One

I was meeting my younger sister Niamh for a drink after work at one of London’s swanky hotels. Now, you might think there is nothing unusual about two sisters catching up over a cocktail but it’s nothing short of a miracle I still have a sister. It’s also a miracle Niamh could not only book the venue but get there without her support worker. And it’s an even bigger miracle I arrived at the hotel more or less on time.I’m normally a super punctual person but my last client of the day wanted some changes to the plans I was drawing up for his luxury villa in Italy. Before you get too excited, the client is nudging eighty and he’s building it for his grandchildren. Lucky grandchildren. The only thing I got from my paternal grandparents was a chip on my shoulder. Long story. I won’t bore you with it.I spotted Niamh sitting in the brass and glass mezzanine level area, surrounded by gorgeous fresh flower arrangements that made it look like summer had come inside. Which was kind of nice beca

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Two

There was no possibility of me saying no. I suspect there were very few women on the planet who could say no to Grayson Barlowe. Besides, I wanted to speak to him but Niamh and Ethan couldn’t listen in. We had to stop this nonsense between our siblings before it went any further. In love with someone after only six weeks? It was ridiculous. Niamh was naïve and innocent and way too trusting. It had taken me three years to get engaged to Ryan, but of course, it had ended in tears. His, not mine.Grayson led me to a private room on the other side of the hotel. It was furnished as a sitting room—twin soft sofas in plush velvet, long elegant silk curtains at the windows with a pelmet above. There was an antique writing desk and chair set on one side of the room and bookshelves on the other. The carpet was ankle-deep and hand-woven and it was a gorgeous shade of shell pink to match the silk curtains. It would have been a feminine room except for the cold marble statue of the hotel’s founder

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Three

I raised one of my eyebrows in an imperious arc. ‘And how do you plan to do that?’He let out a harsh-sounding breath that made his nostrils flare. He reminded me of a thoroughbred stallion ready to fight for his territory. ‘I’ll talk some sense into him.’I gave a cynical twist of a smile. ‘Good luck with that. He looks quite smitten with my sister.’Grayson’s expression hardened like quick-setting concrete. ‘You can’t seriously believe they’re in love with each other?’‘Maybe they’re in lust.’ I immediately wished I hadn’t mentioned that particular L word. I could feel my cheeks blooming with heat, as if by the very mention of the erotic word I had allowed something forbidden into the room. Something forbidden and dangerously tempting. Something that threatened to get out of control like a lit match to dryTinder. I could almost hear it crackling in the silence like tiny flames gathering energy to start an inferno.His eyes held mine in a lock that sent a hot shiver rolling down my s

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Four

‘Look, I don’t know the full extent of your brother’s disability but I think you’re doing both he and Niamh a disservice without a proper conversation with them first.’‘Marriage is out of the question. I’ll do everything in my power to stop it.’ His adamant tone riled me more than it should have. It was like I was programmed to adopt the opposite stance even though I agreed with him. But then he was a Barlowe, and I was a Clancy. We had a long history of going he-to-head.I rose from the sofa and nailed him with my gaze, still playing devil’s advocate. ‘You know, some people do fall in love quite quickly. Or don’t you believe in love at first sight?’His mouth slanted in a smile right out of the cynical playboy’s playbook. ‘No. But lust at first sight? Yes.’ There was a pulsing silence. The silence was so intense that I could just about hear my heart beating. I could certainly feel it hammering away in my chest like an industrial piston.Grayson’s eyes roved over my face in slow mo

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Five

‘He was shattered.’‘I’m sorry to hear that, but I can assure you Niamh will not break your brother’s heart.’Grayson’s eyes glinted with his trademark cynicism. ‘Not if I can help it, she won’t.’I tightened my mouth and glared back at him. ‘Firstly, you won’t be able to pay her off.’ One dark brow rose in a perfect arc. ‘How about you?’I stared at him for a thumping heartbeat or two. What was he implying? That I could be paid to go away and take my sister with me?‘You think you can write a cheque to get rid of me? Think again.’He moved closer and looked down from his considerable height into my upturned face. I stood, totally mesmerized. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t. My body was disconnected from my brain. My brain was saying, Step back, put some distance between him and you, but none of it was getting through. The Wi-Fi was down or something, or too weak to pick up the message. And I was too weak to do anything but look into his darkly handsome features. I was transfix

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Todos os capítulos de A NIGHT IN MY RIVALS BED: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 5

One

Two

Three

Four

Five