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- Herausgeber: Next Chapter
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
Georgiana Bloom is young, beautiful, and leading a charmed life - until she meets billionaire tycoon Wyatt Clayton.
She quickly becomes a pawn in a ruthless, high-stakes game of greed and personal vengeance that threatens everything she holds dear. Georgiana must fight to escape the clutches of the man who is hell-bent on destroying her.
But are her courage and spirit enough to triumph against adversity... and can she ever allow herself to love again?
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
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FLOWERS IN BLOOM
APPLETON VALE BOOK 2
ANNELI LORT
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Epilogue
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About the Author
Copyright © 2019 Anneli Lort
Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter
Published 2021 by Next Chapter
Edited by Alison Bridge
Cover art by CoverMint
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.
For Henry, Hector, Cora, Juno and Dee who make me laugh every single day.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’ve been behind the scenes at some of the biggest sports and entertainment events on the planet, worked closely with A-list celebrities and sports stars, and attended too many VIP parties to count, so it is only right to thank those men and women, the media, agents, managers, and in-the-know Hollywood friends who have helped me out along the way. There are too many of you to name, but I am grateful to each and every one of you for sharing your experiences, insight and gossip. Without you all I would have had to spend many more hours researching my subject matter!
Writing is very much my thing, but editing and proofreading are not, and that’s when it’s time to call in the professionals.
Once again, I am in awe of the skills of my marvellous editor Alison Bridge. With a simple wave of her magic wand she can turn a good manuscript into a great one.
When it comes to critiquing my work, Freda Jackson is happy to point out the holes and inconsistencies that are always lurking within a first draft. Whilst I get bogged down in the detail, she sees the whole picture and has no compunction in telling me where and how I can improve things. The only annoying thing is that she’s usually right!
Cathy Longhurst is THE grammar queen. She is also one of the best people I know and I am thankful for her unconditional friendship, complete confidence in my literary abilities, and her willingness to grammar check five hundred pages.
My beautiful cover was created by the incredibly talented Louise Mizen Ferguson, who is an awe-inspiring artist of the highest calibre. She can take a very sketchy brief and turn it into a reality – one that is better than I could ever have imagined.
Finally, to Hector for keeping me company late into the night as I write. You fill my life with laughter and love.
PROLOGUE
“Breathe. Just breathe,” she murmured in the split second before the camera went live. The moment was almost upon her and she didn’t know if she was terrified or excited. She hadn’t seen him in what felt like forever. The producer counted down in her ear, and then it was time.
“Welcome back to the red carpet coverage of the 2018 Academy Awards, live from the Dolby Theatre in downtown LA,” she said. “Over the last few hours we’ve brought you interviews with Hollywood’s elite and the ceremony is now just half an hour away. We’re waiting for the last big name to arrive - a certain British Oscar nominee who is THE hot favourite for ‘Actor in a Leading Role’.
“The atmosphere is electric. Everyone is genuinely excited, and I can tell you from my own perspective that not only is it a privilege to be here, but also jaw-droppingly surreal!” She flashed a dazzling smile at the camera. “Stay with us and we’ll be continuing our exclusive coverage right after the wonderful Carole Kirkwood brings you the weather.”
“And you’re out,” the producer announced in her ear.
Everywhere she looked, stars were dressed up in their Oscar finery, their jewels matching the brilliance of the afternoon sunshine. The air was thick with gushy superlatives as the great and good of the movie world greeted each other on the way into the theatre, there to celebrate excellence and to applaud the triumph of the individual. It was a glorious technicolour fantasy that was both intoxicating and bizarre.
She heard a roar from the fans, tightly packed into viewing galleries with a great vantage point of stars rolling up in a never-ending fleet of limousines. She knew it had to be him. He was the only big name left to arrive. She gulped back her nerves and attempted to compose herself.
“You’re back in thirty seconds,” the producer said into her ear piece.
Suddenly, her skin prickled and the hairs on her arms stood on end. She could feel his eyes on her, burning through to her soul. She swung around and they came face to face.
