TAWNY WEBER is usually found dreaming up stories in her California home, surrounded by dogs, cats and kids. When shes not writing hot, spicy stories for Blaze®, shes testing her latest margarita recipe, shopping for the perfect pair of boots or drooling over Johnny Depp pictures (when her husband isnt looking, of course). When shes not doing any of that, she spends her time scrapbooking and playing in the garden. Shed love to hear from readers, so drop by her home on the web, www.TawnyWeber.com.
To the Writers At Play:
Beth, Kath, Janice, Sheila, Anna, Kimmi,
Terri, Stacey, Carla, Betty, Marlene, Lisa, Trish,
Tammy, Heather, Angi, Leslie, Mona,
Anne-Marie, Cheryl and Terry.
Wild, crazy, amazing.
I love you all!
Coming on Strong
Tawny Weber
www.millsandboon.co.uk
MILLS & BOON
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Table of Contents
Cover
About the Author
Title Page
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
Copyright
Prologue
I DONT THINK I can go through with it, Belle Forsham said, one hand pressed to her chest. Beneath the beaded silk of her bodice, her heart raced like a terrified rabbit. I mean, this is crazy, you know? What the hell was I thinking?
If I recall, you were thinking that Mitch Carter was the hottest piece of ass youd ever seen, Sierra Donovan said absently, her attention focused on getting the fluffy white tulle arranged just so over Belles blonde curls.
I said I thought hed be the hottest piece of ass, Belle corrected, frowning at the image in the mirror. It was like watching herself through a Halloween filter. I havent been able to find out how hot he really is, though, have I? Which is why Id be insane to go through with this, isnt it? Like, you know, buying a poked pig or something?
Pig in a poke?
Whatever.
Sierra just laughed and, with one last fluff of the veil, stepped back to gauge the results. You look sovirginal.
Her best friends tone said it all. Virginal was the last image Belle had ever aspired toward. Then again, shed never figured on being a bride, either.
Wild and free, that was Belles motto. Or it had been, right up until shed met Mitch Carter. Then mottos had been nudged aside for her new obsession. Getting Mitch into bed.
Mitch was her daddys new VP of development. The man was gorgeous. Rich auburn hair, cinnamon-brown eyes and the tightest butt shed ever ogled. He exuded an energy that fascinated Belle. Power, definitely, and drive. A kind of intense focus that promised a woman that once she had his attention, hed give her the most incredible sex of her life.
And Belle wanted his attention. But while shed practically panted at his feet, hed barely acknowledged her. For a woman used to men drooling on her buffed and polished toes, hed been a total challenge. She threw herself at him, he gave her polite acknowledgment. She flirted, he watched. She pursued, he evaded.
Hard to get? Hell, Mitch Carter was damn near impossible.
At least, to get into bed. For some bizarre reason, after about a month of chasing him, hed turned the tables. To use his own words, hed started courting her. She smothered a baffled laugh at the idea of it. Theyd mostly attended business functions, family events with her father, the occasional romantic dinner.
Unable to pace in the voluminous dress, Belle fidgeted on the stool where she sat. Her fingers fiddled with her late mothers pearl necklace, so sweetly innocent as it circled with a heavy weight of expectation around her neck. Like the white dress and delicate veil, the pearls really didnt suit her. Of course, neither did marriage.
Three months of dating. A smoking-hot kiss at the end of the evening. A little touchy-feely to add to the thrill. But never more. God, shed wanted more. Then hed scared the hell out of her when, out of the blue, hed popped the question. Marriage. He wanted to make an honest woman of herwhich was just plain weird since he hadnt tried her dishonest ways first.
Shed been so hot for him, shed agreed instantly. Shed rushed the wedding plans, pulled out all the stops and organized a ritzy society event in less than three months. Through all the planning, something shed proven to be amazingly skilled at, shed had one thought and one thought only.
Hurry it up so she could get to her wedding night.
But now, when faced with the actual nuptials, she wasnt sure it was the right thing to do.
Sierra, am I crazy to marry Mitch after only knowing him six months? I mean, is this too fast?
Her friend opened her mouth, most likely to offer some dumb platitude about bridal jitters. It wasnt nerves, though. Belle didnt know what it was, but the lead weight in her stomach made her feel trapped, terrified. Shed much rather feel jittery anxiety instead.
Then Sierra shrugged, her own worry clear.
I dont know, she admitted, chewing off her lipstick as she started to pace the room. Her typical in-your-face honesty and her maid-of-honor duty to keep Belle from freaking out were obviously at odds.
Does it matter, though? Youve wanted Mitch since you first saw him and now youre getting him. Long-term, even. Youll have killer sex tonight and blow his mind. Happy-ever-after, all that crapthatll come with time.
Crap, indeed. The last thing anyone would call Belle was naive, but compared with the cynical Sierra she was a wide-eyed romantic. Whenever she thought past the honeymoon, let herself focus on anything besides the killer sex she was anticipating, she felt ill. She understood honeymoons. They were all about indulging in decadent sex in as many ways, places and times as possible. But marriage? Oh, God. She pressed her hand to her stomach, hoping she didnt get sick all over her dress. Was she ready to get married?
Belle stared at her reflection. White satin, seed beads and tulle. It all went perfectly with the pearls. Sweet and innocent. Definitely not her style. Her first choice for a dress had been sexy and edgy, but shed thought Mitch would like this better.
