Irresistible Temptation

Irresistible Temptation
Sara Craven

Mills & Boon proudly presents THE SARA CRAVEN COLLECTION. Sara’s powerful and passionate romances have captivated and thrilled readers all over the world for five decades making her an international bestseller.IRRESISTIBLE TEMPTATIONHe hadn't planned to fall in love...Declan Malone was convinced Olivia was a threat to his cousin's marriage. True, she didn't seem the type to steal another woman's husband, but to make absolutely sure: Declan must seduce Olivia himself!With his looks, sex appeal and fabulous London home, few women had been able to resist Declan – but Olivia seemed determined to! Had Declan misjudged her? The more he wined and dined her, the more he wanted her – for real!

Irresistible Temptation

Sara Craven

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

Former journalist SARA CRAVEN published her first novel ‘Garden of Dreams’ for Mills & Boon in 1975. Apart from her writing (naturally!) her passions include reading, bridge, Italian cities, Greek islands, the French language and countryside, and her rescue Jack Russell/cross Button. She has appeared on several TV quiz shows and in 1997 became UK TV Mastermind champion. She lives near her family in Warwickshire – Shakespeare country.

Table of Contents

Cover (#uf4b8f930-fc7b-5fc7-859a-4ce696883a0b)

Title Page (#u7a75250a-367c-567b-aa91-5de2cf7ea475)

About the Author (#u48f461e7-dff2-5614-b4e6-99e6efa3268c)

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

Endpage (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#ud9b1ee46-220c-527d-926f-cc690cc8ab82)

‘THIS train is now approaching Paddington. Will passengers make sure they take their luggage and all personal possessions with them?’

Olivia swallowed as the announcement came over the system, her fingers tightening round the strap of her bag. She rose, made her way along the swaying carriage to the luggage rack at the far end, and retrieved her suitcase. She’d been on edge throughout the journey, and now that it was almost over her stomach was churning with nervous excitement.

It’s all right, she told herself. Very soon now you’ll be with Jeremy, and everything will be fine. This is what you want. What you’ve dreamed of. And all you have to do is—go for it.

She took the slip of paper from her pocket, and glanced at it again. 16 Lancey Gardens, W11, she repeated soundlessly to herself for the umpteenth time.

‘That’s the Ladbroke Grove area in Notting Hill,’ Beth, her more knowledgeable flatmate had told her, brows lifted. ‘Very swish.’

‘He’s got a marvellous job,’ Olivia said proudly. ‘He can afford it.’

‘There’s nothing the matter with your job.’ Beth gave her a measuring look. ‘So why pack it all in and go chasing rainbows—in the Smoke?’

‘You know why.’ Olivia began transferring neat piles of undies and nightwear from the chest of drawers to the open case on the bed.

‘Livvy—he’s a married man, for God’s sake.’

‘Some marriage—with her in Bristol and him in London,’ Olivia retorted. ‘Beth—it’s over; believe me. It’s been dead for more than a year now. They want different things. She’s totally wrapped up in her career. Didn’t I show you that piece in the paper announcing she’d just been made a partner in her law firm?’

‘Which only proves she’s doing well. Wives are allowed to, you know. It’s not a male prerogative any more.’ Beth’s tone was dry. ‘Anyway, it doesn’t give you carte blanche to pursue her husband to London.’

‘Jeremy and I want to be together,’ Olivia insisted. ‘And it’s time we took positive steps to achieve this.’

‘Is that how Jeremy sees it?’ Beth’s look of mild enquiry metamorphosed into a frown. ‘My God, Livvy. You have told him you’re joining him? Haven’t you?’

‘Not exactly,’ Olivia said defensively. ‘But it was always understood that we’d be together in London. It was just a question of timing. And, with Maria getting her partnership, this is clearly the time.’

‘He’s been in London for three months. Shouldn’t you have got together at some point? Discussed things?’

Olivia shrugged. ‘He’s been busy—settling into a new job—new flat. We talk on the phone—and write.’

‘You write,’ said Beth. ‘He phones—sometimes.’

Olivia’s mouth tightened. ‘You don’t really like Jeremy, do you?’

‘I haven’t any feelings about him either way.’ Beth was dismissive. ‘But I don’t like what he’s doing to you. The games he’s playing.’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’ Olivia tucked tissue into the folds of a black skirt.

‘Yes, you do, but clearly you don’t want to talk about it. So I’ll just say this—if I was going with a guy, I’d want a bit more out of the relationship than a few vague promises of eternal bliss—some time.’ Beth’s tone was edged.

Olivia flushed. ‘If you’re talking about sex …’

‘Which I am.’

‘Then we want that too, of course, but it didn’t seem right. Not while he was still living here in Bristol with Maria. Now the separation is official, we can—make our own commitment to each other.’

‘Such passion,’ Beth commented wryly.