“Why are you here?” he gasped. He bent down and brushed his lips against hers. She felt her knees buckle and gripped his arm to steady herself.
They were unaware of the commotion they were causing. Every television camera on the red carpet was now fixed firmly on them. Reporters from networks across the globe were commentating on a much-anticipated reunion and speculating on what it was that had driven them apart in the first place. It was complete pandemonium.
Oblivious of their surroundings, their eyes were locked in an unbreakable gaze. They hadn’t seen each other for months, but she instantly knew his feelings for her had not diminished in the slightest. In that moment, she realised how cold and painful her heart had been without him.
He whispered something in her ear, kissed her cheek and was quickly ushered towards the theatre.
She watched as he walked away, silently willing him to check his mobile phone before disappearing from view. He fished it out of his pocket at the very last second and stopped dead in his tracks as he read the text. He turned and sprinted back towards her.
“Seriously?” he asked breathlessly.
“Seriously!” she smiled.
CHAPTER1
“You’re live in five, four, three, two, one,” Gerry whispered into Georgiana’s earpiece.
“Good morning from sunny SW19. I’m here at Wimbledon and it’s the big one. Yes, it’s mens’ final day. I, for one, am incredibly excited. I can hardly contain myself.” Georgiana grinned at the camera and millions of men across the United Kingdom swooned in front of their television sets.
“The sun is shining and there’s a tangible air of excitement running through the crowds who have poured in to witness what could potentially be one of the best matches in Wimbledon history. The top two seeded players in the world are set to slug it out on the marvellous Centre Court. It’s going to be totally awesome.”
Gerry Rees, producer of Georgiana’s segment, was grinning from ear to ear. Georgiana was gold dust as far as he and the rest of the BBC sport team were concerned. They loved her warm, engaging style of presenting, and she was single-handedly responsible for the ratings going through the roof. In what was already a world-renowned event, with millions of people watching all over the globe, she had boosted the viewing figures by almost twenty per cent.
“I’m now joined on my little perch high above Henman Hill, Murray Mount – call it what you will - by the incredible talented, insanely funny, and downright incorrigible John McEnroe.” Georgiana turned to face John and grinned. “So, Johnny boy, what say you?”
For the entire hour of the show Georgiana and John engaged in a tennis match of their own, banter flying back and forth. John’s style of presenting complemented Georgiana’s perfectly. It was compelling viewing.
“And we’re out. Great job you two,” said Gerry. The show had gone without a hitch and his bosses were delighted.
Georgiana removed her microphone and earpiece and high-fived McEnroe. “That was so much fun,” she grinned. “Gotta go. I’m doing a pre-record with Boris in twenty minutes. Thanks, John.”
She grabbed her iPad and flew down the steps in search of former Wimbledon champion and all-round good guy Boris Becker.
Georgiana Bloom had been working for the BBC for almost four months, and she had quickly made her mark with her quirky style and ability to make her interviewees feel at ease. Even the most obnoxious and ego-driven sports stars were putty in her hands. She was honest, funny, genuine, and most importantly, knowledgeable about sport. That’s what made her a rising star at the BBC. She was incredibly versatile and could hold her own in any situation.
The younger sister of world number one golfer Sebastian Bloom, Georgiana had not set out to become a star in her own right. In fact, quite the opposite. She had seen what fame had done to her brother, who’d been both darling and demon of the international press since he turned professional. She didn’t want to be in the spotlight but it had come around so unexpectedly that she had been swept along by the excitement of it all.
It had started when Georgiana and her sister-in-law, Sebastian’s wife Olivia, had accompanied him to the first golf Major event of that year – the US Masters. She had been accosted by the BBC’s production team, short of a presenter struck down with food poisoning, to ‘get behind the scenes’ for the live Facebook feed they wanted to air during the tournament. She knew all the golfers, their caddies, agents, managers, and wives or girlfriends, and effortlessly delivered the requested content. She was an instant hit and had been inundated with work ever since.
