Her guide to adventurein and out of the bedroom
New Zealand wilderness guide Malcolm Quinn is stunned to learn that his fathers bodylost near the summit of Everest almost twenty years agohas been found. The discovery stirs up painful memories for Mal, and brings eager reporters out in droves. He is ready to resist them all, until he meets the pretty little Yank who turns his blood to liquid lust.
Amy Engalls needs this story to make her career, but Mal refuses to be interviewed. Instead the gorgeous Quinn offers Amy the kind of adventure shell never forget. She accepts, realizing she may be jeopardizing her future for a short-term fantasy. By breaking the rules, will she lose everythingincluding her heart?
Praise for Kate Hoffmanns Mighty Quinns
Hoffmann does a wonderful job tying up the ends
of this saga with an open-ended conclusion.
RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Dex
Keep your fan handy! It was impossible for me
to put this steamy, sexy book down until the
last page was turned.
Fresh Fiction on The Mighty Quinns: Jack
Strong, imperfect but lovable characters,
an interesting setting and great sensuality.
RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Brody
This is a fast read that is hard to tear the eyes from. Once I picked it up I couldnt put it down.
Fresh Fiction on The Mighty Quinns: Dermot
Sexy, heartwarming and romantic, this is a story to settle down with and enjoyand then reread.
RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Teague
The only drawback to this story is that its far too short!
Fresh Fiction on The Mighty Quinns: Kellan
Dear Reader,
Welcome to another Mighty Quinn adventure! This time, were introducing you to another branch of the familythe New Zealand Quinns: Malcolm, twins Rogan and Ryan, and Dana.
Rugged New Zealand is the perfect playground for these Quinns. Together they run an adventure travel business, giving vacationers the time of their lives all over the world. Adventure is in the Quinns bloodtheir father is a legend in the climbing world, even years after his untimely death on an expedition. Malcolm, as the eldest, has taken responsibility for the business and for his siblings. So when his fathers body is discovered and reporters swarm the family, Mal is determined to protect his mother and siblings from going through that pain again.
Amy Engalls is equally determined to get an interview from Mal. Shes staked her career on this story, and she wont leave New Zealand empty-handed. But Mal has no intention of letting Amy leave just yet. He promises her an adventureand not just on the mountain. Its not the story she came for, its not the experience she expected to have, but together, she and Mal may just find ecstasyand love.
Enjoy the trip!
The Editors
The Mighty Quinns: Malcolm
Kate Hoffmann
www.millsandboon.co.uk
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Hoffmann began writing for Mills & Boon in 1993. Since then, shes published nearly eighty books, primarily in the Mills & Boon Temptation and Mills & Boon Blaze lines. When she isnt writing, she enjoys music, theater and musical theater. She is active working with high school students in the performing arts. She lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her cat, Chloe.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Excerpt
Prologue
TENSION HUNG IN the air in the small house in Rotorua, setting everyone on edge. Ten-year-old Malcolm Quinn tried to keep his younger siblings occupied, seeing the growing worry in his mothers expression. But the twins, seven-year-olds Rogan and Ryan, knew something was up. Only their little sister, Dana, was unaware that all was not right.
Their father, Maxwell Quinn, had left advance base camp with his climbing party and Sherpas earlier that day, ready to conquer Everest. It was his fathers sixth summit attempt and once complete, it would give him a perfect record.
Max Quinn and his partner, Roger Innis, had been guiding Everest expeditions for almost as long as Malcolm had been alive, first working for other expedition companies, and then for the past four seasons, working for themselves. Since founding Outbound Adventure, his father had rarely been home. But when he did walk through the front door, life was suddenly much brighter for the family. For in that moment, they all knew he was safe. They couldnt say that today.
What time is it? Rogan asked.
Mal looked up. His gaze met his brothers and Mal forced a smile. Dont worry. Theyre probably just too busy to call. Or maybe they cant get through. Satellite telephones can be dodgy.
But its getting late, Ryan said. Its nearly midnight. That means its ten there. He should be back at camp by now, shouldnt he?
Im sure he is. But he has a lot of responsibilities. Mal repeated the words that his mother had said to him just ten minutes before, hoping they calmed his brothers concern more than they had his.
Ryan rubbed his eyes. What if something bad happened?
Yeah, Rogan said. Maybe theyre afraid to call us.
Mal crossed the room and pulled them both to their feet. Go to bed. Ill wake you when the call comes. I promise.
To his great relief, they wandered off in the direction of their bedroom. Mal waited until the door shut behind them, then turned and hurried into the kitchen. Lydie Quinn sat at the kitchen table, Dana curled up in her arms, sound asleep. His mother was humming a tune that Mal didnt recognize, repeating the same phrase over and over again.
Mal silently walked by her and put the teakettle on to boil. When he sat down across from her, she refused to look at him, her eyes fixed on a point above his head.
Mum?
Her gaze didnt falter and the tune continued.
Mum, would you like a cup of tea?
Mal watched as tears welled up in his mothers eyes. He rose to comfort her and as he did, the phone rang.
Dont answer it, she said.
But, I
Dont. She shook her head, the tears now tumbling down her cheeks. Hed never seen his mother cry before and Mal wasnt quite sure what to do. Dana stirred in her arms and Lydie grasped her daughter to her more tightly, rocking back and forth.
Mal quietly picked up the phone. Hello?
Who is this?
Malcolm Quinn.
Malcolm, its Roger Innis. I need to speak with your mother.
No, Malcolm said. You can tell me.
Son, put your mother on the phone. Its very important. This is no time for childish games.
She wont speak with you, Mal insisted. She cant. We know something is wrong. Just tell me and Ill tell her.
