Satin and a Scandalous Affair (1 of 2 free samples)

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COPYRIGHT
Satin and a Scandalous Affair by Jan Colley. Copyright 2008 by Janet Colley.
All Rights Reserved. Sharing not permitted.

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SATIN & A SCANDALOUS AFFAIR

Jan Colley


AUTHOR'S NOTE
http://www.dailylit.com/books/satin-and-a-scandalous-affair/authornote


ONE

“Danielle Hammond? I have a proposition for you.”

Dani blinked, jolted out of a pleasant daydream, the Northern Queensland sun that had been warming her face at the outdoor café now hidden behind a wall of a man.

“May I join you?” The softly spoken deep brogue sounded more continental than Australian. She blinked again. It took a few seconds for her to understand that the subject of her daydream, the man she’d seen walk into her shop just minutes ago, had now crossed the road to the café and stood towering above her.

It took another few seconds to realise that she’d seen him before, and to swallow her jolt of dismay. It was him—what’s his name—Quinn Everard!

The name exploded in her head as he tossed a business card on the table and pulled out the flimsy white chair opposite her.

Dani eased her sunglasses down her nose and needlessly read the card. “Quinn Everard. Broker.” Simple, classy, on a satiny-silver card. They’d never met personally, but she’d seen his face in many jewellery publications over the years.

His head turned toward the café door and immediately a waitress materialised. He ordered coffee while Dani’s curiosity ran riot. What could the great Australian gem expert want with her? He’d made it very plain, very publicly, that she wasn’t good enough to wipe his shoes on.

“Did you see anything you liked?” she asked, sipping on the straw of her thick shake.

Chocolate brown eyes under thick brows scanned her face.

“In the shop,” she qualified, easing one hot foot out of her shoe under the table.

“I was looking for you. Your assistant pointed you out.”

“You were checking out my window. I saw you.”

He rested his elbow on the table and subjected her to a leisurely inspection. Just another nail in his coffin, as far as she was concerned. Dani stared boldly back, seeing in her mind’s eye his tall broad form as he’d scrutinised her display window. How she’d admired what looked like an Armani suit—a rarity in the tropics—and his smooth, rolling gait as he’d straightened and disappeared inside. He moved like a fighter, and who’s to say he wasn’t? There was a definite break in his nose, the telltale bump high on the bridge, and a scar, smooth and pale, traced the corner of his mouth.

His inspection completed, he sat back in his seat. “I’ve been hearing your name around lately.”

Thanks to Howard Blackstone, Dani’s benefactor, who’d nominated her as his featured designer for the annual launch last February. “The Blackstone Jewellery launch, probably.” Blackstone Jewellery was one retail division of Blackstone Diamonds, Howard’s mining and manufacturing company. Dani pursed her lips sardonically. “Oh, I forgot. You weren’t invited.”

A flicker of amusement deepened the creases on both sides of his mouth, showing up an unexpected dimple. “I’ve never said I don’t find your work interesting, Ms. Hammond. Which is why I’m here. As I said, I have a proposition for you.”

She relished the sharp stab of triumph. This man had never made a pretence of liking her stuff, yet here he was. What on earth could he want to proposition her about?

Dani could think of some things... and they were all tied up with sizing him up as a hunk a few moments ago, before she’d realised who he was.

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