Dara Girard - Perfect Match

They’re perfect for each other…

Desperate to save her family home from foreclosure, Hannah Olaniyi takes on a seemingly unwinnable case…for a substantial fee. But her new client is testing the North Carolina attorney in ways she never imagined. As tempers ignite over conflicting strategies, Hannah fights a desire that’s taking her from the boardroom and into the bedroom of the town’s most notorious playboy.

They just don’t know it yet.

Amal Harper needs a lawyer fast…someone willing to go up against a powerful family. But there’s a shocking secret in this hard-driving businessman’s past. Amal doesn’t want to lose Hannah, especially after she starts working her seductive magic. Is it too late to mend his bad-boy ways and claim his future with the woman who’s his total opposite—except when it comes to love?

“I know all about you. I know how you think getting a woman into bed should be an Olympic sport.”

“I’ve never said that.”

“There’s no need to—your actions speak loudly enough.”

“You shouldn’t believe everything you read.”

“Or everything you hear.” She folded her arms, wanting to look unmoved, although she was feeling so many emotions, she could hardly keep still. “Why did you lie?”

“I wanted to make you stop crying.”

Hannah paused, hating how he was a constant surprise to her. “I don’t believe you.”

He shrugged. “It’s the truth. Did the contractor give you a good estimate?”

“No.”

“Oh. Look, a friend owes me a favor. I can get your parents’ house fixed so they’ll get insured.”

Hannah held up her hand and shook her head. “I don’t need your help—you’re the one who needs mine.”

Amal shrugged and leaned against her desk. “I don’t see why you’re so upset. It was a harmless diversion.” He continued before she could reply. “Did I try to get your number or address?”

“No.”

He folded his arms. “You’re lucky I didn’t have to resort to Plan B.”

“Plan B?”

“Yes.” He came around the desk and lifted her to her feet. “I was going to kiss you.” And then he did just that. She expected to be repelled, alarmed, violated, but instead the touch of his lips on hers was like coming home. Like the sweet smell of cinnamon pancakes on a Sunday morning, or the sound of a crackling fire on a still winter’s night. He felt safe, secure, right.

DARA GIRARD

fell in love with storytelling at an early age. Her romance-writing career happened by chance when she discovered the power of a happy ending. She is an award-winning author whose novels are known for their sense of humor, interesting plot twists and witty dialogue. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spring mornings and autumn afternoons, French pastries, dancing to the latest hits and long drives.

Dara loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at contactdara@daragirard.com or P.O. Box 10345, Silver Spring, MD 20914.

Perfect Match

Dara Girard

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

Have you ever had to work with someone you couldn’t stand? That’s the situation Hannah finds herself in when she’s forced to take on playboy Amal Harper as a client in order to save her parents’ home.

I really enjoyed working with the premise of dealing with people who aggravate you. I once had a boss who kept calling me by the wrong name and another who just referred to me as “the girl.” Those personalities really helped me develop Mrs. Martha Walker, the one person who, unwittingly, unites Hannah and Amal.

And then of course there’s the secret Mrs. Walker is desperate to keep that Hannah is just as determined to uncover.

Soon both women will learn that Amal Harper is not all that he seems and hearts will be broken and healed....

Enjoy,

Dara Girard

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 1

“We’re going to be homeless.”

“No, you’re not.”

“We’re going to be tossed out in the street and left to starve.”

Hannah Olaniyi bit back a sigh as she switched her cell phone to her other ear. Her older sister, Abigail, always tended toward the dramatic. In the distance she heard children squealing with delight as they raced about the playground. A few feet away a jogger darted past and a dog tugged on its leash while attempting to sniff the trunk of a tree. She felt the warmth of the late-spring sun as she strolled through the park on her lunch break. She saw its rays cascading over the green grass, but it did little to lift her spirits. It was just proof that life went on while her world fell apart. “That’s not going to happen. How’s Dad?”

“He’s coming out of the hospital tomorrow.”

Hannah felt some of her tension ease. Her parents’ financial woes had so stressed her father that he’d been rushed to the hospital two days earlier due to trouble breathing. Her mother and sister had been certain he was suffering a heart attack because of his weak heart, caused by a construction accident over eleven years ago that left him unable to work. A shady contractor had cut corners on materials used at a site where her father had been working. He ended up falling through two floors of the structure and seriously injuring his back and left hip, leaving him in constant pain. Since then, hospital visits had become part of their lives, as had countless physical therapy sessions.

Fortunately, this time it was just a panic attack, although his blood pressure was dangerously low and he was dehydrated.

Hannah glanced at a tree whose leaves swayed in the slight breeze. “I’ll come visit after he’s rested a day or two.”

“There’s no need trying to hide from the inevitable. You can’t face them, can you?”

“Of course I can,” Hannah said, fighting to take hold of her temper. Her sister was good at igniting it. “I saw them just yesterday. They were fine.”

“They were just pretending to make you feel better like they always do,” Abigail said, as though her sister was dense. “They don’t want to worry the baby of the family.”

There was only a five-year age difference between the two sisters, but most of the time it felt like much more. Abigail had wanted to stay an only child and had never welcomed Hannah’s arrival. For twenty-eight years she had convinced herself that Hannah was their parents’ favorite although they worked hard to treat their daughters as equals—same birthday gifts, same holiday gifts, but nothing seemed to change Abigail’s opinion.

Hannah rolled her eyes. “I’ll talk to the bank.”

“They’re going to take the house.”

Hannah knew it wasn’t that simple. Their home insurance policy had been canceled because the house needed major repairs. She remembered the contractor they’d hired to inspect the house and his quote of over forty-five thousand dollars. If they did not have the repairs done they’d lose their house, and with her father’s medical needs that would mean a rehabilitation center or senior residential facility for him—and nobody wanted that.

“I won’t let that happen,” she said.

“Did you suddenly get rich?”

“No, but—”

“Then how will you stop them?” Abigail’s voice cracked. “This is all your fault anyway.”

Hannah paused, not sure she’d heard right. “M-my fault?”

“Yes,” Abigail said with feeling. “Dad refinanced the house to help you with your education so that you could get your fancy college degree. But instead of graduating and getting a job right away you decided to start your own company. If you had joined an established law firm or something you’d have the money to help. While you were having fun at college I was working to support the family, and now that you’re out you still can’t do anything.”