“What did he mean by breaking me in?” I didn’t like the way they looked at me and certainly was not impressed that he thought I was like a horse to be broken in.The music and lights pulsed around us as we joined the couples on the dance floor.“Forget them. We’re here to enjoy ourselves.” The smile he gave me didn’t reach his stormy eyes. He swung me around folding his arms around my waist while swaying to the beat. He was a good dancer and I remembered how he danced with Jenna at our engagement party. I didn’t like the way my heart contracted at the thought of them together.But I couldn’t dwell on it for long because James spun me around again to face him, moving us over the floor in sync with the rhythm. Dancers made space for us, making a circle to watch us, clapping and cheering. I wasn’t used to so much attention, but James, being James, was used to it. Basked in it.The song ended and he whisked me away to the bar. I was out of breath and hot, fanning myself with my hands.“Yo

DESTINY“Feeling better?” James hovered over me like a mother hen.We were back at the beach house after spending an uncomfortable night in the tent on the sandbank. It would have been a perfectly romantic evening hadn’t it been for the damn insects. James felt terrible about it because he failed to see the insect repellent.“I’m fine. Stop worrying about it.” I wasn’t itching as much as the previous night. Our guide had some antihistamine creams on board his boat which was a life saver. I scratched a spot at the back of my knee and James slapped my hand away.“Stop scratching. It will leave marks.” He said sternly. “Let’s go for a swim. The water is perfect.”I groaned, “Seriously? You know I can’t swim.” We were lazing on the deck, soaking up the midday sun and just watching the clouds drift by.“C’mon, I don’t want to swim alone. I’ll teach you.” He peered at me over the rim of his sunglasses.Right. He just wanted me to wear that red bikini he bought. It hardly covered everything,

DESTINY Mrs. Donahue came upstairs to look for me. I must have looked a sight, because she took one look at me and demanded to call the doctor. “No, please, Mrs. Donahue. I’ll be fine. I just had some bad reaction to the pizza we had last night. Or it might have been the beer.” “Hmm….” She felt my forehead. “No fever. Well, then. What you need is some proper food. No wonder you pick up all sorts of bugs, eating al lot of shite.” She tut-tutted, “Such a shame about Lord Barrington, poor dear. Working himself to death, he is.” “We visited with him last night. He is recovering.” “Well, thank the good Lord for that, eh. Well, I’ll not bother ye. Ye rest up, Lass. I will make you some chicken broth, perk ye right up.” Her smile made her round cheeks look like little red apples. She left and I snuggled down under the covers. My phone dinged and I grabbed it to see who was texting me. Of course, it was James. ‘Hey Sugar, just want to know if you feel better. XXX.’ I texted back. ‘I’m

JAMESMy father was back at work. Of course, against his doctor’s orders. I didn’t want him back at work either, but James Barrington the second never listened to anyone. He called me into his office.“James, I have something to tell you.” he said as I sat opposite him.“Please tell me you called off the engagement.” One could only wish.He shook his head. “No, we will be married in December.” We were in the month of August. Four months to go. I wondered how far along Jenna’s pregnancy was.“Any more bad news?” I leaned back in my chair, hands behind my head. I still had to tell him that someone was skimming money off of our company.He chose to ignore my comment. “I’ve offered Jenna a percentage in the company’s shares.”“You did what?” I tipped the chair back with a jolt. “Why would you do that? You don’t even know if that child is yours.”“We will have a paternity test done. We also need your DNA, James.” The way he pierced me with those blue eyes, like I was the one to blame. He w

JAMESOffense has and always will be my best defense. I’ve fucked up. Royally. And she was spitting mad, like a little kitten, cute, but her claws were damned sharp.“Sit your ass down there.” I slapped the counter, I had my boss face on, but she wasn’t scared of me.She hopped on the counter, glaring daggers at me. Her knees were badly scraped, but I was more concerned about her hands.“What the fuck were you thinking running off like that? You could have been killed.” I was laying it on thick.“James.”I took out the first-aid box from under the counter and placed it next to her. Damn it, her palms were dirty and bleeding. “I should take you to get a tetanus shot. Look at this mess.” I disinfected her hands and wiped them gently with cotton balls. She didn’t even flinch.“James.”“What?!” I snapped at her, pretending to be angry. I wanted to avoid the issue of the fake pregnancy. What the hell was I thinking.“Why the fuck did you lie about my being pregnant? You’d better tell me r