The Bedroom Assignment. Sophie Weston

      

      “I’ve got this big secret.”

      Zoe spread her hands eloquently as she continued, struggling to explain. “Everybody thinks I’m a raver. It’s like I’m cheating. All the time.”

      Jay shook his head, still bewildered. “Cheating how?”

      “Living a lie,” she said impatiently.

      “Ah. I think I begin to see.” He swirled the coffee in his mug.

      “No man’s ever hurt me. No one’s ever let me down. I just—never got around to sex.”

      Never got around to it? Jay found he was speechless.

      Dear Reader,

      We’re constantly striving to bring you the best romance fiction by the most exciting authors…and in Harlequin Romance® we’re especially keen to feature fresh, sparkling, emotionally exhilarating novels! Modern love stories to suit your every mood—poignant, deeply moving stories; lively upbeat romances with sparks flying; or sophisticated, edgy novels with a cosmopolitan flavor.

      All our authors are special, and we hope you continue to enjoy each month’s new selection of Harlequin Romance novels. This month we’re delighted to feature another novel with extra fizz! Sophie Weston has an exuberant, compelling writing style and she loves to create strong characters all women can identify with. In The Bedroom Assignment she takes us on an emotional roller coaster with a young woman facing a very private dilemma!

      We hope you enjoy this book by Sophie Weston—it’s fresh, flirty and feel-good!—and look out for future sparkling stories in Harlequin Romance. If you’d like to share your thoughts and comments with us, do please write to:

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      The Editors

      The Bedroom Assignment

      Sophie Weston

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

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      CONTENTS

       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 ONE

      ‘THERE’S more to relationships than sex, Zo,’ announced her best friend with energy. ‘You’ve got to be a bit more flexible.’

      In the act of filling the kettle, Zoe Brown looked up and stared in disbelief. ‘I beg your pardon?’ she said. ‘Where did that come from?’

      Suze had rushed into the old-fashioned kitchen like a whirlwind, casting her briefcase to one side and her shopping bags to the other. She had not even sat down before she launched her bombshell. Now she perched on the settle against the wall with a small, complacent smile.

      ‘I don’t know what it is that Simon’s done…’ She paused expectantly.

      Zoe cast her eyes to heaven. ‘Is there anything you don’t think is your business? What did you do? Stake out my house? Tap my phone?’

      Suze grinned. But she was not to be deflected. ‘Don’t be coy. I don’t have to spy on you to know what you’re up to. We have no secrets.’

      If only you knew, Suze.

      Zoe found she had over-filled the kettle. She emptied some water out, and then switched the thing on before turning back to her friend.

      ‘I knew something was wrong,’ Suze announced loftily. Then added, with a slight diminution of ineffability, ‘Besides, Simon called me.’

      Well, that figured, thought Zoe. Suze had introduced her and Simon Frobisher in the first place. Simon was a member of Suze’s Young Business Network. It was natural that he should confide in her when his fledgling romance with Zoe hit the buffers.

      ‘Have you two had a row?’

      ‘Not really,’ said Zoe uncomfortably. ‘We talked, but—’

      Suze sighed theatrically. ‘You talked!’ she echoed. ‘And another one bites the dust! I don’t believe you.’

      Zoe looked away. ‘Is he very upset?’ she said with compunction.

      Suze pursed her lips. ‘Confused is probably a better word,’ she pronounced.

      ‘I’m sorry about that.’

      ‘It’s understandable. He’s a scarce commodity and he knows it. Single, straight, solvent. And a business that’s going to make him a millionaire in the next five years. From his point of view, it’s a seller’s market.’

      Zoe felt slightly better. ‘You mean he isn’t breaking his heart?’

      In contrast to Zoe, who was barefoot in dusty cut-offs and a torn tee shirt, Suze was dressed in a business suit. But she kicked her legs against the settle like the five-year-old she had been when they’d first met at kindergarten.

      ‘No, but he’s scratching his head. He muttered something about sex…’ Again Suze left an inviting