Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife. Кейт Хьюит

      

      THE BOSS’S MISTRESS

      Out of the office…and into his bed

      These ruthless, powerful men are used to

       having their own way at the office.

      And with their mistresses,

       they’re also boss in the bedroom!

      Don’t miss any of our

       fantastic stories this month:

      The Italian Tycoon’s Mistress

       by Cathy Williams #13

      Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife

       by Kate Hewitt #14

      In the Tycoon’s Bed

       by Kathryn Ross #15

      The Rich Man’s Reluctant Mistress

       by Margaret Mayo #16

      Only in Harlequin Presents EXTRA!

      KATE HEWITT discovered her first Harlequin romance on a trip to England when she was thirteen, and she’s continued to read them ever since. She wrote her first story at the age of five, simply because her older brother had written one and she thought she could do it, too. That story was one sentence long—fortunately, they’ve become a bit more detailed as she’s grown older.

      She studied drama in college, and shortly after graduation moved to New York City to pursue a career in theater. This was derailed by something far better: meeting the man of her dreams, who happened also to be her older brother’s childhood friend. Ten days after their wedding, they moved to England, where Kate worked a variety of different jobs—drama teacher, editorial assistant, youth worker, secretary and, finally, mother.

      When her oldest daughter was one year old, Kate sold her first short story to a British magazine. Since then she has sold many stories and serials, but writing romance remains her first love, of course!

      Besides writing, she enjoys reading, traveling and learning to knit—it’s an ongoing process, and she’s made a lot of scarves. After living in England for six years, she now resides in Connecticut with her husband, her three young children and, possibly one day, a dog.

      Kate loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her Web site, www.kate-hewitt.com.

      MILLS & BOON

       Before you start reading, why not sign up?

      Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

       SIGN ME UP!

      Or simply visit

      signup.millsandboon.co.uk

      Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

      RUTHLESS BOSS, HIRED WIFE

      KATE HEWITT

      TORONTO • NEW YORK • LONDON

       AMSTERDAM • PARIS • SYDNEY • HAMBURG

       STOCKHOLM • ATHENS • TOKYO • MILAN • MADRID

       PRAGUE • WARSAW • BUDAPEST • AUCKLAND

RUTHLESS BOSS, HIRED WIFE

      For Caroline and Ellen,

       the two spunkiest heroines I know

      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 THIRTEEN

      EPILOGUE

      CHAPTER ONE

      CORMAC DOUGLAS needed a wife. Tomorrow. Irritation and impatience thrummed through him in time with the drumming of his fingers on his desk. Outside, the crenellated turrets of Edinburgh Castle were shrouded in a thick and gloomy October fog.

      He needed a wife. How? Who?

      The women he knew were not wife material. Beauties to be seduced or aspiring socialites to be avoided. No one who would be suitable to act as his wife, weekend engagement only.

      No one he could entice, bribe or blackmail. Bend to his will.

      His narrowed hazel gaze scanned his office—a large, spare room on the top floor of a restored building on Cowgate. He’d gutted the place when he’d bought it five years ago, turned the old, poky rooms into a wide-open space filled with light and exposed brick.

      Normally the sight of the office he owned and the memories it banished gave him a satisfaction that replaced his usual restless discontent.

      Now it just seemed to mock him. He had the perfect commission, ripe for the taking, meant to be his, and he wouldn’t get it unless he had a wife.

      The conversation a few days ago with an architect colleague replayed in his mind.

      ‘The Hassells finally want to develop a resort in Sint Rimbert,’ Eric had said. ‘Something eco-friendly and luxurious, aimed particularly at families.’

      ‘Families,’ Cormac repeated without any intonation.

      ‘Yes, they claim it’s a needed niche in the market—luxury for the little ones.’ He chuckled. ‘It’s a plum commission.’

      ‘Indeed.’

      ‘I’d go for it myself, but they want to start work in the new year and I’m already booked.’ He paused, laughing ruefully. ‘I’m also out of the running for another reason—I’m not married.’

      ‘Married?’ Cormac’s voice turned sharp. ‘What the hell does that have to do with anything?’

      ‘Apparently the Hassells are a close-knit family. They want someone dependable to design this resort, with family values, seeing as it’s a family resort. Preferably a married man. Of course, that’s just the word on the street—they’d never say as much officially.’

      ‘Of course.’ Cormac injected a dry note into his voice. ‘Presumably that’s why I haven’t heard of it.’

      ‘Exactly,’ Eric agreed, laughing. ‘You’re not on the short-list, Cormac.’

      ‘Not yet.’

      ‘What are you thinking of? A trip to Gretna Green?’

      Cormac knew Eric was joking so he chuckled along with him. ‘Not a bad idea.’

      ‘You know your own reputation,’ Eric said with a careless laugh. ‘But I didn’t think you were quite that ruthless.’

      After the telephone call Cormac had spent a long time staring out at the gloomy skies, the crawl of cars intent on avoiding the traffic of the Old Town.

      He imagined the short-list Jan Hassell would have compiled: smug married architects with their happy home lives and uninspired designs.

      It was absurd that the Hassells wanted a married man to design