Sophie Weston - The Accidental Mistress

The moment was so fleeting that she barely had time to catch her breath. But she jerked as if he had lit a fuse.

Yes!

She could lie as much as she liked, thought Dom, jubilant. Her body told the truth, no matter what she said.

Chased to the altar—three independent cousins swept off their feet by the most eligible Englishmen!

Pepper, Izzy and Jemima Jane are cousins—with nothing in common except the gorgeous red hair they’ve inherited from their grandmother! They even grew up on different continents: Pepper is heiress to an American business empire, Izzy and Jay Jay shared their very English childhood as adopted sisters….

But do they have more in common than they realize?

For the first time in their lives, the three cousins find themselves together: as a family, as friends, as business partners. And they’re about to discover that they’re not so different from each other after all!

Pepper, Izzy and Jay Jay are thoroughly modern women, determined to be ruled by the head, not the heart. Now their lives are turned upside down as each meets a man who challenges them to let love into their lives—with dramatic consequences!

Pepper had an unexpected encounter in

The Independent Bride.

Jay Jay’s story,

The Duke’s Proposal, #3791

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PROLOGUE He danced his fingers along her naked skin. The moment was so fleeting that she barely had time to catch her breath. But she jerked as if he had lit a fuse. Yes! She could lie as much as she liked, thought Dom, jubilant. Her body told the truth, no matter what she said.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

‘WE’RE missing the Wow! factor here, people,’ said the senior account executive of Culp and Christopher Public Relations. ‘There’s nothing special about explorers. Explorers are everywhere.’

Dominic Templeton-Burke was sitting opposite him, doodling impatiently. But at this he raised his head and stared in disbelief. His handsome bony face seemed to freeze for a moment, and then he gave a gulp that just might—if C&C weren’t the most famous PR agency in London and doing this for free—have been a choked laugh.

‘It goes with the job description, I’m afraid,’ he said in a strangled voice.

The senior account executive was not used to being laughed at and did not recognise it now. He gave a tolerant smile. ‘Can’t be helped. But what we have to ask ourselves here is—what makes Dominic Templeton-Burke unique?’

There was a pause.

‘He’s sexy?’ offered emerald-haired ebony-nailed Molly di Peretti at last. She sounded doubtful.

This time Dominic did not even try to hide his grin. ‘Gee, thanks,’ he murmured.

None of the PR professionals took any notice. They felt some sympathy for Molly. Normally she dealt with rock musicians, and the rangy adventurer was proving a challenge. Oh, he was good-looking enough. He just didn’t take it seriously—and hadn’t from the moment Managing Director Jay Christopher had said, ‘This is Dom. He’s going for a stroll in the Arctic and has just lost ten per cent of his funding. We’re going to help.’

But helping Dom Templeton-Burke was turning out to be an uphill struggle.

Except that senior account executives didn’t notice! ‘All explorers are sexy,’ said the senior account executive loftily.

His subordinates exchanged weary glances.

‘They are,’ he insisted. ‘It goes with all that heaving backpacks around and lack of aftershave. Pure testosterone. We need that something extra.’

It was undeniable. There was silence while they all thought.

‘Something to show his sensitive side?’ hazarded Josh, newly out of his training course.

Dominic lost his grin. ‘Not too sensitive,’ he said firmly.

His sister Abby, an account executive in her own right, glared down the table at him. Only threats of major family recrimination had got her reluctant brother here this morning and she was watching him like a hawk.

‘Try to be constructive, Dom.’ She’d meant to be crisp. Too late, she heard the pleading note in her voice. She could have kicked herself.

Dominic was her favourite brother, but she had never tried to interfere with his professional life before. It was turning out to be an unforgettable experience.

‘We’re trying to help you here,’ she said, in despair.

‘Sorry.’ But he did not sound repentant. And his grey green eyes were dancing. He sat back. ‘What had you in mind?’

The account executive waved a vague hand. ‘Something quirky. Something unexpected. Something people will remember. I’m looking for the human face here.’

‘You mean something that says there’s more to you than muscles and the ability to read a compass,’ said his fond sister maliciously.

Dominic flicked a paper pellet at her.

‘He means the man of mystery behind my rough, tough exterior,’ he corrected. ‘We’re talking swirling cloaks and stirred martinis. Probably with a glamorous mistress thrown in,’ he added wickedly.

There was sudden, total silence. The staff of Culp and Christopher exchanged startled glances.

They had heard about Abby’s brother. He might not be a bad and brooding rock star. But, between expeditions, he partied enthusiastically. In fact, in the folders in front of them, Molly’s briefing concluded, ‘The word on the street is that he’s brilliant, unpredictable and an all-round awkward sod. Does the full male on the loose thing—then disappears to go into training without a word. Sexually a stud. Socially a blast. Romantically a bad, bad bet.’

‘Er,’ said Molly, trying not to look at her folder.

Even Abby, who had not seen the briefing—well, he was her brother after all—looked uncomfortable.

‘Ho yus?’ she said with heavy irony. ‘Like you’d remember you had a hot babe waiting for you when someone was offering to show you some marvellous new bit of climbing equipment?’

Dominic’s eyes twinkled. ‘You’re saying I’m not sexy again,’ he said sadly.

Every woman at the table looked at him with professional assessment. Beneath the careless clothing the tall rangy body was powerfully muscled. Only that wicked teasing meant that you never quite knew where you were with him. He would be a challenge, but…

‘I’m saying you should have No Involvement tattooed on your forehead,’ snapped Abby, goaded. ‘Are you telling me I’m wrong?’

‘I thought I was here for PR advice. Not character assassination.’

Was he annoyed? Looking at those wicked green eyes, no one round the table could be sure.