Mistress By Contract by Helen Bianchin

Author:Helen Bianchin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Romance, Classic Romance, Fiction
ISBN: 9781459203075
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2001-07-14T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

SYDNEY in spring brought the promise of warm weather with clear sunny days, moderate temperatures and a cool breeze off the ocean.

It was a spacious city with sprawling suburbs, the fringes of which hugged the rocky cliffs with expensive and often luxurious real estate. Tall glass-sided buildings rose in varying architectural designed office towers, numerous hotels and apartment buildings, andj the city streets hummed with traffic.

The population was very cosmopolitan, with Asian and European residents equalling those of Australian heritage.

Mikayla loved to call it home, for it was here she'| been born and raised, educated and worked.

The ambition to travel overseas had been strong but studying for a degree had taken time and, though she had ventured to New Zealand and Fiji on holiday with friends, she hadn't had the opportune to move further afield.

Consequently the prospect of flying to New York was exciting. School and lessons took up much of the daylight hours, followed by visits to her father in the hospital each afternoon.

At night, there was Rafael.

She refused to call what they shared love.

Only two people who really cared for each other made love. So what was it they had together?

A deal, a tiny voice taunted cynically. You have a deal. Finis.

New York was incredible. She loved the fast city pace, the noise from the street, the in-your-face brashness.

The hotel was something else, their suite magnificent, and the service was to die for.

'I'll be tied up in meetings for the rest of the day,' Rafael informed as he checked the electronic mail on his laptop.

Nothing could dampen her spirits. 'I'll go check out the Art Gallery.' She could spend at least a day there, then there was the Museum, and several other places of interest, not to mention the huge department stores.

He tossed her a mobile phone. 'Carry it with you, and use it to contact me.' He cast her a measured look. 'Any time. Take cabs, and don't use the subway.

Understood?'

'I've lived in a big city all my life.'

His expression hardened. 'New York isn't Sydney.' He reached for his jacket, extracted his wallet, and

tided her a sheaf of notes. 'Use this.'

She stilled. 'I have money.' Holiday salary, which she'd converted to American dollars.

'Take it.'

She looked at him carefully, noting the strength of purpose, the indomitable will. 'I don't need it.'

'Madre de Dios,' Rafael swore softly. 'Why must you argue?'

'Why must you?' Mikayla countered. 'I’m not a fool. I won't go out of the hotel without adequate money to fund food and cabs.' She drew a breath, and released it slowly. 'If I run short, I'll tell you. Okay?'

He crossed to the wall-safe, opened it, and placed the money inside, then he locked it and handed her a key. 'That makes it easy.'

He was wrong. 'Thank you.'

Rafael checked his watch. 'I have to leave. Are you going to stay here a while, or explore?'

'Explore,' she said without hesitation.

And she did, beginning with a museum.

Rafael rang her on the mobile at midday just as she was biting into a hot dog with mustard and mayo.

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