Arranged Marriage

M. Bryden C.

Description

An arranged marriage is not for everyone. It's a risk many would not consider. Will this be one that fails, or will it be successful? Only time will tell...

Informations

• Publié par: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Date de parution: 31 juillet 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781528954556
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

An Arranged Marriage
C. M. Bryden
Austin Macauley Publishers
2019-07-31
An Arranged Marriage About The Author Dedication Copyright Information © Acknowledgements Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Epilogue
About The Author
C. M. Bryden is a lady that believes “love conquers all”, writing romances fills her retirement days. People-watching often leads to intriguing stories as her imagination makes up scenarios. Once a character has taken root in her imagination, the story leaps ahead.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my man in a million, my wonderful husband of many years.
Copyright Information ©
C. M. Bryden (2019)
The right of C. M. Bryden to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781788485753 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781788485760 (Hardback)
ISBN 9781528954556 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2019)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgements
For my friends who encourage me to follow my dreams.
Prologue
Jane Reynolds drove into the car park: parking her ancient Mini neatly between her father’s old, and much loved Jaguar, and a gleaming black Porsche she eyed enviously, wondering whether its owner was equally as racy!
She strode into the reception area, her high heels tapping on the tiled floor; the only sound to be heard in the deserted building, as she made her way down the corridor towards her father’s office.
Pausing for a moment at his door, she ran one hand through her hair, at the same time smoothing imaginary creases from the skirt of her business suit well aware this was an important day in her father’s life, at the same time unaware it might possibly be of some importance to hers as well!
Nervously, she composed herself before knocking on the door and waiting for her father’s command to enter. There was no response. She knocked again and then, believing the room to be empty, she opened the door and walked in. To her surprise, her father and a much younger man were standing with their heads close together, poring intently over some papers strewn across the desk: it was only the soft thud of the door closing behind her that alerted them to her presence. In unison they turned, watching as she walked towards them. One with pride in his eyes, the other with lust!
Jake Adams had felt his heart lurch in his chest the instant he set eyes on her. He instinctively knew as he watched her walk across the room that he wanted her. He lusted after her and for more than a one-night stand!
Jane smiled at her father, taking in his familiar features, that only months ago had been unlined and boyish, but now were careworn and haggard. His hair, once dark had changed almost overnight to silver.
He smiled at her, more a grimace than a smile. From his expression she could see he was feeling apprehensive, as to the outcome of the proposed meeting with the young man standing at his side. He put his arm around her waist before turning to the young man.
‘Jake, I would like you to meet my daughter, Jane.’
The young man stepped forward, taking Jane’s hand in his.
‘I’m pleased to meet you…’ he said, momentarily taken aback by his physical reaction as he looked at her and took hold of her outstretched hand, holding it for just a little longer than was really necessary. His heart and head overwhelmed for a moment or two; stunned as he was by the exquisiteness of her features.
He studied her face and noted her eyes looking at him with interest. Two beautiful shimmering emerald jewels glittered and blazed at him, the likes of which he’d never seen before.
Jake moved his gaze to study her lips, liking what he saw. They were shapely and full, luscious and eminently kissable. So great was his desire to taste them he found it hard not to reach out and pull her into his arms.
By this time his loins were aching with his desire to possess her. As for Jane, she’d found his gaze equally as disturbing. For a few moments the predatory glint in his eyes had startled her to such a degree her already fragile composure was threatening to crumble.
Jake continued to stare at her, until his gaze eventually wandered and she could see him mentally undressing her, his eyes stripping her naked; his desire to devour her apparent.
Suddenly, Jane felt a rush of heat spreading through her body, leaving her cheeks inflamed by his blatant sexual glances, as his eyes sent out messages of his desire, making her emotions run riot.
Jane had never met such a man before, yet her mind and body had instinctively recognised him, assessing him as a possible mate, a primeval reaction towards the man it had surely been her destiny to meet.
Perhaps they’d known each other from a previous existence? It must have been, as Jane knew she’d never met this man before, she would certainly have remembered him! In no more time than it took for her to give him a quick glance nature had taken over her reasoning. It was as if a mist had suddenly been lifted from her eyes and thoughts. At the same time, she could see him quite clearly for what he was, a predator and a hunter, yet she knew he was the man she wanted as the father of her children. He was everything she wanted in a mate. Unaware, for a moment or two, she was subconsciously taking stock of him, she shuddered, returning to the present, knowing deep in her heart that meeting Jake Adams had been a life defining moment for her, a moment in time she would remember forever.
He looked to be in his early thirties, just the right age for her. As far as she was concerned he was the ultimate in tall, dark and handsome! He was extremely good-looking yet apparently unaware of his looks. From what she could see of his well-proportioned physique, he certainly appeared to be no stranger to a regime at the gym!
He wore his dark brown hair unfashionably long, the natural curls and waves that she wanted to run her fingers through, just brushing the collar of his jacket. He stood at least six feet tall, head and shoulders above her, which she particularly liked.
Suddenly she had an urge, she found hard to resist, to reach out and hold him close, to caress him. She wanted, nay needed, his body against hers, to feel for herself the power of his muscles against her, at the same time she wanted more, much more! She drew in her breath taken aback by her carnal thoughts, her body aching with her desire to be possessed.
It must have been the pheromones, exuding from every pore of his body that were affecting her senses, attracting her, enhancing the longing she felt for him, something she’d never experienced before. Her gaze never wavered as she continued to feast her eyes on him, so transfixed was she by his total maleness she suddenly felt faint. Jake Adams was certainly an impressive specimen of manhood, the likes of which Jane Reynolds had never met before.
Meanwhile, as the minutes ticked away, Andrew, standing at his desk watched, transfixed at Jake's reaction to meeting his daughter for the first time. Andrew knew she was intelligent, as well as beautiful, a fine catch for any young man. He could now see for himself how Jake had been unable to tear his eyes away from her. It was a compulsion the young man couldn’t resist. A look Andrew couldn’t ignore either, unable able to believe the sexual chemistry he’d witnessed between the young couple, something he’d never seen before, and then he realised if Jane and Jake had indeed fallen in love at first sight, it could only bode well for him, and the future of his company!
Jake was still looking at Jane, as one would look at a goddess: her physical beauty filling his eyes and making it imperative that he commit everything about her to his memory: from the colour of her hair, with its lustrous waves of burnished mahogany resting on her shoulders, noting with a smile the way one stray tress had fallen seductively across her eyes.
His eyes had then moved downwards: taking in her womanly curves and the pert breasts he longed to caress; down to the narrowness of her waist, emphasised even further by the cut of her jacket, then on to her womanly hips he wanted to caress as he pulled her close.
He drew in his breath as he imagined how they would feel when he pulled her into his arms and held her, suddenly aware of his arousal, as his body responded quite naturally, to the thoughts of what he intended doing, sooner, rather than later, to the goddess that stood before him.
Jake’s eyes continued to travel slowly downwards, until they reached her shapely legs, noticing the ridiculously sexy shoes she wore as she’d walked into the room. One thing was absolutely certain; Jane Reynolds was exactly the kind of woman he liked; sassy, sexy, and much more.
She wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever met. He could see she was special, and he also knew he wanted her permanently in his life, instinctively knowing at last he’d met the one woman he’d waited for all his life. To his surprise he wanted to marry her; even more than that, he wanted her to be the mother of his children, an event he’d never thought of before, or even wanted!
Jane was the first to look away, but only after let