Blurb:
CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET
Simon Bridgeworth believes in loyalty, and keeping things in-house. When he discovers his best friend, who has been running the Canadian division of Simon's tech empire, has been skimming millions from the company, Simon flies to Toronto to get to the bottom of the theft and learns his friend has been murdered. Devastated and at a loose end, Simon knows there's no way the company's problems can be kept under wraps now. Imagine his surprise when he learns the Mountie investigating the murder is the first repeat Simon has allowed himself in years.
Sergeant Nick Cooper is a proud member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He's served his country in the military, and now he's protecting the citizenry of Toronto. But devotion to duty is no longer enough. On a whim, Nick hooks up with Aristocrat69 on crUIzer, and what started as one night of incredible sex turns into an attraction neither man can ignore. When a grisly mob murder sends Nick to the Breakforce corporation, he is shocked to discover his lover is none other than its CEO. When Simon's life is threatened, ethical lines blur as Nick does anything to keep him safe - no cost is too high for the man who has become Nick's everything.
Excerpt:
Waking up to a tanned and taut arse was certainly a pleasurable way to greet the morning. Simon didn’t want to think too much about the fact he’d let a man sleep in his bed, contravening his long-held rules.
Best chalk it down to a temporary bout of insanity.
He got out of bed, leaving a slumbering Nick sprawled across the mattress—the man was a bed hog of note—and walked into the bathroom. A shower was what he needed, as the smell of sex and male cologne—not his—lingered tantalisingly on his body.
He was fixing his tie and taking a sip of freshly brewed coffee delivered via room service when he heard Nick’s groan and looked over. Nick unwound himself from the duvet and squinted at him.
“Morning,” Nick said gruffly, voice still thick with sleep. “You’re up early.” he peered owlishly at his watch. “It’s only seven a.m. on a Saturday morning.” His tone was incredulous, and Simon couldn't help grinning.
He made sure his appearance was satisfactory and turned to face Nick. “I have an appointment at eight-thirty with someone. As it’s across the city, I’d rather leave a little bit of extra time for the taxi to get there on time.”
“A business appointment?” Nick echoed. “On a Saturday?”
Simon frowned. “Yes, on a Saturday. My business doesn’t close when everyone else clocks out for the weekend. Urgent matters require urgent attention.”
Nick sat up, the covers pooling at his waist. He looked debauched and adorably tousled. “Urgent matters? Everything okay?”
Simon shook his head. “Not really. Someone has been ripping me off and I intend to find out who and why. Safe to say, I’ll be ripping them a new one when I find them.”
Nick’s eyes widened. “Wow, you look scary when you do that whole snarly thing you have going on. Sexy, but scary.” He leaned back against the headboard with a sigh. “My job isn’t respectful of weekends either. I’m on call twenty-four-seven.”
Simon noticed Nick didn't say anything further about his job and the quick prick of curiosity that flared was soon dampened. Best not to get too much detail about the man. Sharing personal information wasn’t really required at this stage.
Ignoring the part of him that really wanted to find out what Nick did, Simon reached over and picked up his document folder, and wallet.
“Well, thanks for last night. I need to get going now so feel free to clean up and leave when you're ready. Order room service if you like. My treat.”
Nick grinned lazily. “I feel like a kept man. Are you going to give me a credit card so I can buy new clothes too? Perhaps pamper myself with a facial and a massage?”
The words held no censure or pique, but Simon felt a little ashamed. “I didn’t mean to insinuate anything,” he said frostily, “I merely want you to have a comfortable experience when you're here.”
Nick flapped a hand. “Relax, Mr Uptight Brit. I was only joking.” He swung his legs out of bed, stretched and yawned as he turned to face Simon.
Simon’s mouth went dry at the sight of the chiselled naked, male torso. Damn the man was gorgeous.
Don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.
Author Bios and Links:
SUSAN MAC NICOL
Lover of angst and conflict, she enjoys putting her characters through the emotional wringer and bringing them out the other side with an HEA, or, at the very least, a HFN.
She is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is also a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK. She’s the Editor-in-Chief at Divine Magazine (www.divinemagazine.biz), and she’s a Charity Board trustee at Being Me in London (www.beingmecampaign.com).
Sue is passionate about research and has stayed in a circus, taken lessons from a blind person on how it feels to be non-sighted, and has travelled to a lighthouse with maintenance crew to see firsthand what it’s like inside. She’s also written a screenplay with a Hollywood actor/producer, with a view to taking her book, Sight Unseen, to the big screen.
M. TASIA
Michelle is a paralegal and author who lives in Ontario, Canada. A member of the RWA and its chapter RRW, she is a dedicated people watcher, and a lover of romance, 80’s rock, and happy endings. Married to a good man, mother of two wonderful girls, Michelle is also a servant to two spoiled furry children.
