The Return of the Rebel. Jennifer Faye

       Her eyes twinkled. “Are you flirting with me?”

      “If you have to ask I must not be doing it right.”

      She laughed some more. “I’m glad not everything about you has changed. You were always a great guy in my book.”

      Her gaze lifted up to meet his. The tender look in her eyes touched something deep inside him—a part of him that he’d thought was long dead. In that moment he felt more alive than he had in months.

      Without thinking he reached out and caressed her cheek. “Thank you.”

      She leaned into his touch, short-circuiting the logical side of his brain. The only coherent thought in his head was to pull her close and kiss her. And this time he wouldn’t be kissing her rosy cheek. This time he planned to find out if those cherry-red lips were as sweet and passionate as they were in his daydreams.

      Dear Reader,

      When the idea for Jax and Cleo’s story came to mind, I was enthralled with the idea of using Las Vegas as the setting. I find the history of that city, from the danger to the excitement, so unique. Vegas was full of action, and I wanted to bring a hint of that flavor into Jax and Cleo’s story.

      Cleo is a small-town girl searching for something to fulfill her, and she thinks she’ll find it in this vibrant city. What she doesn’t know and must learn is that fulfillment and satisfaction are things that come from within. And sometimes they are the things we’ve known all along but have forgotten or discarded as not important enough.

      Jax is drawn to Vegas as a means of escape, hoping to get lost in a crowd while enjoying the rush of excitement as he tests Lady Luck. What he doesn’t count on is running into a blast from the past—his best friend’s little sister, who isn’t so little anymore. But this unexpected reunion isn’t the only hitch in his Vegas getaway.

      Cleo and Jax are a great match as they challenge each other to conquer their fears. I hope you’ll enjoy their mishaps and adventures on their journey to find their happily ever after.

      Happy reading!

      Jennifer

      The Return of the Rebel

      Jennifer Faye

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      In another life JENNIFER FAYE was a statistician. She still has a love for numbers, formulas and spreadsheets, but when she was presented with the opportunity to follow her lifelong passion and spend her days writing and pursuing her dream of becoming a Mills & Boon^® author, she couldn’t pass it up. These days, when she’s not writing, Jennifer enjoys reading, fine needlework, quilting, tweeting and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. She lives in Pennsylvania with her amazingly patient husband, two remarkably talented daughters and their two very spoiled fur babies, otherwise known as cats—but shh … don’t tell them they’re not human!

      Jennifer loves to hear from readers—you can contact her via her website: www.jenniferfaye.com.

      In honor of my grandmother …

      An amazing woman who had the patience to teach a very eager and curious little kid how to work a needle and thread. In the process she taught me that with perseverance you can achieve your dreams, whether they be big or small.

      Contents

       Cover

       Introduction

       Dear Reader

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

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

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Epilogue

       Extract

       Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

      “YOU WON’T REGRET giving me this opportunity.”

      And hopefully neither will I.

      Cleo Sinclair kept the worrisome thought to herself as she held her cheery smile in place. With the meeting at last over, she sailed out of the office of the vice president of player development, barely remembering to pull the door closed behind her. Away from Mr. Burns’s cool demeanor and skeptical stare, she rotated her shoulders, easing the tension.

      At the end of the hall, the elevator chimed and the door opened, allowing an employee to exit. Cleo stepped up her pace and slipped into the open car. Her pink manicured nail pressed the button for the main floor. Once the doors swished shut, the air whooshed out of her lungs and she leaned against the wall for support.

      Step one was done. She had the job, albeit on a trial basis.

      Now