocking path she never imagined... Flint and Kendra are forced together in a tense situation where neither wants to be. Flint knows a smart woman like Kendra would never fall for a man like him. Nothing more than common outlaw. A bad guy. What they soon discover hidden behind their differences is a fiery passion that ignites and bursts into flames. Can they overcome their obstacles and fight for their love or will the grim reality of life in the MC destroy their chances forever?
The Marquis of Chase is not a reputable man. He is notorious for his wretched morals and is never received in respectable houses. The ladies of the ton would never allow him in their drawing rooms . . . though some of them have welcomed him into their bedchambers. Ejected from his father's house at the age of sixteen, he now lives a life of wanton pleasure. So what could the Marquis of Chase possibly want with Juliana Merton, a lovely, perfectly upstanding shopkeeper with a mysterious past? A moment's indiscretion? A night's passion? Or a lifetime of love? Even the wildest rakes have their weaknesses . . .
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."