Jan Colley - Mistress & a Million Dollars / Satin & A Scandalous Affair - Mistress & a Million Dollars

Mistress & a Million Dollars by Maxine Sullivan

SYDNEY’S SCENE

The world has witnessed everything from the sublime to the ridiculous while watching the decades-old feud between the world’s richest gem dealers, the Blackstones, and the Hammonds. But yesterday’s scene tops even that. Blackstones’ exclusive supermodel, Briana Davenport – the “Face of Blackstone” – was seen on the arm of none other than supposed enemy Jarrod Hammond.

The two were spotted together at the roulette table in the Crown Casino last week, and yesterday at the Melbourne Grand Prix. “They looked to be a lot more than friends,” said one attentive attendee. According to an inside source, Davenport’s contract with Blackstones is soon to be up for renewal. Locking lips with a Hammond may not be Davenport’s best move to ensure longevity with the diamond moguls. Then again, she may not care, if the consolation prize is the sexy Melbourne millionaire. One thing’s for sure: at Blackstones, the flawless diamonds may be costly, but the family high jinks are priceless.

Satin & a Scandalous Affair by Jan Colley

SYDNEY’S SCENE

In the decades-old feud between the world’s richest gem dealers, the Blackstones and the Hammonds, no one and nowhere is off limits. Not even Danielle Hammond, the up-and-coming jewellery designer who thought she’d escaped family high jinks up north in the Port Douglas tropics.

The flamboyant Dani has been hired by broker Quinn Everard to design for him – the same man who some time ago nearly destroyed her fledgling career with his caustic critique of her work. What would make the colourful Ms Hammond agree to that unique assignment? And just who is Quinn’s mysterious client?

The Blackstones and Hammonds, no strangers to rumours, are once again the topic of water-cooler conversation as rumours abound that the missing son of recently deceased founder Howard Blackstone may indeed have been located.

Before his death, Howard – dubbed “the man people love to hate” – left his billion-dollar diamond firm to the missing son, James, who was kidnapped over thirty years ago. Tempers are high at Blackstone’s Pitt Street offices – where the diamonds are rare, but the drama is rampant!

MAXINE SULLIVAN

JAN COLLEY

www.millsandboon.co.uk

by

Maxine Sullivan

MAXINE SULLIVAN

credits her mother for her lifelong love of romance novels, so it was a natural extension for Maxine to want to write her own romances. She’s very excited about seeing her work in print and is thrilled to be the second Australian to write for the Desire™ line.

Maxine lives in Melbourne, Australia, and over the years has travelled to New Zealand, the UK and the USA. In her own backyard, her husband’s job ensured they saw the diversity of the countryside, including spending many years in Darwin in the tropical north, where some of her books are set. She is married to Geoff, who has proven his hero status many times over the years. They have two handsome sons and an assortment of much-loved, previously abandoned animals.

Maxine would love to hear from you and can be contacted through her website at www. maxinesullivan.com.

Dear Reader,

When I sold my first book to the Desire™ line back in January 2006, the senior editor, Melissa Jeglinski, commented that the Down Under Desire authors should put a continuity series together – and the DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER series was born.

With much enthusiasm we set about coming up with story lines. I’d always wanted to write an indecent-proposal story, and this glitter and glamour series was the perfect backdrop for that. I really enjoyed writing about a hero who desires the heroine so much he is prepared to pay her a million dollars to sleep with him. Now that’s desire!

I had a great time with this book, and I’m so proud to have worked with such talented writers. Writing this series bonded us not only in friendship, but also as a “family” of authors. And, yes, a family who has arguments and who want to strangle each other at times. But I wouldn’t have missed out on this for anything.

I hope you enjoy our series. Personally, I think it’s fabulous.

Happy reading!

Maxine

To Melissa Jeglinski for “everything.”

To the Down Under Desire authors –

with admiration.

One

“W e are gathered here today in the face of this company to join together Kimberley Blackstone and Ricardo Perrini in matrimony ….”

Jarrod Hammond heard the words of the female marriage celebrant, but his eyes were drawn not to the bride, but to the woman sitting opposite him in the horseshoe circle surrounding his cousin Kim and her soon-to-be husband, Ric Perrini.

Adrenaline kicked in as he leaned back in his chair and let his gaze rake over Briana Davenport, the Australian supermodel who was the face of Blackstone Diamonds. Through the massive yacht’s large windows behind her, the late-afternoon sun highlighted the most glorious harbor in the world and created a picture-perfect backdrop for her beauty.

Framed by the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and dressed in a silky, pale blue pantsuit that flowed as she moved, she was elegance and sophistication. The epitome of glamour. A crowning glory for the diamond company she symbolized. He could see why Howard Blackstone had chosen her to represent his business.

And just as expensive, Jarrod mused rather cynically, noting with satisfaction the exact moment she saw him looking at her. Her eyelids flickered just a bit before she looked away, but only someone with an internal radar for this woman would pick up on it.

Someone like him.

“ If anyone can show just cause —” the celebrant continued.

Much to Jarrod’s displeasure, his internal radar was constantly tuned on Briana. It had been that way from the moment he’d set eyes on her at his brother’s marriage to her sister four years ago. It had been on high ever since, even though he knew Briana had a serious flaw. An expensive serious flaw. She liked money, and plenty of it, and went through it like it was going out of fashion, according to her now-dead sister, Marise.

Of course, being attuned to Briana didn’t help when everywhere he turned she was there in front of him: up on billboards…on television…in glossy magazines. Nor was it easy knowing they lived in the same city in another part of the country. Thankfully with her jet-setting around the world as a supermodel, and him with his law practice, Melbourne was big enough for the two of them not to run into each other.

“ Ric, do you take Kimberley for your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort and …”

But now, seeing Briana in the flesh again—her oh-so-delicious flesh—reminded him why he’d inveigled an invitation to the Blackstone Jewellery launch here in Sydney last Friday and flown up from Melbourne. And why he was glad he’d accepted Kim’s invitation today. Being a Hammond at a Blackstone wedding was never going to be easy, but with Briana here, the day suddenly seemed full of sensual possibilities, despite the presence of millionaire Jake Vance, who once again partnered her.

“ Kimberley, do you take Ric for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort and …”

Jarrod’s mouth tightened as he looked at the man sitting beside Briana. The pair had been photographed together in the Melbourne papers at the St. Valentine’s Day races a few weeks ago. And again last Friday at the jewelry launch. Were the two of them lovers? Probably, he decided, not pleased by the burst of irrational jealousy he felt at the thought of her in the other man’s bed.