An Opportunity Seized
Page 1
Table of Contents
Legal Page
Title Page
Book Description
Dedication
Trademarks Acknowledgement
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 Eighteen
Epilogue
New Excerpt
About the Author
Publishing Page
A Totally Bound Publication
An Opportunity Seized
ISBN # 978-1-78430-418-8
©Copyright Donna Gallagher 2015
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright January 2015
Edited by Sarah Smeaton
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 3.
Haven Security
AN OPPORTUNITY SEIZED
Donna Gallagher
Book one in the Haven Security series
Two unforeseen moments in time— One brings them together, the other is a danger so real it could tear them apart.
Antoinette ‘Toni’ Grimaldi prefers to keep out of the spotlight, blend in with the crowd and experience life the same as the bulk of the population. Being a mining magnate’s daughter is a difficult persona for her to uphold. She just doesn’t fit in with high society standards, always managing to say something inappropriate or trip over her own feet at the worst possible moment, resulting in that look of disappointment and embarrassment her parents inevitably wear whenever she’s around.
Meeting a handsome stranger who comes to her rescue and asks her out on a date is so much more than Toni could have ever hoped for on her dream holiday—one she is surprised her parents have even permitted her to take alone. Her fairy-tale moment is short-lived, though, when Toni discovers the stranger has been hired by her family to follow her every move—under the guise of keeping her safe.
Jason finds he is drawn to Antoinette. She is nothing at all like the socialite he was expecting to shadow around London’s nightclubs. After an awkward first meeting, he convinces Toni that there is more to his interest in her than just as her bodyguard. To his surprise, his attraction for the soft-spoken, thoughtful woman grows, despite his usual reluctance to commit to any kind of relationship.
Then a disaster at one of the family-owned mines and a string of death threats force Toni to return home, and her need for a bodyguard becomes a life and death reality.
Dedication
My darling Luke, I’m sorry I broke my promise but it was just too good not to use,
love Mum
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Swiss Amy knife: Victorinox AG
Ibis: Accor S.A.
Manolo Blahnik: Manolo Blahnik
Diet Coke: The Coca-Cola Company
American Express: American Express Company
Botox: Allergan, Inc.
Glock 22: Glock Ges.m.b.H.
The Bodyguard: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Chapter One
As soon as she spotted the little kiosk, all Toni could think of was tucking into a cold ice cream. The weather in London had been outrageously hot for the few days she’d been here. It was just her luck that a heatwave would hit town at the same time she did. She wasn’t even going to feel guilty for the calories she was about to consume—well, maybe only a little. Surely after all the walking I’ve done today I deserve a little treat, she told herself as she waited to be served. It was such a pain having to worry about her weight—and she did have to keep an eye on her food intake. Toni had always thought it was so unfair that she took after her pudgy father and not her pencil thin mother in that regard. Stupid genetics, she thought, as she found a shady spot under the branches of a big plane tree in the grounds of St. James’s Park to sit and enjoy her treat.
The park was opposite Buckingham Palace, and Toni watched the crowds of people streaming down the path. The changing of the guard had just finished and the sightseers were all headed off to the next attraction, just like she would be, after her quick rest break. London was a fascinating place and one Toni had been looking forward to visiting for some time. She was finding it hard to believe that she’d actually made it here and all by herself—still surprised that her parents had relented and let her go in the first place. The thought of her parents made Toni giggle—how horrified her mother would be if she could see Toni now, sitting crossed-legged on the grass, not to mention the frown that would crease her mother’s perfect face at the sight of Toni eating such a fattening treat.
Toni knew her father would be horrified to think of his only daughter sightseeing like some common tourist. Her father had been invited inside the Palace, more than once, to attend some function or another, but those types of gathering were just not Toni’s cup of tea. She much preferred to keep out of the spotlight, blend in with the crowd and experience life the same as the bulk of the population. Being a mining magnate’s daughter was a difficult persona for Toni to uphold. She was plain, a little overweight and just didn’t fit in with high society standards—much to her mother’s disdain. She always managed to say something inappropriate or trip over her own feet at the worst possible moment, resulting in that look of disappointment and embarrassment her parents inevitably wore whenever she was around.
Just as she bit into the crisp cone Toni felt something hit her shoulder. At first she thought she’d been struck by a ball. That was until the wetness started seeping through her T-shirt. It felt like a warm sticky mass sat on her right shoulder and as she looked down, Toni gasped as she saw the green, gooey clumps that now covered her front.
