“The situation is this, Sally,” Jack said, leaning forward. “You can be mistress of the house you have always called home, overseeing its running and the running of the property, with the same staff if they want to stay. A generous salary for you to maintain the status quo…”

      Her thoughts shifted to the life he was offering… it was so tempting. But could he be trusted to deliver on his word if she took his deal? What if he only meant to create as much disharmony in her family as he could, and she was being suckered into playing a role in his vengeful game?

      “What do you get out of this, Jack?”

      He leaned back in his chair, regarding her with a whimsical look that seemed to be mocking himself for whatever was driving him. The expression in his eyes slowly changed, gathering a hypnotic intensity. She felt the force of the man being channelled straight into her, reaching for her heart, her mind, her soul, determined on bending her to his will. Then:

      “I get you, Sally.”

       Dear Reader

      This year Mills & Boon is celebrating its 100th birthday, and it amazes me that for a quarter of that time—the past 25 years—I have been one of the authors in their long publishing history. This book is my 97th for the Modern™ Romance line. I’m thinking I should have organised myself better to make it my 100th.

      I’ve had a wonderful time writing romance. For me it’s like having the power of a fairy godmother. No matter how bad or difficult the initial situation is for my hero and/or heroine in my stories, I can make everything turn out beautifully right in the end. That’s the magic of romantic fiction and I love it. Always makes me feel good. When I write the last line of a story, I’m smiling with a joyful satisfaction because my wand has worked again. I hope you smile, too, assured that my hero and heroine, whose lives you’ve entered into as you read the story, are truly right for each other and will be very happy in their marriage.

      I really piled it on for Jack in this story, giving him such a dark history. His ruthless course of revenge is absolutely breathtaking, yet that need for justice in all of us can’t help sympathising with him. He’s one of my most dangerous heroes, one of my most intriguing. Can he—will he—turn his life around as he slowly comes to understand how much he wants to keep the sunshine of Sally’s love? When it comes to the crunch—wow! I’ve got to say Jack acts brilliantly. Tears and smiles. Hope you revel in it as much as I did!

      Last but not least, I’d like to thank the staff at Mills & Boon for having such a great understanding of what the romance dream is all about. It’s great to be able to share it with people who know. As I share it with you, dear readers.

      Always with love

       Emma Darcy

      BOUGHT FOR REVENGE, BEDDED FOR PLEASURE

      BY

      EMMA DARCY

      PROLOGUE

      “I’M JACK MAGUIRE, Leonard Maguire’s son,” he told the man on the other side of the security gate, feeling the bitter irony of having his identity questioned.

      “Didn’t know he had one,” the man muttered, a frown beetling over suspicious eyes. “You’ve got an American accent.”

      Hardly surprising since Jack had been tucked away, living in Texas for most of his growing-up years. But he’d been born in Australia, a seven-year-old boy when he’d been taken from this country. Now, at twenty-four, he was a man—a man of means, he thought with intense satisfaction—and ready to make his mark on his father’s home ground.

      “Just call the house and check me out,” he instructed.

      While the security guard did just that, using a mobile ’phone he’d detached from his belt, Jack’s gaze travelled up the long avenue of maples which led to the huge sprawling house at the top of the hill overlooking the valley. It was spring and the new leaves on the trees were a brilliant lime green in the bright afternoon sunshine. The whole valley was green—prime property—nothing but the best for his father’s second family.

      The house was white. The fences were white. Everything kept in a pristine state. Which, of course, cost a lot of money. A lot. Which was only to be expected of a man who owned a vast transport company, including a domestic airline. All Jack had ever got from him were birthday cards, Christmas cards—probably sent by whoever his current secretary was—and a few days at a luxury hotel in Las Vegas when his father was there on business, once when Jack was twelve and again when he was eighteen.

      He remembered being asked that last time, “What do you intend to do with your life, boy?”

      As though it had nothing to do with Leonard Maguire.

      Still, Jack had asked hopefully, “Are you offering an opportunity?”

      Any such idea was totally obliterated by the harsh reply. “No. Make your own way, as I did. If you have the guts to do it you’ll become a man I can respect.”

      The challenge had eaten into Jack’s soul. His father was a self-made billionaire, starting from nothing, building a transport empire. Yet looking at the evidence of his wealth now—wealth spent freely on his second wife and two adopted daughters—Jack could feel no respect for him. What kind of man did nothing for his flesh-and-blood son and gave every privilege money could provide to a couple of girls his second wife had wanted and acquired? Would they be told to make their own way when they were eighteen?

      The security man clicked his ’phone shut and gave Jack a look of curious sympathy. “Can’t let you in, mate. I’ve been told to run you off. Lady Ellen says you’re not welcome here.”

      Lady Ellen. The title soured Jack’s stomach. She’d been an on-the-make young office clerk, sleeping with her much older boss, committing adultery, and now because his father had been knighted for services to his country and she was his wife, she could call herself Lady.

      “Ask to speak to my father,” he demanded.

      “No can do. Sir Leonard is not home yet.”

      “When does he arrive home?”

      “Helicopter usually flies in about seven.” The man glanced at his watch. “Another three hours from now. No sense in waiting around. Can’t let you past the gate unless I get the word.”

      Jack had got the message. His father’s home was forbidden territory to him as far as Lady Ellen was concerned. Probably always had been. Bitch, guarding her own interests tooth and nail. Though his father hadn’t bucked them. How much power did she wield over her much-older husband? Whose choice was it to keep the son in exile?

      There was so much Jack wanted to know.

      Was determined to know.

      “I’ll be back,” he said.

      “I’m stationed in the cottage,” the guard warned, nodding to the small ranch house overlooking the entrance to the property.

      He was making it clear that no one slipped past him. The guy was probably in his early fifties but his big, burly frame was still all muscle—a formidable opponent in a fight. Not that Jack was looking for one, not with this man, who was just doing his job. He returned to the rental car he’d hired at the airport, thinking the view from the ranch house did not take in the whole perimeter of this estate.

      Half an hour later he’d parked the car on the verge of a side road, raided his luggage for jeans, a dark-blue T-shirt, and Nikes, changed out of his visiting clothes and hiked cross-country to the white fence that marked the territory he wanted to scout.

      He