Title: Little Secrets: His Pregnant Secretary
Series: The McNeill Magnates #4
Author: Joanne Rock
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Release Date: December 1, 2017
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Release Date: December 1, 2017
Blurb
The boss’s baby bargain…
Becoming a father was never part of Jager McNeill’s
plan, until the heat between him and his luscious assistant turned into searing
passion. Now Delia Rickard is carrying his baby. After growing up without a
father, Jager’s determined to be there for his child. And marriage would ensure
that. But despite their chemistry, Delia’s unwilling to marry for anything less
than love.
plan, until the heat between him and his luscious assistant turned into searing
passion. Now Delia Rickard is carrying his baby. After growing up without a
father, Jager’s determined to be there for his child. And marriage would ensure
that. But despite their chemistry, Delia’s unwilling to marry for anything less
than love.
A trip with Jager to Manhattan could change
all that. For in this enchanting city ablaze with Christmas lights, romance
begins to blossom. And a kiss under the mistletoe just might turn into lasting
love.
all that. For in this enchanting city ablaze with Christmas lights, romance
begins to blossom. And a kiss under the mistletoe just might turn into lasting
love.
Purchase Links
Excerpt
“Are you
okay, Delia?” The voice in her ear was familiar; she’d heard it nearly every
day for the past year, even if she hadn’t seen the man in person for weeks on
end.
okay, Delia?” The voice in her ear was familiar; she’d heard it nearly every
day for the past year, even if she hadn’t seen the man in person for weeks on
end.
Her boss.
Jager McNeill.
Jager McNeill.
“Fine,” she
spluttered, the word ending in a cough.
spluttered, the word ending in a cough.
Of course,
it was foolish to be embarrassed since she had dived in the water to save a
child. And yet, it still felt terribly awkward to be caught with her dress up
around her waist today of all days when she’d wanted to make the perfect
professional impression.
it was foolish to be embarrassed since she had dived in the water to save a
child. And yet, it still felt terribly awkward to be caught with her dress up
around her waist today of all days when she’d wanted to make the perfect
professional impression.
Also, she’d
scratched him.
scratched him.
Coughed all
over him.
over him.
If she
hadn’t had a crush on him once upon a time, maybe she wouldn’t be tingling from
head to toe right now in spite of everything. But she feared if she tried to
swim away from him to escape all the feelings, she just might drown. She was
surprised to notice how far she’d drifted from the dock in her search. Behind
them, she noticed the transport skiff that Cyril had sent out to meet Jager’s
seaplane. Jager must have been arriving at the same time she’d jumped into the
water.
hadn’t had a crush on him once upon a time, maybe she wouldn’t be tingling from
head to toe right now in spite of everything. But she feared if she tried to
swim away from him to escape all the feelings, she just might drown. She was
surprised to notice how far she’d drifted from the dock in her search. Behind
them, she noticed the transport skiff that Cyril had sent out to meet Jager’s
seaplane. Jager must have been arriving at the same time she’d jumped into the
water.
“Hold onto
my shoulders,” he told her, shifting their positions in the water so he faced
her. “I’ll tow you to the dock.”
my shoulders,” he told her, shifting their positions in the water so he faced
her. “I’ll tow you to the dock.”
Nose to
nose with him, Delia stared up into his steel-blue eyes. She thought she’d
gotten used to his good looks in the past two years that they’d known each
other. His dark hair and sharp, shadowed jaw made for enticing contrasts to
those incredibly blue eyes. His hair had grown longer in the past months, as if
barber visits were the last thing on his mind. But the way the damp strands
curled along the strong column of his neck only added to the appeal.
nose with him, Delia stared up into his steel-blue eyes. She thought she’d
gotten used to his good looks in the past two years that they’d known each
other. His dark hair and sharp, shadowed jaw made for enticing contrasts to
those incredibly blue eyes. His hair had grown longer in the past months, as if
barber visits were the last thing on his mind. But the way the damp strands
curled along the strong column of his neck only added to the appeal.
This close,
she had the benefit of sensing the wealth of muscle in his athletic body where
he held her. Feeling the flush of heat course through her, she ducked deeper
into the cold water to hide her reaction to him.
she had the benefit of sensing the wealth of muscle in his athletic body where
he held her. Feeling the flush of heat course through her, she ducked deeper
into the cold water to hide her reaction to him.
“I can make
it.” Shaking her head, she scattered droplets from her wet hair. “I just needed
to catch my breath.”
it.” Shaking her head, she scattered droplets from her wet hair. “I just needed
to catch my breath.”
She
attempted to paddle away, but Jager only gripped her tighter.
attempted to paddle away, but Jager only gripped her tighter.
Oh. My.
Feeling the
warmth of his chest through their clingy clothes roused an ache she should not
be feeling for her boss. Adding to the problem, the strapless bra she’d been
wearing had shifted lower on her rib cage where it did absolutely no good.
warmth of his chest through their clingy clothes roused an ache she should not
be feeling for her boss. Adding to the problem, the strapless bra she’d been
wearing had shifted lower on her rib cage where it did absolutely no good.
“Humor me,”
he ordered her, his voice as controlled as his movements. “You’re exhausted and
dry land is farther away than it looks.” He took one of her hands and placed it
on his right shoulder. Then, turning away from her, he very deliberately set
her other hand on his left shoulder.
he ordered her, his voice as controlled as his movements. “You’re exhausted and
dry land is farther away than it looks.” He took one of her hands and placed it
on his right shoulder. Then, turning away from her, he very deliberately set
her other hand on his left shoulder.
He began to
swim toward the dock with measured strokes, towing her along behind him. Water
lapped over them in light waves. She felt every ripple of his muscles under her
palms as the light waves swished over them. She debated fishing one hand down
her dress to haul up her bra before they reached land, but decided the
potential scolding from Jager if she let go of him wasn’t worth it. So she
clung to him and gritted her teeth against the friction of her pebbled breasts
rubbing against his back. By now he had to be as keenly aware of her as she was
of him.
swim toward the dock with measured strokes, towing her along behind him. Water
lapped over them in light waves. She felt every ripple of his muscles under her
palms as the light waves swished over them. She debated fishing one hand down
her dress to haul up her bra before they reached land, but decided the
potential scolding from Jager if she let go of him wasn’t worth it. So she
clung to him and gritted her teeth against the friction of her pebbled breasts
rubbing against his back. By now he had to be as keenly aware of her as she was
of him.
The only
positive of this awkward reunion?
positive of this awkward reunion?
Any anxiety
she had about talking business with him was utterly eclipsed by physical
awareness. So when they reached land, she clamped onto the dock, evenly met his
blue gaze and said, “I definitely deserve a raise.”
she had about talking business with him was utterly eclipsed by physical
awareness. So when they reached land, she clamped onto the dock, evenly met his
blue gaze and said, “I definitely deserve a raise.”
Author Bio
Four-time RITA
nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn't like. The author
of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently
focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by
nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her
life outlook perfectly--love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at
regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing
community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree
in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing
skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann.
When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite
sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded
sons.
nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn't like. The author
of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently
focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by
nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her
life outlook perfectly--love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at
regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing
community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree
in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing
skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann.
When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite
sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded
sons.
Author Links
No comments:
Post a Comment