Then the smell hit her.
“Eww!” she squealed as her stomach rolled. Nausea was threatening to bring her breakfast back up, and while she’d enjoyed the morning meal, revisiting it would not be pretty. What little of the ice cream she’d consumed also burned the back of her throat. The rest of the sweet treat was now melting and running down her right arm. What am I going to do?
The one small napkin she’d picked up at the kiosk wa
s going to be of little or no use in trying to sop up the stinking, green lumpy mess, which had now made its way through her shirt to her skin. But if she didn’t do something and fast, she could add her own vomit to her hopeless plight.
“Goose.”
Toni heard the male voice, was shocked that anyone could be so mean as to call her that when she was in so much distress. She tilted her head up so she could at least see who it was that was making fun of her. Even in a strange town, Toni had managed to become the brunt of someone’s cruel taunt.
The stranger was standing directly in front of her, looking down at her. He wore a baseball style cap and those horrible reflective sunglasses that Toni hated.
“I think its goose poo,” the stranger added. “I’ve never really been a believer that a bird’s droppings mean good luck, but if it does, I figure you should probably buy a lottery ticket.”
Jason hadn’t meant to make contact with her yet, if at all. His job was to follow and protect the target—Antoinette Grimaldi. It had been made perfectly clear to Jason that he needed to fulfill that charter without her knowledge while she holidayed in Europe. Her father, an extremely wealthy—no, scrap that, and make it ridiculously, filthy rich—businessman from Australia had used the firm Jason worked for on many occasions. So when his boss had given him this assignment, while not thrilled, Jason had agreed to take it for the good of the firm.
He’d expected his target to be a rich, spoiled brat that he would probably be spending many late nights at clubs or standing outside some playboy’s apartment long into the early hours while she partied on to her heart’s content. Jason had been wrong. When he’d seen the filth hit her and the mess it had left, he hadn’t been able to stand by and do nothing. Just the look on her alluring face had torn at his heart.
Now she was looking up at him, her big brown eyes filling with tears.
“I think we need to do something about that mess real soon, luv, ’cause that smell ain’t gonna get any better,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm, project a soothing tone—the tears threatening to spill from her eyes making him panic slightly. Jason was not trained to deal with teary females.
“I thought you called me a goose.”
It took a moment for Jason to realize that Antoinette had spoken to him and for what she’d said to sink in.
“I don’t know what to do, how to get it off.” Her whispered voice sounded so defeated. Every protective instinct in Jason rose to the occasion, bringing with it an overwhelming need for him to help her, whatever the cost. Without a moment’s hesitation he unbuttoned the shirt he had on over his T-shirt and took it off, holding it out to her. “Take yours off and put this on.”
“But I will have to lift it over my head and the poo will get in my hair and on my face, plus I can’t take your shirt. I don’t even know you,” she replied sadly.
In the days Jason had been watching over Antoinette, he’d been shocked at the lack of care the girl had shown for her own safety. She’d never once looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was following her or given a second thought to wandering the streets of London alone, even at night, and now she was going to start worrying about the fact that she didn’t know him. “Well, your accent would suggest that you’re an Aussie, and so am I. My name is Jason and it would be my pleasure to assist a fellow countryman—or woman in this case—in her hour of need. I think your top is ruined so I could always cut it off you so you don’t have to pull it over your head.” Jason didn’t bother telling her that there were goose droppings in her hair too.
“You have a knife?”
Way to go, idiot. Now she thinks you’re a knife-wielding stranger. “I have a Swiss Amy knife on my key ring that has a small pair of scissors.”
“Oh! I see…” she said, after a few seconds had ticked by.
Jason could almost hear the wheels grinding in her mind as Antoinette tried to work out whether to take his offer for help or not.
Finally, obviously having decided on her fate, she continued, “And yes, Jason, I am from Australia. I guess your plan is the only one I’ve got. I hope I don’t get arrested for undressing in public, though.”
The look on her face was priceless—she really was adorable and that was a word that Jason did not normally associate with women. Hot, fast or sexy were more the kind of words he liked to use when he thought of the opposite sex. Antoinette Grimaldi was sexy in her own way, he decided much to his own horror—the last thing he needed was to get emotionally involved with a client—especially one that was unaware of his employment. It was a major rule breaker in his line of work.
