Just For A Night

Miranda Lee

Литагент HarperCollins EUR

As an ordinary Australian, Marina knows she'll never be the love of James, Lord Winterborne's life. James is a blue-blood, but what he feels for Marina is red-blooded passion! Marina tries to deny her attraction to the rakishly good-looking British aristocrat and concentrate on the real reason she's flown to England.But when the opportunity arises for her to become His Lordship's mistress just for one night, the temptation to succumb is overwhelming….

“It’s only one night, after all.”

Their eyes locked and his widened slightly.

And then he knew. Knew what she was saying. She would give him one night. And give herself one night. With him.

She watched him struggle with what she knew had to be a compellingly wicked temptation.

“It’s your decision,” he said slowly, but his fists remained balled up by his side.

“I’ve already made up my mind,” she said.

“So be it,” he said, and as he stared deep into her eyes his own were strangely cold, yet full of a dark triumph.

MIRANDA LEE is Australian, living near Sydney. Born and raised in the bush, she was boarding-school educated and briefly pursued a classical music career before moving to Sydney and embracing the world of computers. Happily married, with three daughters, she began writing when family commitments kept her at home. She likes to create stories that are believable, modern, fast-paced and sexy. Her interests include reading meaty sagas, doing word puzzles and going to the movies.

Miranda Lee

Just for a Night

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

‘I DON’T want you to go.’

Marina looked up from her suitcase and shook her head at the sulky expression on her fiancе’s face.

‘Please don’t start that again, Shane. I have to go. Surely you can see that?’

‘No, I can’t,’ he snapped. ‘It’s only three weeks till the wedding and here you are swanning off to the other side of the world on some wild-goose chase. There’s no guarantee that your bone marrow will save that little girl’s life. You’re probably just getting their hopes up for nothing.’

‘Firstly, I will only be away a week at the most,’ Marina pointed out, impatience only a breath away. ‘Secondly, I happen to be a near perfect match. Not only in blood, but in tissue type. Do you know how rare that is?’

‘I’m sure you’ll tell me,’ he said sourly. ‘You’re the smart one around here.’

Marina frowned at his tone of voice, and at the indication behind his words. This was a side to Shane she’d never seen before.

There again, she considered slowly, she’d never crossed him before. After her mother’s death a couple of months ago she’d been more than happy to accept the warm hand of friendship and support Shane had offered, more than happy to have someone there to make all the funeral arrangements and give her a shoulder to cry on. Her usually decisive and strong-willed character had failed her entirely during that grief-stricken time. Shane had been strong when she’d felt weak, kind and thoughtful when that was what she’d needed most.

That his kindness had ended up in his bed had probably been inevitable. He was an attractive man and she was, after all, so terribly lonely. Her satisfaction with his lovemaking had not been quite so inevitable, given her uninspiring sexual history. The pleasure he’d given her had stunned her, so much so that she’d believed herself in love at last. When he’d asked her to marry him a month ago, she’d said yes.

Now she stared at him. His face was not so handsome as he scowled at her. His eyes not so kind, either. They were cold and angry.

‘I had no idea how much you resented my being a teacher,’ she said, covering her distress behind a cool tone. ‘If you imagine I think you’re in any