CLAIMING HIS BOUGHT BRIDE

      RACHEL BAILEY

       “No point hiding your reaction to me, Lily.”

      Her eyes narrowed in contradiction, but her chest moved in rapid, shallow breaths.

      A smile of victory threatened, but he let only one corner of his mouth curve up. “Don’t worry, there will be time for that. A lifetime of opportunities.”

      Gasping, Lily stepped back, rubbing her palms over the skin he had held. “No, Damon. I agreed to marry you. I agreed to have your baby, which it so happens I’m already carrying. But I did not agree to share your bed. It won’t be that type of marriage.”

      The smile playing on his lips extended into a full-blown version. A challenge. He loved a challenge if the prize was worth winning. And this woman in front of him was worth bedding—he knew that well.

      About the Author

      RACHEL BAILEY developed a serious book addiction at a young age (via Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck) and has never recovered. Just how she likes it. She went on to gain degrees in psychology and social work, but is now living her dream—writing romance for a living.

      She lives on a piece of paradise on Australia’s Sunshine Coast with her hero and four dogs, and loves to sit with a dog or two, overlooking the trees and reading books from her ever-growing to-be-read pile.

      Rachel would love to hear from you and can be contacted through her website, www.rachelbailey.com.

      Dear Reader,

      I love a reunion story—especially with a couple where the passion still runs deep. So it was such a pleasure to sink into Lily Grayson’s life when she meets with her ex-lover, the rich and gorgeous Damon Blakely.

      Having been brought up around art and galleries, it was natural for me to infuse Lily’s life with touches of the art world through her job as a gallery curator. Monet’s series of water lilies have always spoken to me, and Lily shares my appreciation (though Damon prefers a different series by Monet—one that more reflects his personality!).

      As an avid reader of Desire™ books, I’m thrilled my own first Desire™ novel is finally here. Lily and Damon’s story will always hold that special “firstborn” place in my heart and I hope you enjoy reading it.

      Best wishes,

       Rachel

      To my own personal hero, John. For everything.

      Thanks to

      Diana Ventimiglia for believing in this book and for her continued guidance.

      Jennifer Schober for her faith in me.

      Robyn Grady, Barbara Jeffcott Geris, Melissa James and Sharon Archer for their brilliant critiquing.

      One

      Lily Grayson placed a hand on her still-slender waist and searched the familiar ballroom. Shimmering silver and gold streamers hung from the expansive twenty-foot ceiling; a string quartet provided presupper music, which blended with the chatter of two hundred black-tie guests. A high-society birthday party was in full swing, but enjoying the festivities could play no part in Lily’s plan.

      Lips dry and her breathing shallow, her gaze flew from face to face, looking for the man she needed to speak with urgently. The man she’d once loved, but could never trust with her heart … or their unborn baby’s emotional well-being.

      Damon Blakely.

      The multimillionaire corporate raider whom men feared and women coveted.

      A waiter paused, tray covered with flutes of crystalline champagne and fine-stemmed glasses of wine, but she shook her head and continued her circuit of Travis Blakely’s sixtieth birthday party. In the six months she’d been with Damon, she’d visited his uncle’s Melbourne home several times, but not once since their breakup almost three months ago. Since Damon had let her down when she’d needed him most.

      The thought led back to her gran, home alone tonight, recovering from another bout of pneumonia, part of the ill health that had incapacitated her recently. If only Gran would accept more help, but she refused to move in with Lily or let Lily live with her. Gran valued her independence and Lily couldn’t help but feel powerless. But she wouldn’t be sidetracked with thoughts of her beloved grandmother now. She’d see Gran taken care of, one way or another.

      Tonight she needed to find Damon.

      Lily continued searching from guest to guest as she wove through the crowd. The women in evening gowns of satins and sequins reminded her of peacocks parading for attention, and the sounds of clinking glasses and a hundred indistinct conversations culminated in an assault on her ears. She’d rather be anywhere than here—this was not her world. But it was his world and she needed to find him.

      Searching still, she swung around. Her heartbeat stalled before exploding in her chest as her gaze collided with his.

      Dead ahead, suave in a tux, red wine in one hand, the other free to shake the hands of acquaintances who stepped into his path, Damon smiled and passed comments with those who waylaid him. The charming lord of all he surveyed. But his distinctive eyes, with the black ring circling the ice-blue iris, were focused on her.

      An exquisite shiver passed down her spine at the intensity of his gaze and her body reacted with predictable awareness. Lily closed her eyes to tamp down the response but her lids immediately fluttered open. He stirred within her an overwhelming hunger. Even now, she couldn’t keep her eyes from devouring him.

      Damon towered over the other guests, and she realized that instead of searching for him, she should have stood on the entrance stairs to spot his characteristic waves of midnight-dark hair. Or closed her eyes and let her body find his with the magnetic link that still drew her to him.

      He finished talking to a rotund man, who laughed heartily at Damon’s parting comment, then took several strides toward her before being tapped on the shoulder by an elderly statesman Lily recognized from the newspapers.

      She eased out a breath—it seemed she wouldn’t need to approach him. He was coming to her. As her blood heated and skin tightened at the thought, she took an involuntary step back. Amazing. Even after all his neglect and the utter anguish he’d caused, the force of her attraction was still overpowering.

      Leaning against a cool pillar, she waited, taking in the scene of Melbourne’s elite at play. At odds with those around her, she’d never wanted a life of extravagance. Growing