The Collector's Edition Volume 1 by Emma Darcy Read Free Book Online Page A

full moon in the water but practically ensuring a small pocket of privacy.
    Predictably Dan followed, taking up position at her side and making an innocuous comment about the pleasing formation of the waterlilies.
    Jayne turned on him, not even minimally pacified by the sensual splendour of the view. ‘I do not need you to create diversionary tactics to rescue me from the attentions of other men,’ she steamed.
    Dan was not the least bit chastened. ‘You preferred him mauling you?’ he asked, as though miffed at her lack of appreciation for his quick thinking.
    ‘I was perfectly capable of detaching myself.’
    He snorted. ‘You would have had a constant job of it.’
    Jayne’s temperature rose. ‘So your judgement’s better than mine, is it?’
    ‘In this case, yes.’
    She exploded with resentment. ‘Thank you for reducing me to the status of second-class citizen, Dan. It reminds me quite forcefully of why I left you. The way you took over and answered for me as though I had no voice of my own showed a truly wonderful contempt for my intelligence and savoir faire.’
    ‘Not at all. I’m full of admiration for the way you turned the situation to your advantage,’ he drawled, completely unstung by her accusations. ‘A splendid piece of opportunism.’
    ‘Which you promptly capitalised upon. Or thought you did.’
    ‘Now there you’ve lost me. You were doing the capitalising for Monty.’
    ‘I do not sell my body to anyone for anyone, Dan Drayton,’ she hissed, furious that he was ducking the point.
    ‘Neither you should. I couldn’t agree more.’
    She barely stopped herself from yelling at him. With enormous self-discipline she bit out the bottom line. ‘I will not be living with you.’
    ‘Oh, yes, you will,’ he said decisively. ‘The deal’s off if you don’t.’
    ‘If you think you can jump into my bed anytime you like, just because you once had that right…’
    ‘Right? Right?’ His voice rose in a scandalised squawk, drawing unwelcome attention.
    ‘Shhh…’
    He dropped his tone to silky sarcasm. ‘Oh, that’s lovely, that is! Reducing our lovemaking to marital rights. As though you weren’t every bit as passionately involved as I was. Twisting the truth now, are we?’
    Jayne flushed. ‘So it was mutual consent then. It isn’t now.’
    ‘You can say that again!’
    ‘I beg your pardon.’
    ‘Just because Omar had the hots for you, you needn’t think I’m panting to slide between the sheets with you, Jayne Winter. You froze me out for two years and you’d have to chip the frost off me and do a big heating-up program to get me even mildly interested.’
    ‘Oh!’ Jayne was so deflated she was robbed of speech.
    ‘It’s obviously going to be a pain in the neck living with Dragon Lady.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘That’s the name the Chinese people here have given you. Undoubtedly with good reason. Not exactly suggestive of a comfortable person to live with, is it?’
    ‘I’m not asking you to live with me. I don’t want you to live with me.’ Jayne heard her voice growing shrill, and swallowed hard, fighting to regain a calm composure.
    ‘Part of the job unfortunately,’ Dan said with a rueful grimace. ‘Much easier and more efficientif you’re on hand to assist with Monty’s plans and projections.’
    ‘We can meet on the job,’ Jayne flung at him. ‘There is no need for us to cohabit.’
    ‘And what if Omar whisks you off in his private jet to have his way with you? I’d be left having to sort out everything for myself. The deal was for you to stay on the job.’
    ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake! As if that’s going to happen!’
    ‘Highly likely if we don’t stay together with every appearance of marital bliss. Omar El Talik is not a man who cares to be thwarted. White slavery was once a popular trade in his country. And very lucrative. He’d have no scruples about taking you, Jayne.’
    ‘This is absolute nonsense!’ she scoffed.
    ‘Don’t let the diamonds and