Brazen. Carly Phillips

      Rave reviews for the novels of Carly Phillips

      CROSS MY HEART

      “Who doesn’t love a reunion of long-lost loves? Add a diabolical villain, as Carly Phillips does, and you have everything you need for a beach read.”

      —Columbus Dispatch

      “Smart, engrossing and totally addictive! Cross My Heart is a definite must-have in this season’s beach bag.”

      —www.FreshFiction.com

      SUMMER LOVIN’

      “Phillips’s light touch assures a happy ending to this diverting beach read.”

      —Publishers Weekly

      “A funny and touching family drama.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKreviews

      “A fun, yet emotional story. A story that will keep you hooked with its kooky, yet charming characters.”

      —Romance Reviews Today

      What’s steamier than a New York City summer?

       Carly Phillips’s Hot series!

      HOT ITEM

      “Saving her best for last, Phillips wraps up her jocular Hot Zone trilogy….”

      —Publishers Weekly

      “Phillips has penned a charming, fast-paced contemporary romp-through-the-sheets.”

      —Booklist

      “Hot Item is a winner.”

      —Romance Reviews Today

      HOT NUMBER

      “A veteran romance author who climbed to star status in Harlequin’s Temptation line, Phillips is certain to capture a new bank of fans with the fresh venue and stylish dialogue featured in this perky series.”

      —Publishers Weekly

      “Hot Number is a fun, sexy read. For everyone who has ever wished to turn the head of a guy, this book definitely allows you that fantasy while giving you a satisfying love story. Ms. Phillips has proven herself more than capable of delivering stories that touch your heart and your funnybone.”

      —In the Library Reviews

      “In the follow-up to last year’s Hot Stuff, Phillips once again dives into the high pressure world of sports. Micki and Damian each have quite a few issues to resolve, which adds spice to an already volatile mixture.”

      —Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 stars)

      “Carly Phillips hits a home run with the fun, yet touching Hot Number.”

      —Jennifer Bishop, Romance Reviews Today

      HOT STUFF

      “This breezy book will likely score a touchdown with readers looking for sexy thrills and instant gratification.”

      —Publishers Weekly

      “This first book in The Hot Zone trilogy shines with Phillips’ trademark sizzle and sensuality. She delivers strong, appealing characters while exploring the dynamics of families—what brings them together and what draws them apart. The ending emotionally satisfies and gives readers a tantalizing peek at the romantic quandaries awaiting the rest of the family.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 stars)

      “Hot Stuff is a surefire hit.”

      —Jennifer Bishop, Romance Reviews Today

      Carly Phillips

      Brazen

Brazen

      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

      THE CAR WAS DEAD. Samantha Reed climbed out of what the rental company had called their best midsize luxury vehicle without bothering to try the ignition one last time. That final grinding sound had made things perfectly clear. Although she disliked abandoning the car in the desert, she had no choice. Reliable Rentals would just have to send a tow truck for their useless automobile. Too bad no one would be sending a search-and-rescue squad for the driver, she thought.

      Drawing in a deep breath of dry air combined with dust, she took one last look behind her. The vehicle looked an awful lot more comfortable than she felt at the moment, but it obviously had no intention of moving any time soon. She had no choice. The Arizona sun had begun dipping below the distant mountains, and if she waited around much longer, she’d be hiking in the dark. Not that she wanted to hike at all. She certainly wasn’t dressed for a jaunt through the desert.

      What was that saying about the best-laid plans? She grabbed her purse, left her luggage and gave one last tug on the hem of her newly acquired tiered silk skirt. A skirt she’d bought for its coolness and comfort in the dry desert heat. Of course, she hadn’t counted on a prolonged excursion while wearing it. This outfit had been a mistake. She hoped she wouldn’t say the same for the upcoming week.

      If all she had to look forward to was a marriage as dry as this godforsaken desert, she intended to cram a lifetime’s worth of fun, lust, passion and excitement into the time she had left. Next weekend, she’d meet her fiancé at a seminar on risk management and financial gain at one of Arizona’s exclusive resorts, but first she’d take some calculated risks of her own. She deserved that much, considering she was sacrificing her life, giving up her future happiness, for her father. Years of compliance and acting like the obedient daughter had brought her to this, to the brink of marriage to a man she didn’t love. A man nearly fifteen years her senior. A man she scarcely knew.

      She got out of the car, wobbled on the heels of her seventies-style shoes and was forced to smooth down her layered miniskirt once more. There may not be another car in sight, but she’d be damned if she’d moon the Arizona wildlife. She glanced over her shoulder at the wide expanse of emptiness behind her. It couldn’t be any worse than what her future held.

      In one month, she’d kiss her dreams of happily ever after goodbye. But she wanted—no, she needed—some memories to keep her warm on the cold nights ahead. She would never experience what her parents had shared, an all-encompassing love…even to the exclusion of their only daughter. But she could experience passion before she gave up her life on the marital altar. Only now, when it was too late to change things, did Samantha realize she’d spent the past twenty-nine years on a mission—to please her parents and win their love. A futile exercise. They loved her in their own way. It just hadn’t been enough for Samantha. And in her search for more, she’d given everything she had in return.

      When she’d promised her dying mother that she’d look out for her father, she’d been drawn into her family circle for the first time. Her mother had reached out to her, and she’d given her word freely and unconditionally. She just hadn’t counted on how much one promise would change her life. Her stockbroker father had hit a downward turn. As a grieving widower, he’d begun to neglect his business, then to compensate, he’d advised risky ventures for his clients in the hopes of quick gain before he lost their business for good. Things hadn’t panned out. To make matters worse, he’d invested personal capital as well. He’d spiraled into debt so deep it threatened his future. And because