She was young, just twenty-three, energetic and stunningly beautiful, and in contrast to her brother at well over six feet tall, she barely nudged five feet two. They shared the same olive-toned skin and defiant expression, as well as the rare condition of heterochromia – different coloured eyes – one a rich dark brown, the other a dazzling green, set under long, thick lashes. Her glossy raven hair tumbled down her back, and she was slim and toned from an athletic, outdoor life.
During her first broadcast, the BBC’s Facebook page had gone into overdrive, receiving more ‘comments’, ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ than at any previous sporting event. Georgiana was on her way to becoming a star.
Georgiana sighed with contentment as the village of Appleton Vale appeared in the distance. This was her beloved home, tucked away in a sleepy corner of West Chesterton about thirty miles south of Bath, and a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of London.
She was happiest surrounded by her family, her horses and her devoted whippet, Lady. She cherished the peace and quiet of the countryside, which was in complete contrast to the life she led in London with her burgeoning television career.
She wound her way down the hill, through the rolling fields and meadows of Appleton Vale, and turned into the village. She sighed again. She never tired of the simple beauty of the chocolate-box cottages and pristine green. The moss-covered church of St. Saviour’s and its ancient oak tree were at the heart of the village, and the pretty Tearooms, shop and post office, and the Riverside Inn, all backed onto the River Candle that wound its way through the county.
The sight of her friends and neighbours going about their business made her smile, and she waved to Dee Dee and Jane as she passed their Tearooms.
Driving through the electric gates and stone pillars that marked the entrance to the Bloom estate, she made her way down the sweeping, tree-lined driveway with horses grazing in the post and rail paddocks on her left. On the right was manicured parkland studded with ageing trees at their most magnificent in the summer heat.
Her ancestral home, Appleton Manor, was a four-hundred-year-old stone-built mansion. It was vast but not forbidding, impressive but not overwhelming - a tremendous sense of history poured from the building.
She pulled up outside the main entrance to find Hattie overseeing the safe delivery of some unexpected guests. Hattie Banbridge was the family’s long-standing housekeeper. She had practically raised Sebastian and Georgiana when their mother died and their father, William, had left them in search of his spirituality.
She was an integral part of the family. Almost sixty years old with greying hair, she was short and plump, warm and charmingly sensible, and also fiercely protective of both Sebastian and Georgiana.
“Did you know about this?” she asked Georgiana.
“Oh yeah. Sorry. Forgot to tell you they were coming today.” She grinned cheekily and was instantly forgiven.
The driver nodded his greeting and proceeded to unload a pair of flea-bitten and undernourished donkeys.
“Oh, goodness.” Hattie was shocked at their appearance.
“Don’t worry. A month or two with me and they’ll be back to their best,” Georgiana smiled and took their lead ropes from the driver. She rummaged around in her bag for a packet of polos and was pounced upon by her greedy new charges.
“I’ll be off then,” said the driver as he hopped back into the horsebox.
“Thanks,” Georgiana shouted as he drove away.
“So, do they have names?” asked Hattie as she gave one a scratch on his neck.
“This one is Bray Davis Junior,” Georgiana grinned and nodded to the brown donkey. “And this is Kong. As in Donkey Kong,” she explained when Hattie looked confused.
“Oh. Right, then.” Hattie took a lead rope from Georgiana. “Best get them to the yard. I don’t know why he had to deliver them to the front door.”
“Well, these little darlings are here now so let’s get them into a lush paddock and introduce them to everyone else.” Georgiana was quite taken with Bray and Kong.
“By everyone else I assume you mean the ones with four legs?” Hattie smiled. “It’s always the animals first with you.”
After they had settled the new residents in their field and introduced them to the horses either side of the fencing, Georgiana and Hattie linked arms and made their way back across the estate to the house.
“What time’s the happy couple back?” Georgiana asked. Sebastian and Olivia were hopelessly in love and expecting their first child together.
“Sebastian said around six o’clock,” Hattie replied, looking at her watch. “I hope Liv is ok. What possessed her to get on a plane when she’s eight months pregnant is beyond me.”
