Publisher's Synopsis
It's a once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza for those rich enough to indulge their wildest fantasies. When the luxurious new Fairy Princess ocean liner begins its historic two-year cruise, it will zigzag across the entire world. The massive undertaking will make the legendary Titanic look like a rerun of Gilligan's Island. As a bonus, elegant staterooms have been reserved for twelve random couples to hobnob with the world's obscenely rich and shameless. The "Lucky Twelve" contest has commanded more media attention than the latest five presidential scandals combined. Ex-Marine Mitch O'Neill can't believe he was randomly chosen. Things like that just don't happen to him! Then he learns that the elegant young woman in charge of the grand voyage is none other than his estranged lover, Lady Guenevere Thurmond...and he's sure someone has deliberately arranged for him to be aboard. Seven years ago, Gwen vanished without a trace, only to explode into the media spotlight by marrying Lord Winston Thurmond, a British lord nearly forty years her senior. Mitch has never forgotten or forgiven her heartless betrayal. Who could possibly want to reunite them? And why? Against his better judgment, Mitch finds himself drawn to Gwen again. But Gwen is hiding a tragic secret of her own-and revealing it could cost her everything, and everyone, she holds dear! Excerpt God, she looked adorable in that skintight butter-yellow swimsuit and those tight white shorts! Hadn't gained an ounce in the past seven years, either. Lush curves in all the right places, long legs like a dancer's, creamy ivory skin with just a hint of amber freckles across her nose and shoulder blades. His mouth watered. And her hair...satiny rippling waves as tawny as a lioness. Just the thought of burying his hands in all that rich silky hair made his muscles tighten with savage need. "Don't you make a charming picture!" Gwen was languidly brushing a long-haired pup when his bitter words rang out of the darkness. She knew that low, husky voice...and it was so achingly familiar that every nerve in her body went on instant alert, and her heart began to pound wildly. The brush fell from her numb fingers as she whipped around, hardly daring to breathe. ""Mitch?"" His name emerged as a hoarse, disbelieving whisper. "Don't act so surprised." Sneering, he emerged from the shadows, and balanced his long frame against the doorframe to keep it from tipping drunkenly back and forth. "You know very well your loving husband arranged for me to keep you company on this delightful little pleasure cruise! "Or was it you?" His eyes narrowed suddenly as stunned heat flushed her pale cheeks. "By God, it was, wasn't it? You arranged to have me here! He doesn't have a clue what you did!" The blank shock on her face was too real to be contrived, but ripe fury was overwhelming his common sense. All the long-suppressed anger and betrayal was churning in his gut, bubbling over, finding a handy and oh-so-perfect target. Nothing else mattered but letting it spew out in a hot, vicious torrent. "What's the matter, "sweetheart?"" He took an unsteady step forward, and clenched his big fists until the knuckles turned white. "Finally tired of your feeble old charity case? Isn't he man enough to satisfy your needs?" Oh, how he'd love to wrap his long fingers around her lying little throat and "squeeze" until she'd paid for every sleepless night since the day she'd run away from him! Gwen scooted back against the wall as terror and elation warred for command. Outrage won by a narrow margin, and gave her the strength to scramble to her feet. "What are you talking about? You aren't...I didn't..." She sputtered for a second, then backed away again when he advanced with murder clearly visible in his dark eyes. How could she have forgotten how "big" he was? Those rugged hands could snap her into tiny little pieces!