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Countering His Claim (Harlequin Desire, Band 2262) - Softcover

Buch 49 von 53: Harlequin Desire

Bailey, Rachel

 
9780373732753: Countering His Claim (Harlequin Desire, Band 2262)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0373732759 ISBN 13: 9780373732753
Verlag: Harlequin Desire, 2013

Inhaltsangabe

Passion sets sail in USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Bailey's tale of high-stakes inheritance 

Never be distracted by a woman is hotel magnate Luke Marlow's golden rule, especially when the woman just inherited half his late uncle's luxury cruise liner. But ship's doctor Della Walsh is the exception. Her dignified beauty ignites Luke's desire despite his suspicions. Even so, he will gain full control of the ship at all costs. 

For Della, the ship has been a sanctuary. Now she has just three weeks to change Luke's mind and save the ship—until passion comes along and steers them off course….

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Rachel Bailey developed a serious book addiction at a young age and has never recovered. She went on to earn degrees in psychology and social work, but is now living her dream—writing romance for a living. She lives on a piece of paradise on Australia’s Sunshine Coast with her hero and four dogs. Rachel can be contacted through her website, www.rachelbailey.com.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

With a final, fond look at the Melbourne skyline, Delia Walsh stepped onto the boarding bridge of the Cora Mae, the luxury cruise liner she called home.

Ahead on the deck, she spotted a group of people in business suits clustered around a tall man with his back to her. She hesitated, assessing the crowd. All she could see of the man in the center was broad shoulders encased in a tailored business jacket, a straight confident bearing and hair of darkest blond that tapered in against his neck. But that was enough to draw her attention and keep it there. The ship's captain stood beside him and from various vantage points, beyond the grand foyer, groups of curious staff intently watched the interaction.

Which meant, most likely, the man in the middle of the action was him.

Luke Marlow, the man about to inherit the Cora Mae, had arrived.

Curiosity nibbling, she stepped into the foyer. Many senior crew members, including herself, had been invited to the reading of Patrick Marlow's will today, and all of them had one question uppermost in their minds—what would his nephew and heir, Luke Marlow, do with the ship once he had control? Sell? Refurbish? Interfere with the day-to-day running?

Della was probably more interested in their guest than most—she'd been hearing snippets of Luke's life from Patrick for years. It was possible she knew more about this man than she knew about some of her friends.

As she drew closer to the small crowd, she could hear Captain Tynan say, "We'll get that cut seen to straight away."

Luke Marlow held up a hand wrapped in what looked like a blue handkerchief. "No need. I'll run it under the tap and throw on a bandage."

The captain spotted Della. "Dr. Walsh! Good timing. Mr. Marlow has a cut that might need a couple of stitches."

She pasted a smile on her face, and stepped forward, prepared to offer medical assistance as if he was any other patient, not the man who would soon be her boss. "Good afternoon, Mr. Marlow. If you'll follow me to the medical suite, we'll take a look at your hand."

As she spoke, Luke Marlow slowly turned to her, his steel-gray gaze scanning her face before coming to land on her eyes. The air seemed to sizzle and spark; a wave of goose bumps rushed across her skin. Was she nervous because he held her future in the palm of his hand? Or was it his fallen angel's face—sculpted cheekbones, strong straight nose and sensual lips—that unsettled her? Whatever it was, the effect was unwelcome and she squashed it.

"Now that you mention it," he said thoughtfully, his eyes not wavering from hers, "I think it might need stitches."

The captain nodded, satisfied. "I'll take care of your staff and a purser will collect you from Dr. Walsh's office and bring you to us when you're done."

As if in slow motion, the crowd parted and Luke Marlow covered the distance between them. He stood within touching distance, looking at her expectantly, and her heart thumped hard and erratically. Tall and charismatic, he filled her vision, making her breath come too fast, as if casting a spell over her…

Her smile slipped. This couldn't be happening. She'd vowed never to let herself feel attraction to a man again. Ever. And this man was about to become her boss. Perhaps determine her future. Refusing to give in to her body's blind response, she pulled herself to her full height—which leveled out in the vicinity of Luke's chin—and found that professional smile again.

"This way," she said, indicating the direction with her hand.

Luke inclined his head and stepped away from the dissipating crowd. When they walked farther into the foyer with its elaborate furnishings and chandeliers, she wondered if he noticed the eyes following him from every direction.

"Tell me something, Dr. Walsh," he said, his voice pitched somewhere between sexy-low and curiosity.

Steeling herself against the shiver that threatened to run down her spine at the timbre of his voice, she led him through the foyer, to the bank of elevators. "If I can."

"Is there always a group that size waiting to greet guests?"

The elevator arrived and after they stepped in, she pressed the button for the third deck. "No, but then you're not an average guest."

He arched an eyebrow several shades darker than his hair. "What sort of guest am I?"

The only guest who's made my knees go weak. She paused for a long moment. He wasn't merely the only guest who'd affected her this strongly, he was the only man who had since… She shied away from the thought and schooled her features into casual ambivalence. "We've heard you'll likely inherit the Cora Mae today."

"Ah," he said and sank his good hand into his pocket.

He'd thought they wouldn't know? Patrick Marlow had made no secret over the years that he considered his nephew his heir. "Rumors travel quickly around a ship."

"Rumors?" That eyebrow rose again. "There's more than one?"

Three hundred and thirty people lived and worked on the Cora Mae. Some were seasonal staff who wanted to see the world. They tended to work hard and party harder. But there was a solid core of people who did more than merely live on board—they'd formed a community. This ship was their home. And both groups were alive with speculation and snippets of information about Luke Marlow. Patrick had often spoken to her about his only nephew, mentioning his privileged background, his success with Marlow Hotels and the respect he garnered in the business world. But those stories from a proud uncle hadn't prepared her for the toe-curling effect Luke had in person.

The elevator doors slid open and she led the way down a narrow, carpeted corridor while the man in question waited patiently for his answer. "Several rumors," she acknowledged, "most of which probably have no basis in fact."

"Humor me."

She allowed herself a small smile at the idea of telling the man who would soon control both her career and home about the gossip doing the rounds. "I don't think so."

They arrived at the medical suite and Della stopped at the reception desk just inside the door to speak to the duty nurse. "Jody, is Dr. Bateman in?"

Something about Luke Marlow affected her. Perhaps it was his power over her future as her boss. Or the strange magnetism he had as a man. Or simply her unsettled nerves about the reading of Patrick's will in an hour and the accompanying sharp reminder of her friend's death only twelve days ago. Regardless, she knew if she didn't feel 100 percent comfortable, it would be more appropriate to hand him to a colleague for treatment.

Hearing his name, Cal Bateman stepped into the reception room and Della's shoulders loosened in relief.

"Cal, Mr. Marlow might need some sutures in his hand." She turned to their patient. "Dr. Bateman will take care of you."

But when she turned to go, Luke's smooth, deep voice stopped her. "No."

Her heart skipped a beat and she swiveled slowly back around. "Pardon?"

Luke stood facing her, dominating the room with his height and presence, his expression neither stern nor encouraging. "If I need stitches, I'd like you to handle them, Dr. Walsh."

Puzzled, she looked at him. Why should it matter to him which doctor he saw? "I assure you, Dr. Bateman's surgical skills are second to none. He did some advanced training in plastic surgery, so...

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Verlag
Harlequin Desire
Erscheinungsdatum
2013
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
0373732759
ISBN 13 
9780373732753
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
192
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