REUNITED WITH THE REBEL BILLIONAIRE
Bayou Billionaires #3
Catherine Mann
Releasing on April 1st, 2016 (Digital)
and April 5th, 2016 (Print)
and April 5th, 2016 (Print)
Harlequin Desire
Is it a real reunion, or one for the
cameras? It's a second-chance romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine
Mann!
Football star Henri Reynaud won't
let his career go down without a fight. If the only way to win is to reconcile
with his estranged wife, he'll do what it takes. But spending time with Fiona
Harper-Reynaud isn't just some ruse. The sultry beauty belongs in his bed.
Fiona doesn't know where her sexy
husband's public act ends and his real feelings begin. Can she afford to fall a
second time for the man every female wants? One thing is
undeniable—their attraction has never flared hotter!
Fiona looked around at the packed event, a
total success. Anyone would think she had a full life.
Except
she couldn’t bring herself to have sex with husband. She’d been so certain the
surgery was the right decision. She’d gone to counseling before and after. Her
husband had been completely supportive.
And
still the distance between them had grown wider and wider these past months,
emphasizing how little they knew about each other. They’re married because of
infatuation and great sex. Now that the initial glow of infatuation had passed
and they didn’t even have sex to carry them through the rough patches, their
marriage was floundering. Badly.
And
with a cancer scare looming over her today, she couldn’t bear the thought that
he would stay with her out of sympathy.
***
Henri wasn’t in much of a party mood, no
matter how much his brothers elbowed him and teased him about his latest
fumble. His Texas cousins weren’t cutting him any slack either.
He’d been thinking about the divorce papers
his wife insisted on pursuing.
While the love had left their marriage,
he’d heard plenty say that marriage had ups and downs. He wasn’t a quitter. And
damn it all, he still burned to have her.
His gaze skimmed along the guests around
the pool, landing on his wife. Her loose hair and slim curves called to him,
reminding him of the enticing feel of her back as he’d tugged her zipper up.
She smiled at whoever she spoke to – a man
with his back to the rest the crowd - and nodded as she walked away. The man
turned and Henri’s breath froze in his chest. He knew the man well. Dr. Carlson
was a partner in the practice Fiona used to see before they’d transferred her
to another physician for the surgery.
Fear gelling in his gut, Henri charged away
from his brothers and cousins, shouldering through the crowd to his wife.
“Henri--.”
He grasped her arm and guided her toward
the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. “In a moment. When no one can over hear us.”
Lights from yachts and boats dotted the distance.
Along the shoreline, couples walked hand and hand into the distance. Henri
opened the boat house door and stepped inside. Moonlight streaked through
streaked through the windows, across her face. Confusion and frustration
stamped along her lovely features.
He angled them beneath a pontoon boat on a
lift. The boat was still wet from use, and water tapped the ground in a rhythm
that almost matched his pounding heart. Inhaling deeply, he caught the musty
scent of the boathouse with the cinnamon notes of Fiona’s perfume. He’d bought
it for her on trip to France before all of these difficulties had really gotten
out of control.
“Enough already, Henri. Would you please
tell me why we’re out here?”
He
clasped both of her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“What
do you mean?”
“I
saw you talking to Dr. Carlson.” He looked in her sherry colored eyes, trying
to read her. Something flickered there but he wasn’t sure what.
Staring
at the floor, she chewed her bottom lip for an instant before answering, “We
were discussing a fundraiser and party for the pediatric oncology ward.”
Okay,
but why was she looking away? “You’re sure that’s all?”
She
hesitated a second too long. “What do you mean?”
Fear
exploded inside him. “Are you feeling alright?” He clasped her shoulders.
“Physically. Is there something wrong? If so, you know I’m here for you.
Whatever you need, just tell me.”
She
squeezed her eyes closed, shaking her head, tears
“Oh
God, Fiona, is it …,” his throat moved in a long swallow, “do you have…”
“What
were you laughing so hysterically about?” Anger edged through the fear. “And
would you like to clue me in on the joke because right now I could use
something to lighten the mood?”
“No
joke,” she said with a sigh, meeting his gaze again. “Just so ironic.”
“Then
what are you hiding?”
“Not
that it’s any of your business,” she chewed her bottom lip again, “but he asked
me out for a drink to discuss the fundraiser.”
He
saw red. Pure red. “He asked you out for a drink? As in for a date? Not because
of the fundraiser?”
“Because
of the fundraiser, but yes, he clearly meant a date as well.” She pulled at her
curls, tension mounting in her cheeks.
Henri
had to stay calm. Had to make it through this conversation. “And what did you
say?”
“I
told him I’m still married.” Eyes
narrowing, the words launched at him like daggers.
“Clearly
that wasn’t a problem for him since you are wearing my ring.”
She
shrugged her shoulders, chandelier earrings swaying. “That didn’t bother him in
the least.”
He
turned toward the door, ready to return to the party and deck the guy straight
into the pool.
Fiona
placed a hand on his shoulder. “Stop, Henri. He mentioned hearing we’re
splitting up. He thought I was available.”
“How
would he have heard such a thing?” His mind went back to the original concern.
“Were you at the doctor’s office where he’s a partner?”
She
swallowed hard. “You seem to have forgotten his brother is our lawyer.”
“Not
anymore.”
“I
was thinking the same thing actually.” She picked at her French manicure. “We
should get separate lawyers.”
Damn
it. This conversation was not going the way he intended. He just wanted to pull
her into his arms and take her here. Now. To say to hell with the past and
future. No more jealousy or discussion about … hell.
He
just wanted her.
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