Extreme Provocation by Sarah Holland

Author:Sarah Holland [Holland, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
ISBN: 9781459284470
Google: tz4Gy3k334sC
Amazon: B00835TL5Y
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-07-16T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

Randal picked her up the following evening at six to drive down to Mallory Hall. He was stylishly dressed, his suit grey-blue, a dark silk tie knotted at his throat, his jacket open as he walked up the path and rang the bell.

Lucy answered it, her face hostile. ‘I’m ready to leave.’

‘Well, I’m not,’ he said flatly, stepping past her arrogantly. ‘I want a word with your father. Where is he?’

Lucy closed the door after him, green eyes hating him. ‘Haven’t you humiliated him enough? Can’t you just—?’

‘Did I hear you say you wanted to see me?’ Gerald Winslow’s nervous voice came from behind them.

Randal lifted his dark head, his face hardening. ‘Yes. We’ll talk in the drawing-room.’

Lucy said at once, ‘I wish to be present.’

‘Why not?’ Randal lifted black brows. ‘So long as you don’t interrupt.’

Lucy glared at him but did not reply, instead allowing him to lead her at his usual dynamic pace into the drawing-room, which he dominated, as he always dominated every room he stood in.

He pushed Lucy into an armchair, indicated with a long hand that her father was to sit, too, then strode coolly to the mantelpiece to stand there, hands thrust in trouser pockets, like the head of the family, an arrogant tilt to his dark head. That jagged scar on his cheek only enhanced his air of dangerous power.

‘I’ve found you a job,’ Randal said flatly. ‘You’re to start tomorrow morning at nine sharp.’

Lucy tensed, shooting a quick glance at her father’s ashen face.

‘May I ask what kind of job it is?’ Gerald cleared his throat.

‘Social secretary,’ he said coolly.

Lucy stared, round-eyed, holding her breath.

‘You’ll be working for Mr and Mrs Stewart Saxon,’ Randal went on at a brisk pace. ‘They’re a very wealthy couple, racehorse owners, live in a vast manor just outside Newmarket. They hold a lot of charity functions—coffee mornings, cocktail parties, balls. Fund-raising events that need skilful organisation. They also have a vast circle of friends and business acquaintances to entertain.’

Gerald Winslow was sitting forward, eyes bright with excitement, holding his breath.

Randal looked at him coolly. ‘Apart from organising and supervising these social events, you’ll be required to entertain guests and clients. They need someone debonair, witty, entertaining and well-spoken. I thought you fitted the bill, recommended you, and they’re prepared to take you on three months’ trial.’

‘Well, I...’ Her father was flushed. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘Try yes,’ Randal said coolly, raising an eyebrow.

‘Well, yes, of course!’ He got to his feet, smiling. ‘I’d absolutely love the job. It’s perfect for me. Good heavens—I never expected anything like this, Marlborough. I don’t know how to thank you.’

Randal gave a hard smile. ‘Just get through the three months’ trial, make it a permanent job, and stop drinking.’

‘Of course.’ Gerald nodded at once.

‘You can stop drinking, can’t you?’ Randal clipped out.

‘Easily,’ her father said in a quiet, level voice. ‘It was always just an indulgence—never an illness.’

‘Good.’ Randal gave a curt nod, took a white envelope from his inside jacket pocket and handed it to him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.