I guess that establishes why Im marrying him, she said slowly. She loved him. Or, at least, she thought she did. Or, at least, she figured what she felt was probably love. She was fascinated by his kisses and his mind. By the sexual energy that simmered just under the surface. She was willing to make a promise to Mitch and keep it. Add to that the fact that she was agreeing to tie herself to the guy before hed given her a single orgasmwell, that had to be love.
So, yes, she was ready for marriage.
But why is he marrying me? she asked in a whisper.
Why dont you find out? Sierra prompted for, like, the millionth time. Quit second-guessing yourself and trying to please him and just ask.
Confront him? Straight up ask for possible rejection? Hell, no. One thing Belle had learned watching her late mothers bout with cancer was what you dont know wont hurt you until later. Shed rather take her chances with the unknown.
Im just saying, if you want to know why Mitch is marrying you, hes the guy to ask, Sierra said, her tone making it obvious she knew she was wasting her breath.
Hes marrying you because he loves you, of course.
What? Surprised, she and Sierra both spun around to see Belles other bridesmaid, Mitchs sister Lena.
Average height, average features, pale-brown hair cut in an unfortunate bob that did nothing to hide her very high forehead, Lena looked nothing like her brother. Belle had first met her when the woman had flown in from Pennsylvania a week earlier. Where Mitch was dynamic, Lena was tepid. It was hard to believe the two of them were even related.
Belle wanted to like her, but it was a struggle. Shed first suggested Lena join the wedding party in an attempt to make nice with Mitchs family. But the other woman had a mocking, judgmental air about her that grated on Belles nerves. She was trying to ignore it, though. After all, this was her new sister-in-law.
He must be madly in love with you, Lena pointed out as she inched into the room. The pale-rose bridesmaid dress that looked so sexy on Sierra made Lena look like a fluffy pink marshmallow. Why else would he give up on his goals to get married?
What goals was Mitch giving up? Belle gave Sierra a confused frown, then looked at Lena.
Well, sure, partnership with your father is a huge incentive since Mitch had only planned on a short-term association with Forsham Hotels. It was the last step in his plan to take his construction company to the next level. She said all this while gliding an ugly shade of nutmeg lipstick over her thin lips. Then she met Belles eyes in the mirror and shrugged. His own development firm. He was counting on the experience and, you know, connections to help him out. Of course, I dont have to tell you how ambitious and determined to succeed he is.
Partnership? Belle frowned. What partnership?
You didnt know? Lenas mouth rounded to match the oops look in her brown eyes. Im so sorry. Maybe he was saving the news as a wedding surprise.
Hes a vice-president, not a partner, Sierra said, sounding as confused as Belle. I thought he didnt have enough money or land to bring to the table for that kind of a deal.
Well, yeah. But Uncle Danny said Mitch was given one of those offers he couldnt refuse. I guess your daddys backing a risky land deal with the agreement that Mitch develop it for him. Aunt Edna said he saw a perfect opportunity and made the most of it. Lena gave a little who-knows shrug and a wide smile. Neither hid the malice peeking out from her simpering demeanor.
All those family names blurred in Belles mind. Shed been so excited to be a part of a large family, for the first time since she was eight to have more than just her and her dad at the Thanksgiving table. But after meeting Mitchs relatives, she wasnt so sure. It was like coming up against a very large, very cohesive wall. And she was on the wrong side of it.
Lena babbled more family gossip and inane insights into Mitchs personality. Belle just stared, her mind numb.
A risky land development? Her father wouldnt go into a project like that with just anyone. It would require a family commitment. Had he offered to make Mitch family? Or had Mitch offered to marry her in order to get the deal? And what did that make her? The price he had to pay for success? An easy route to the top?
Recognition, denial and sharp pain twisted together in her stomach. Shed wanted to believe he was marrying her because he couldnt resist, because he was crazy for her. But shed obviously been wrong.
It all made sense now. His reluctance for intimacy, his emotional distance. Her earlier bridal jitters turned to cramping nausea. He was marrying his way into a business deal.
Lenas overarched brows drew together above her gleaming eyes. You look a little green. Are you feeling okay?
Of course shes not, Sierra snapped. What are you thinking, coming in here and spewing ugly rumors like that? What kind of person goes around gossiping about her brother on his wedding day?
Stepbrother, Lena corrected with a pout. My dad married his mom when we were teenagers. And youre the nasty one. I was just saying that Belles lucky that Mitch loves her enough to give up his dreams of his own development firm to work for her father. I wasnt insinuating anything else.
Lena wasnt his real sister? Why hadnt he told her? Belle didnt know why, but that was the last straw. She stood, the stool pressing against her full skirt like the bars on a cage. She wanted to run, but where? To Mitch? Hardly.
The hell you werent trying to cause trouble, Sierra growled at Lena. Their voices seemed to be coming from a long way away, muffled by the buzzing in Belles head. Youre intimating that Belles father bought her a groom. Like she or Mitch would be that desperate.
Desperate? No. But when you put it that way, the wedding does sound a little fishy, doesnt it? Lena gave them a wounded look, then headed for the door. Once there, she glanced over her shoulder. Of course, Im sure Belle knows Mitch loves her more than any silly promotion. I mean, who gets married without hearing vows of love? And Mitch never lies, not even for a business deal.