The Ex Factor

The Ex Factor
Anne Oliver

Melanie Sawyer's intense affair with Luke Delaney was fuelled by an all-consuming desire. Both knew it couldn't last–she was a waitress, he was the son of a millionaire. Feeling out of her depth, Mel ended it–but was left with an enduring reminder of Luke….When Mel meets her ex again, he still has the X factor, and the red-hot passion between them reignites. As they spend time getting to know each other again–intimately–they realize the chemistry between them is too powerful to resist. But once Mel's secret comes out, will Luke be able to trust her?

Seduced into her ex’s bed...

Melanie Sawyer’s intense affair with Luke Delaney was fuelled by an all-consuming desire. Both knew it couldn’t last—she was a waitress, he was the son of a millionaire. Feeling out of her depth, Mel ended it—but was left with an enduring reminder of Luke....

When Mel meets her ex again, he still has the X factor, and the red-hot passion between them reignites. As they spend time getting to know each other again—intimately—they realize the chemistry between them is too powerful to resist. But once Mel’s secret comes out, will Luke be able to trust her?

Luke closed the inches between them and laid his lips on Mel’s, igniting sparks, heat, the quick flare of lust, the slower burn of something remembered, something deeper.

A few stunned seconds passed, then her mouth went pliant beneath his. He felt the faint shiver run through her body and his own jerked in response. Oh, yeah, they still had it. That same recognition, that same magnetic attraction that had drawn him across the crowded function center the instant he’d laid eyes on her at his father’s cocktail party.

Then he felt her hand against his chest, heard the muffled sound in her throat. His primitive instincts howled in protest as he pulled back to search her eyes. Enough time to see the light of passion fade to that wariness again.

“I’m different now, Luke. We both are.”

“You never know—that might work for us. It was working fine a moment ago.”

For another moment she met his gaze, with an honest and open longing that echoed deep in his gut, then as if she’d flicked a switch her expression changed.

Unseen shadows prowled the space that had been humming with promise. She hugged her arms and turned away. “I don’t think so.”

When not teaching or writing, ANNE OLIVER loves nothing more than escaping into a book. She keeps a box of tissues handy—her favorite stories are intense, passionate, against-all-odds romances. Eight years ago, she began creating her own characters in paranormal and time-travel adventures, before turning to contemporary romance. Other interests include quilting, astronomy, all things Scottish and eating anything she doesn’t have to cook. Sharing her characters’ journeys with readers all over the world is a privilege…and a dream come true. Anne lives in Adelaide, South Australia, and has two adult children. Visit her website at www.anne-oliver.com. She loves to hear from readers. Email her at anne@anne-oliver.com.

Other titles by Anne Oliver available in ebook format:

Harlequin Presents® Extra

184—THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT A REBEL...

160—HER NOT-SO-SECRET DIARY

139—WHEN HE WAS BAD…

The Ex Factor

Anne Oliver

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

When I was writing One Night Before Marriage, Melanie began demanding her own story. So here it is.

This book is dedicated to my children, Matthew and Rachel, who told me to

“get a life” when they saw me spending my weekends at the computer.

Thanks, guys, for putting up with me all those early years. I love you both.

Thanks to Trish Morey

for her encouragement when things got sticky, and especially to Meg Sleightholme

for her invaluable advice.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE (#uddc8427b-89cd-5322-90bb-07b205a7c8ac)

CHAPTER TWO (#u4b49914c-548e-5ddb-835a-12d9dbfe44b3)

CHAPTER THREE (#ub275512f-6b0e-5f09-a495-7fcbc31cbf8c)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u51641dbe-5054-5a7e-845d-574698f6e7a6)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE

THE man in her bed had a body built for giving pleasure, chiselled and polished to sinful perfection.

Melanie Sawyer hadn’t sinned, perfect or otherwise, in far too long.