“I think we can pull this off without drawing any unwanted attention, luv. If you stand with your back to the tree trunk I can block the view from the front while we do the swap.” Jason hoped that his idea would make her feel a little better about shedding her top in public. He wasn’t a huge guy but he was big enough to block her small frame from passers-by.
“Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind lending me your shirt, I suppose it’ll be okay.” Jason could still hear the note of trepidation in her voice as she gingerly stood and started backing her way up to the tree. “Just try to make it quick and keep your eyes shut,” she added.
“I think it’s probably better if I keep my eyes open while I’m cutting off your clothes, honey. I wouldn’t want to hurt you.” If she didn’t smell so bad and look so miserable, the whole episode would have been funny. Jason took the Swiss Army knife out of his pocket and flipped it open. Pulling the neckline of her shirt away from her body with his other hand, he quickly cut the fabric right down the middle, being careful not to let the sharp blade come into contact with her skin.
As the material split in two and fell away, Jason was left staring at a view of her breasts. She was clad in a simple white bra. Two perfectly rounded swells of creamy flesh peeked over the top of the cups and all the humor he had been feeling prior to that moment fled. In its place was a heart-hammering burst of hunger. The reaction was so unexpected that Jason had to stop and reel in his own imagination, which had taken off on an erotic journey that involved touching and tasting the luscious bounty in his sights, while he pressed Antoinette back up against the tree. He’d only have to move a step or so closer—just lower his head and capture between his lips one of the berry-colored nipples that were pressed against the virginal white fabric of her bra. The idea certainly had Jason’s dick interested, as it swelled a little uncomfortably inside his jeans.
“Can I have the shirt now please…?”
Antoinette’s plea shook Jason back to his senses. He grabbed the shirt that he’d slung over his shoulder while he’d had both hands full and held it out to her. A mixture of relief and disappointment fought for supremacy inside his head as she slipped into his shirt and fastened the buttons, removing the vision of her body that had rocked him.
“I don’t know how to thank you enough for your help, Jason. Can I pay to replace your shirt?”
“Coffee, what do you say you buy me a cup of coffee?” Jason should have accepted Antoinette’s offer or declined and moved on quickly, but before common sense had had a chance to influence him, he’d replied. He didn’t really expect that the feeble attempt to stay in Antoinette’s company a little longer would work, but it was worth a try. Following her around had left him feeling like she could use a friend. Jason was used to being in his own company—preferred it most days—but he could not comprehend why such a lovely young woman would be traveling on her own by choice. Surely there was a list a mile long of available suitors that would have given their eyeteeth to spend some time with the heiress to a fortune. She was way out of his league but it was only a coffee invitation after all. He tried to convince himself as he waited for her reply.
“Umm… I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”
Antoinette’s rejection affected Jason more than it should have. He felt the weight of disappointment in his gut.
“Why is that, luv?”
“I smell pretty
bad. I’m not sure I should inflict this aroma on you or anyone else, for that matter.”
Even though Antoinette had tried to laugh it off, Jason could tell that she was embarrassed. If he were honest with himself, he had to admit that the goose droppings stench was still very strong on her. But he didn’t want to say goodbye yet and resume the impersonal act of following her around undetected. A job made more difficult now that she would recognize him.
“I can smell that your point is a valid one,” Jason began, trying to add a jovial and friendly quality to his voice. “What say I accompany you back to your hotel and wait for you in the lobby while you get yourself cleaned up? Then we can have that coffee in comfort and without either of us having to shove a peg on our nose. I don’t think I have one of those on my Swiss Army knife.”
Jason waited, trying to portray an easy-going persona as Antoinette thought over his proposal. He’d pasted a friendly smile on his face to mask the desperation he was feeling. It was ridiculous. There had never been a time in Jason’s life that he could remember when he’d wanted anything as much as he did the chance to have a lousy coffee and the opportunity to get to know this girl better.
“My hotel is quite a long way away,” she finally replied. “I’m staying in Earls Court. I caught the bus here but I think I might need to catch a cab back. I can’t travel on public transport smelling like this. Maybe I can get your number and we can do coffee another time?”
There was no way Jason was letting her off the hook that easily. “Typical Aussie. We all stay in Earls Court. I’m at the Ibis. Where are you?” He knew she was also at the Ibis, had been surprised when given her itinerary that she’d booked such modest accommodation. The more he’d watched and trailed her, though, the more it had made sense. Antoinette Grimaldi did not advertise her wealthy upbringing.