Fleeing from her ruthless English in-laws who are intent on stealing her child, Holly Kirwan boards a flight home to Australia and meets Justin Devereux. They are instantly attracted to each other.
Justin doesn’t want a permanent woman in his life, particularly one with a baby in tow.
Holly, still grieving for her soldier husband who was killed in Afghanistan, doesn’t want to be disloyal to his memory.
Against such odds, can the young widow and the commitment shy tycoon ever find happiness together?
"The author has described the pain of Holly losing her husband with such poignancy it brought tears to my eyes. I found myself wanting Holly to have this second chance at happiness. Justin was a great hero, troubled enough to win my sympathy yet manly enough to be a true hero. This is a lovely story, quite wonderful really and I would certainly recommend it to any one who wants a sentimental read. I would certainly recommend this book." ~ 5 Stars, B&N Reader Anon.
Justin doesn’t want a permanent woman in his life, particularly one with a baby in tow.
Holly, still grieving for her soldier husband who was killed in Afghanistan, doesn’t want to be disloyal to his memory.
Against such odds, can the young widow and the commitment shy tycoon ever find happiness together?
"The author has described the pain of Holly losing her husband with such poignancy it brought tears to my eyes. I found myself wanting Holly to have this second chance at happiness. Justin was a great hero, troubled enough to win my sympathy yet manly enough to be a true hero. This is a lovely story, quite wonderful really and I would certainly recommend it to any one who wants a sentimental read. I would certainly recommend this book." ~ 5 Stars, B&N Reader Anon.
Excerpt:
Chapter One
Justin Devereux fumed as he strode on board the aircraft. Heads would roll over this debacle. If he hadn’t needed to get out of England so urgently, he would have waited for another flight. To hell with the risk of being grounded by a blizzard.
He showed his ticket to the flight attendant. He hadn’t flown in economy class for years, wouldn’t be doing it today if he had any say in the matter, either.
“I’m so sorry about this mix-up, Mr. Devereux. The airline did everything it could to get you a last minute business class seat, but like first class it was booked out.”
Well, you didn’t try hard enough, he nearly said, but bit back the angry words. It wasn’t the flight attendant’s fault that his booking still floated around in cyber space.
“We were able to get you an aisle seat near the front.”
“Thank goodness for that at least.”
On being shown to his seat, he took off his cashmere coat, folded it neatly and stowed it in the overhead locker. If he had even an ounce of luck, the seat beside him would remain empty, but he wouldn’t take bets on it. Setting his briefcase on the floor, he rested his laptop on the vacant seat. What a shocking few hours it had been.
At least it was a little more spacious here. He couldn’t understand why there was extra leg space and only one other seat when there would be normally at least three, sometimes four seats, jammed together.
Closing his eyes, he thought back on the last twenty- four hours. He didn’t care about Deanna dumping him for Simon as their relationship had just about run its course.
Running off with millions of dollars of his employees’ pension fund? Now that was something else. Despicable and criminal, and they did it in such a way the blame fell on him. He was ruthless. He had to be to claw his way to the top of the business world, but he had always acted with integrity. There were only two choices in the short term. Risk tarnishing his good business reputation or pay the money back. He chose the latter.
I’ll hound them to the ends of the earth he vowed furiously; I don’t care how long it takes. No one cheats Justin Devereux and gets away with it.
“Hell.” Something hard and sharp rammed into his groin. His eyes flew open. God, someone was trying to castrate him.
“S… sorry,” the wavering female voice said.
Justin looked up into a pair of blue eyes that were swimming in tears.
“Here, let me help,” he growled, pushing the weapon away from his crotch and handing it back to her. It was a wonder they let her bring the wretched thing on board. She took the folded-up baby stroller but dropped a large pink bag on to his foot. Where were the attendants when you needed them? This was definitely going to be the flight from hell.
He watched the girl struggling with the stroller, her handbag and a baby. His first thought was she didn’t look old enough to have a baby. His second was how tiny and frail she appeared, with the fine, ice blonde hair tumbling out of its restraining clip.
“It’s all right, don’t get flustered.” He felt strangely moved by her pale, heart shaped face, and trembling lips.
As she reached across his briefcase to sit the baby on the floor, a swathe of hair brushed his face, and he smelt a faint elusive perfume. Flowers perhaps? Like enticing fingers, it captured his senses.
Before he could offer to help, she lifted up the pink bag, to try to put it in the overhead locker. But she wasn’t tall enough to reach. As he got up to assist her, the bag tilted, and a jar of baby food hit him on the head.
This girl was a walking disaster area.
“I…I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. Accidents happen.” Grimacing, he rubbed his head. “Let me put the bag up for you.” And that lethal pram too he thought, not wanting to risk being run through again. He valued his manhood too much.
As he stowed everything in the locker, he noticed that the white-haired and blue- eyed baby was playing with his briefcase its plump little fingers trying to pick the lock.
The girl darted under his arm and scooped up the baby, and sat down as quick as a flash.
Thank goodness, he’d be safe for a little while at least.
Copyright (C) 2012 Margaret Tanner
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