The Tycoon's Proposition

The Tycoon's Proposition
Rebecca Winters

When Terri Jeppson is informed that her ex-husband is desperately ill, she rushes to his aid.It's not until she gives him a therapeutic massage - on doctor's orders - that she realizes the man at her fingertips isn't her ex at all. He's an incredibly handsome, sexy…total stranger!Terri has unwittingly found herself up close and personal with international billionaire Ben Herrick. And he has one more surprise for Terri: a shocking proposal. Their unexpected encounter has certainly broken the ice between them - but should Terri take the plunge and accept Ben's proposition?

Terri picked up the lotion and squirted a mound of the cream into her palm to begin the rubdown.

But when she started to work the lotion into his skin, her hands froze.

Dear God. This man wasn’t Richard!

The burnished, hard-muscled leg did not belong to her ex-husband!

Terri began to tremble. Without hesitation she rushed to his side and bent over him so she could peer into his eyes.

A pain-filled gray gaze stared back at her between dark lashes. There was a frantic urgency in his look she could feel to her bones.

“You poor man,” she whispered in a shaky voice. “All this time everyone has thought you were my ex-husband. No wonder you’ve been so upset.”

The man let out a moan, which she took for a yes.

From boardroom…to bride and groom!

A secret romance, a forbidden affair, a thrilling attraction?

Working side by side, nine to five—and beyond… No matter how hard these couples try to keep their relationships strictly professional, romance is definitely on the agenda!

But will a date in the office diary lead to an appointment at the altar? Find out in this exciting new miniseries from Harlequin Romance

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Look out for Rebecca’s next book,

Bride Fit for a Prince (#3740)

The Tycoon’s Proposition

Rebecca Winters

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ONE

“AREN’T you going to invite me in?”

Matt Watkins was a nice-looking divorced guy who’d recently moved to Lead, South Dakota, to manage a busy service station.

Tonight had been their first official date, but already Terri Jeppson knew she could never be interested in him. She sensed he was looking for a wife. It would be better to dash his hopes now.

“I’m sorry, Matt. I start work early in the morning and—”

“You’re still in love with your ex,” he broke in before she could finish, sounding more hurt than angry.

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him her love for Richard had died an early death during their six-year marriage. But she caught herself in time.

“Maybe I am, and it took going out with someone else to realize it,” she said. It was an excuse she felt he could live with. “Please forgive me. I really did have a wonderful time with you tonight. Thank you for dinner and the movie.”

He stared hard at her. “When you think you’re over him, let me know.”

She nodded before shutting her apartment door. Glad the evening had come to an end so she could stop feeling guilty, she walked into the kitchen and automatically turned on her answering machine.

Her job as assistant head of the chamber of commerce meant she received a lot of calls transferred to her apartment after hours. Summer was the busiest time. July was the worst in terms of the swarms of tourists wanting to see Mount Rushmore and vacation in the Black Hills.

While she waited to hear what problems needed troubleshooting tonight, she sifted through the mail she hadn’t bothered to look at earlier.

The first two calls were from her mother and sister Beth who lived in Lead with her husband Tom. Unfortunately Beth had discovered Terri was going out on a date. Her family was so eager for her to meet a man who was “worthy” of her, their interest in her nonexistent love life was transparent. They weren’t going to like it when she told them she wouldn’t be seeing Matt again.

Another message played. “Mrs. Jeppson?” it began, letting her know it had to do with business. She tossed her junk mail in the wastebasket while she listened.

“My name is Martha Shaw. I’m calling from Creighton Herrick’s office at the Herrick Corporation Headquarters in Houston, Texas. Your husband, Richard, was injured in an accident where he’s been working. We’ve been told you should come as quickly as possible. A special family emergency visa has been arranged for you to enter the country.”

Country?

“Since this won’t require you going into the jungle, you won’t need any immunizations. The company will pay for your transportation and hotel. After you hear this message, please phone me at the following number day or night so I can book your flight and make hotel accommodations for you.”

Terri stood there in shock.

She and Richard had been divorced for almost a year, and had been separated six months before that. There’d been no communication between them since their divorce had become final. She’d thought he was out of her life forever.

Why would he have lied about his marital status when she knew he was happy to be a free man with no ties?