The Far Side of Paradise by Robyn Donald Read Free Book Online

that we met for the first time yesterday, and I don’t know very much about you at all.’
    There was silence, as though she’d accused him of some deviant behaviour, before he said, ‘I can probably come up with a reference. Who would you like to give it?’
    Flippantly, she returned, ‘How about the Prime Minister?’
    ‘United Kingdom or New Zealand?’
    Funny man.
    Or seriously influential. ‘Oh, don’t bother,’ she retorted. ‘Where is this business meeting?’
    ‘Fala’isi.’
    An island basking in the tropical sun. Firmly, she pushed back memories of halcyon days. ‘I didn’t realise it involved travel.’
    ‘Have you a current passport?’
    ‘Yes, but—’
    ‘It’s only a short flight from Auckland.’
    Fala’isi was a small island nation known for its good governance, safety and lack of corruption. However, she said, ‘There are good temping agencies in Auckland—’
    ‘It’s a long weekend,’ he said evenly. ‘I’ve tried, and everyone’s away on holiday.’
    Of course, it was Anniversary weekend. Torn, Taryn wavered.
    Into the silence, Cade said with cool, crisp detachment, ‘I can assure you I have no designs, wicked or otherwise, on you, your body or your well-being. I’ve been called in to advise at an informal meeting of political and influential figures from around the Pacific Rim. It will last a week. My personal assistant in London is unable to help—he has family problems. I need someone who can type well, find information on a wide variety of subjects, check its accuracy and collate it in time for me to be armed for each session. Someone who’s discreet. You’ll be busy, but there should be enough time for you to swim and otherwise enjoy yourself. Obviously, you’ll be well compensated for your time.’
    The lick of irritation underlying his words angered her, but was oddly reassuring. It sounded as though she were merely the easiest solution to an unexpected difficulty. And in Fala’isi it was highly unlikely she’d come up against any situation she couldn’t deal with.
    However, it was the thought of her bank balance that made the decision. She needed the money. And she wasn’t likely to lose either her head or her heart in a week.
    ‘All right, I’ll do it,’ she said quickly, before she could change her mind. ‘But I’ll need an address and contact details.’
    She’d give them to her landlady. Just in case …
    Three hours later Taryn was sitting in a sleekly luxurious jet feeling as though she’d been tossed without ceremony onto a merry-go-round. Cade had taken over, efficiently organising their departure.
    The first shock had been the helicopter ride to theinternational airport at Auckland. The second arrived hot on its heels when, after swift formalities, Cade escorted her to this plane. The third came when she realised that not only was it private but they were the only passengers.
    Feeling ridiculously as though she’d been kidnapped, she obeyed the pilot’s instructions and strapped herself in, and they were soon streaking northwards over an ocean as serene as its name. Taryn knew how swiftly the Pacific Ocean could turn violent, but today it was rippling watered silk, agleam all the way to the horizon beneath a sky just as blue and benign.
    Not that she could concentrate on it; a few moments ago Cade had finished concisely briefing her on what she’d be expected to do in Fala’isi.
    She said warily, ‘I assume you won’t want me attending the social occasions.’ He’d spoken of cruises, dinners, a cocktail party …
    His brows lifted. ‘I don’t expect you to work for the entire time. If you don’t want to attend any of the social occasions that’s not a problem. You grew up in the tropics—have you ever been to Fala’isi?’
    ‘No.’ She paused, then said lightly, ‘But, from what I remember, tropical islands in the Pacific have coconut palms and coconut crabs, and most of them are surrounded by lagoons of the most amazing blue on