Maureen Child - Propositioned Into A Foreign Affair / Seduced Into A Paper Marriage

“I’m thinking that maybe you believe sleeping with me might make for good publicity.

Or you want the novelty of sleeping with an actress.” Had she actually said that? She hadn’t even known the fear existed until the words fell out of her mouth.

Sam held up one finger. “First. I don’t need you or the damn press in order to be successful. I could buy your family business twice over.” He ticked off a second finger. “Second, if I wanted novelty there are other women I could turn to who wouldn’t accuse me of chasing them for their money.”

Bella’s eyebrows shot upward. “You really aren’t lacking in ego.”

“Women chase me for my money. That’s nothing to be proud of.”

A hesitant smile tipped her mouth. “I really don’t have anything you need.”

“Now, there you’re wrong.” He stepped closer, his body totally flush against hers, his hard muscles a sweet temptation against her.

Don’t miss the exclusive in-book short story by USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child, leading to Seduced Into a Paper Marriage.

What the hell was she up to?

Was she trying to make him insane? Because if that was the plan, she was doing fine.

Rearranging the furniture, cooking dinner, wearing a dress that made a man want to tear it from her body with his teeth. Lust roared through Dev’s system like an out-of-control freight train. He’d done nothing but think about her all day and now there she stood and he was praying she’d take a breath deep enough to have her breasts pop free of that dress.

She’d been home less than forty-eight hours and already she’d tossed his world into complete disorder.

This had not been his plan when he’d gone to her condo to bring her home. He was supposed to be the one setting the rules.

If he didn’t know better, Devlin would swear she was deliberately trying to seduce him.

Inherited: One Child by Day Leclaire & Dakota Daddy by Sara Orwig

Propositioned Into a Foreign Affair by Catherine Mann & Seduced Into a Paper Marriage by Maureen Child Mini-series —THE HUDSONS OF BEVERLY HILLS

The Once and Future Prince by Olivia Gates & Pretend Mistress, Bona Fide Boss by Yvonne Lindsay

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Dear Reader,

Thank you for tuning in for the next instalment of the Hudson family saga! What a delight it was for me to tell Bella Hudson’s story, since she’s an actress. Prior to my writing career, I too made my living in the theatre—on the stage, however, rather than the big screen. After completing my master’s degree in theatre, I returned to Charleston, South Carolina, and worked at the historic Dock Street Theatre.

While my theatre days are now long past, I still find my training comes in handy with my books—such as when staging a scene or delving deep into characterisation. And best of all, while submerged in the world of creating stories, I get to write the script and direct the show, as well as be all the characters!

Thanks again for picking up Bella’s book and happy reading!

Cheers,

Catherine Mann

www.catherinemann.com

RITA® Award winner Catherine Mannresides on a sunny Florida beach with her military flyboy husband and their four children. Although, after nine moves in twenty years, she hasn’t given away her winter gear! With over a million books in print in fifteen countries, she has also celebrated five RITA® Award finals, three Maggie Award of Excellence finals and a Bookseller’s Best Award win. A former theatre school director and university teacher, she graduated with a master’s degree in theatre from UNC-Greensboro and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the College of Charleston. Catherine enjoys hearing from readers and chatting on her message board – thanks to the wonders of the wireless internet that allows her to cyber-network with her laptop by the water! To learn more about her work, visit her website at www.CatherineMann.com or reach her by mail at PO Box 6065, Navarre, FL 32566, USA.

To my delightful and talented editor, Diana Ventimiglia.

His hands roved her bare body, melting her with the warm heat of his strong caress.

Bella Hudson bit her lip to hold back an embarrassing groan. Barely. She called upon all her training as a Hollywood actress to stay silent while Henri worked his magic on her oiled-up body.

Muscles melting, she buried her forehead deeper in the massage table’s face cradle. The scent of aromatherapy candles soothed her nose while Christmas carols sung in French mixed with ocean sounds to caress her ears.

Pure bittersweet pleasure. Very bittersweet.

Sixty-two-year-old masseur, Henri, was likely to be the only man touching her for quite some time since her jerk of an actor boyfriend stomped her heart just last week. And wow, that thought sure kinked up her neck again, encroaching on her peaceful retreat.

She and her precious dog, Muffin, had escaped to France for some much-needed soul soothing at the seaside Garrison Grande Marseille. Garrison hotels always provided the best in pampering, peace and privacy.

And crossing the Atlantic guaranteed she wouldn’t risk accidentally running into Ridley or, worse yet, Uncle David.

Men. They were all rats. Well, except for Henri, who was too old for her and married, but oh my, he worked wonders with heated river stones along her lower back.

“Henri, are you and your wife happy?” She stared through the face cradle at Henri’s gym shoes as he swapped out the stones beside her treasured little Muffin, snoozing away in her pink doggie carrier.

“ Oui, Mademoiselle Hudson. Monique and I are very ‘appy. Four-tee years, three children and ten grandchildren later. My Monique is still beautiful.”

He continued to laud his wife and family, his adoration so thick it threatened to smother her.

Or make her gag.

She’d really thought Ridley loved her, only to have him say he’d been too caught up in the romance of their starring roles in the movie about her grandparents’ WWII romance. She’d really thought her parents loved each other, too.

Wrong. And wrong again.

Her mother had cheated. She’d slept with her own brother-in-law and now Bella’s uncle David was actually her daddy David. Her two cousins were actually her half-siblings. Good God, her family was ripe to be featured on an episode of Jerry Springer.

Even river stones couldn’t ease that ache.