Judy Hubbard - These Arms of Mine

Passion brought them together. Will betrayal tear them apart?

When Alesha Robinson ended her torrid affair with Derrick Chandler, she gave up the love of her life. Now fate’s giving them a second chance. But when Alesha asks Derrick to save her brother, she never dreams what the scorned multimillionaire will demand in exchange: becoming his wife—in name only.

Even after Alesha shattered his trust, Derrick never stopped loving her. His strings-attached proposition was supposed to be strictly business: revenge for her cruel betrayal as he rebuilds his public image. Until desire reignites—hotter than ever.

As the ex-lovers give in to their passion, a marriage of convenience is about to become inconvenient. And Derrick realizes just how far he’ll go to keep Alesha in his bed, in his arms, in his heart—forever.

“You’ll have to do better than this, or you won’t convince anyone that you’re madly in love with me.”

He lowered his head toward hers.

She continued to struggle in vain. His lips were mere inches from hers, and one hand remained around her waist, while the other moved to her hair. He released her silky tresses from their confining clasp, allowing the shoulder-length tendrils to slide over his fingers as he pulled her resisting mouth toward his. As he had known it would, her hair felt like silk against his fingers. His appreciative eyes swept her distraught face thoroughly.

“I prefer your hair loose, remember?”

“Mr. Ashton, I don’t care what you prefer.”

“Oh, but you will care.” Her voice caught in her throat at his softly voiced promise. “Call me Derrick.”

“No.” She strained against his ironclad embrace.

“You’ll say my name on moans of passion in just a few seconds.”

“Never.”

She knew her denial lacked believability because her voice was breathless and a strange feeling began forming in her suddenly churning stomach.

“We’ll see.”

Before she could acidly respond, determined lips closed over hers in a strong caress.

JUDY LYNN HUBBARD

is a native of Dallas, Texas, and has always been an avid reader—particularly of romance. Judy enjoys well-written, engaging stories with characters she can identify with and root for.

Judy has always loved the craft of writing, and her goal is to touch readers emotionally with her stories. She is thrilled to be releasing her first Kimani Romance novel.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

I love it when two destined souls meet and fall in love—even if the road to happily-ever-after is a little rocky. After all, the journey is as important as the destination.

Meet Derrick Ashton, an alpha male who’s handsome, sensual, successful—and just a tad vindictive.

Alesha Robinson is beautiful, loyal and selfless and has been given a second chance at happiness, if she can undo the monumental damage her well-intentioned white lies has created.

Soon she’ll be a new bride, but can she convince Derrick to give her time to make the transition from his wife on paper to his wife in the bedroom? After all, she is an inexperienced virgin, but he won’t believe that—especially since she’s given him every reason to think just the opposite is true!

Buckle your seat belts!

Look for my next book, Our First Dance, in July 2012.

www.JudyLynnHubbard.com

Twitter: @JudyLynnHubbard

Facebook: Judy Lynn Hubbard

To my beloved sister, Carol. I wish you were here to see this day, but you’ll live forever in my heart.

Contents

Prologue Prologue Alesha Robinson took a deep breath and held it in for several long seconds before releasing it slowly. She continued the silent argument with herself to combat the foolhardiness of what she was about to do. She should turn around and go home. She started to do it—for the thousandth time, she started to do it—however, she kept walking, almost running toward her destination, as if she were eager for the impending meeting when nothing could be further from the truth. Would he listen to her? Was there a chance in hell that he would understand and forgive her? Was she just fooling herself by thinking she could appeal to his good side? In the short time they had dated two years earlier, she had often been privy to his charm, wit and good humor. He had been a perfect gentleman, someone she had wanted to get to know better, but circumstances had not worked in their favor. For reasons he still was unaware of, she had abruptly ended their relationship without explanation. Would he hold that against her now? He had a reputation of being fair and she knew firsthand that he was, or rather had been. But was she remembering a man from a lifetime ago? Did she dare hope that man still existed after the horrible way they had parted? She mumbled a slight apology after nearly colliding with another pedestrian on the sidewalk, then continued on her way. She was almost there, and still she had no idea what she was going to say to him. She resolved to cross that bridge when she came to it and continued determinedly on her way to an unscheduled yet overdue meeting. She pulled her light coat tighter around her as a biting blast of October wind forced its unwelcomed way in between the gaps of the coat’s loosely tied opening. Absent fingers brushed a stray strand of shoulder-length curly black hair, which had been loosened from its clasp by the teasing gust. What was she going to say? How should she begin? She rehearsed one scenario and then another, and another, yet she still had no idea what would come out of her mouth when she opened it. Her hesitant feet suddenly stopped outside the forty-story building that was her destination. Craning her head, she glanced up the tall, foreboding black glass frame. She wondered, would the foe she must now face be as formidable and as unyielding? Lowering her eyes to the front door, she took another deep breath and exhaled it before walking through the double doors to face the fire, uncertain she could evade the scorching that was sure to come.

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

Epilogue

Prologue

Alesha Robinson took a deep breath and held it in for several long seconds before releasing it slowly. She continued the silent argument with herself to combat the foolhardiness of what she was about to do. She should turn around and go home. She started to do it—for the thousandth time, she started to do it—however, she kept walking, almost running toward her destination, as if she were eager for the impending meeting when nothing could be further from the truth.

Would he listen to her? Was there a chance in hell that he would understand and forgive her? Was she just fooling herself by thinking she could appeal to his good side? In the short time they had dated two years earlier, she had often been privy to his charm, wit and good humor. He had been a perfect gentleman, someone she had wanted to get to know better, but circumstances had not worked in their favor. For reasons he still was unaware of, she had abruptly ended their relationship without explanation. Would he hold that against her now?

He had a reputation of being fair and she knew firsthand that he was, or rather had been. But was she remembering a man from a lifetime ago? Did she dare hope that man still existed after the horrible way they had parted?

She mumbled a slight apology after nearly colliding with another pedestrian on the sidewalk, then continued on her way. She was almost there, and still she had no idea what she was going to say to him. She resolved to cross that bridge when she came to it and continued determinedly on her way to an unscheduled yet overdue meeting.