As he listened to his fathers partner explain the situation, Mal slowly began to realize that his lifeand the lives of his mother and siblingswould never be the same.
1
IT WAS GOOD to be home.
Malcolm Quinn grabbed his duffel from the back of his battered Range Rover and hefted it over his shoulder with a groan. Hed left Greenland three days ago after leading a four-week expedition across the ice cap from east to west, following the Arctic Circle. After boarding a bush flight from Greenland to Iceland, hed flown from Reykjavik to Copenhagen, then to Dubai, then to Sydney and finally landed in Auckland just that morning after two days in airports. The two-hour drive home to Raglan was the final leg of his trip, and now that he was home, he could finally relax.
To say he was knackered was an understatement. But it was the good kind of exhaustion that he only experienced after a successful expedition. His clients had been thrilled with the experience and were grateful hed led them on a trip without a single serious hitch.
But it was nice to be able to walk around in a light jacket and shorts. It was early April, spring in the northern hemisphere. But in New Zealand, winter was on its way. Still, the weather felt balmy compared to the constant cold of the Arctic.
The offices for Maximum Adrenaline were located in a low-slung white clapboard building just outside the town limits. For a company that specialized in high adventure, the office was rather unremarkable, distinguished from other nearby businesses by just a small sign above the door. A porch spanned the front facade; weathered wooden furniture was scattered along the wide expanse.
As he slammed the hatch on the SUV, the front door opened and the family dog, Duffy, came bounding out, followed by Mals younger sister, Dana. Hey, Duff, look at you. Hey, Dana.
The black Lab was so excited he wasnt sure what to do with himself, and when Mal squatted down, Duffy knocked him off his feet. He surrendered to a thorough tongue bath, laughing as the dog pinned him to the ground. When he finally was able to sit up, Duffy had stretched out across his lap, the dogs subtle way of keeping him in one spot.
I cant move, Mal said to his sister, or Id give you a hug.
Welcome home, Dana said. I expected you tomorrow.
I caught an earlier flight. Martin stayed with our gear to get it through customs. God, its good to be home.
Duffy wriggled in his lap, nuzzling his wet nose under Mals chin. Enough, Duff, he said, struggling to his feet.
Hes missed you, Dana said.
Im sure he hasnt thought of me since I left. Considering the way you baby him, youre the only one hed truly miss.
Ive been taking him running every day. And hes actually lost a bit of weight.
Mal bent down and patted the dog on his flank. Ugh, dont talk about exercise. Right now, I need a stiff drink and a shower. And Im not sure which Ill have first. Then, Im heading into town to kick back and get laid. And Im not sure which will come first.
It was an unwritten rule in the guiding business that you didnt bonk the clients, no matter how attractive they might be. He had one job and one job onlyto bring his clients home safely. Sex was a distraction from that responsibility, especially in extreme environments. He was also a bit superstitious. You didnt disrespect the mountain gods.
That didnt mean the trekkers and climbers didnt have sex in their own tents, but Mal turned a blind eye and often made excuses when the locals were offended.
So from the time he left until the time he returned, he lived a celibate life. But when he got back to Raglan, Mal knew a handful of girls that were willing to provide a randy bloke with a night or two in bed, no strings attached. Raglan was a surf capital, a beach town with a plethora of pretty girls.
Though Mal and his brothers were considered attractive, there werent many women on the North Island who wanted to settle down with a guy who was gone ten months out of the year, no matter how good he was in the sack. Which was just fine by Mal. Hed never been interested in anything long-term. His life was pretty perfect the way it was. And he wasnt prepared to alter it to make a woman happyno matter how good she might be in bed.
Besides, he had his familys business to keep afloat. Any time wasted on a woman was time he could put to better use building their clientele, getting publicity for Maximum Adrenaline and working out new trips to offer.
Any important messages for me? Mal asked his sister as he got up.
He strode toward the door, but Dana stayed glued to the spot at the base of the porch steps. Mal turned to motion to her, then saw the pained expression on her face. A sick fear clutched at his gut and he drew a sharp breath. Something was wrong. What is it? Is it Ryan? Rogan?
His younger brother was climbing Lhotse in the Himalayas with an Aussie film crew. And Ryans twin, Rogan, was in Alaska, doing a prep course for a Denali climb. Either trip had the potential for trouble. And then there were the other hundred or so guides that they employed on various expeditions throughout the year. Who is it?
Its Dad, she murmured.
Dad? Their father had died twenty years ago this spring, somewhere near the summit of Mt. Everest. Mal had been ten, the twins seven and Dana only five.
His sister nodded, fighting back tears. They found his body.
Mal gasped. When?
Three weeks ago. Gary Branbauers expedition. The snow cover has been light this year and as they were descending, they noticed a flash of color in the snow. It was him.
How do they know? Mal asked.
They took a photo and got a GPS bearing. Roger Innis confirmed it was the right location and gear. The news is out and the media has been calling. Its been crazy.
Why didnt you say something? He and Dana had been in contact by satellite phone at least four or five times over the past three weeks. And hed been a simple email away for the past two days.
I decided to wait until you got home. I havent said anything to Ryan and Rogan either, although considering how the news is spreading, theyll probably both hear about it before I can tell them in person.
Mum, Mal said. She knows?
Dana nodded. Shes a little upset over all the attention. Theyve been calling and wanting to talk to her, but so far shes refused to comment. Shes coming to stay with me for the weekend.
The media attention made sense. Maxwell Quinn had been one of the most renowned climbers of his generation and, in the early 90s, only one of a handful of men who had completed the Seven Summits in less than a year. Maxs partner, Roger Innis, had used the media coverage after Maxs death to his advantage, claiming that Max had died trying to rescue a client. With all the publicity, Outbound Adventure had suddenly become a high-profile guiding company.