“It’s called a babymoon,” Georgiana grinned. “Their last hurrah before their lives change forever.”
“Well I still say they shouldn’t have flown.”
“It was only the South of France and they had the jet on standby the whole time. A perk of being loaded,” she laughed, and pushed open the door leading to the Manor’s kitchen. She was greeted by her Whippet Lady who wound herself around and through Georgiana’s legs, delighted that her mistress had returned.
A second later she was ambushed by Ace and Hector – her brother’s Great Dane and Olivia’s Golden Retriever – who came skidding into the kitchen and almost sent her flying.
“Bloody hell you lot,” she cried, steadying herself on the table.
“They’ve been running around like lunatics all day,” Hattie rolled her eyes.
“That’s because they know we’ll have a full house tonight. All of us under one roof.” She bent down and threw her arms around all three dogs and was rewarded with slobbery kisses. “Right, I’m off home to sort a few things out and I’ll be back before six to help you with supper.”
Georgiana had moved into a cottage on the far side of the estate when Olivia and Sebastian had married. It was her own little piece of heaven and she loved living there.
“Ok darling, see you later,” Hattie called as Georgiana swept out of the door with Lady hot on her heels.
Minutes later she was inside her two-up two-down Victorian cottage, renovated by Sebastian the previous year. It had stood empty for over a decade and had needed a complete overhaul. She and Olivia had gone to town on the interior design and furnishings, and both had felt a little guilty about how much of Sebastian’s money they had spent.
It had been worth every penny. Georgiana had selected a sleek grey kitchen fitted with all mod cons, and there was under-floor heating installed throughout. Sebastian had added a huge oak framed extension to the back of the cottage, which was where the kitchen was now housed. Tri-fold doors and floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the room with light that warmed the honeyed oak frame and beams.
She kicked off her boots and settled down on the vast leather sofa as Lady snuggled her head into the crook of Georgiana’s arm, sighing contentedly.
“Shall we have a little snooze, darling?” she asked Lady who was already half asleep. “I’m shattered. Three weeks away from you is three weeks too many.” She kissed her and was asleep in seconds.
CHAPTER2
“And CUT. Great job everyone, that’s a wrap.” The director jumped out of his chair and slapped his assistant on the back. “We’re done. See you all at the party tomorrow.”
Dan whooped and threw his arms around his co-star. “Thought we’d never get through that last scene.”
“I know, right?” Amber grinned and dusted herself down. They were both caked in mud and soaked to the skin. “I’m freezing.”
“I know something that’ll warm you up,” Dan replied with a cheeky grin.
Ten minutes later, they were locked together in the shower of his trailer indulging in one last tryst before Amber had to return to the reality of her husband and children.
Dan Flowers had swapped London for Hollywood ten years’ ago after an acclaimed BBC drama television role in which, as a virtually unknown actor, he had dazzled audiences with his emotional and captivating performance.
He had also attracted the attentions of the UK’s female population with his looks and charm. Dan was well over six feet tall with a slim, toned body, and smooth, sun-kissed skin. His hair was luscious dark chocolate and his eyes a startling Prussian blue. He wasn’t classically good-looking – he had a slightly crooked nose and a scar on his left cheek courtesy of several childhood scrapes – but he resembled a young Paul Newman and women loved him.
Helped financially by his parents, he made the move to LA with the knowledge that he had a little breathing space to get his big break before the money ran out. He attended three or four casting calls every day for two months before he happened to be in the right place at the right time to attract the eye of Hollywood’s number one casting agent, Tiffy Boyd.
Tiffy had specifically been looking for a new, young and exciting British actor to take a plum lead role, and Dan fitted the bill exactly. She wanted to offer him the job on the spot but had held back, deferring to the producer and director who were both keen to see more established actors take up the main characters.
She had been right, and after several audition recalls, he was offered the leading role of Orion Powell in a new action series directed by Randy Brewster, the genius behind a score of box office smash hits.
That first film had broken all records for an action movie in its first weekend, and Dan had been in constant work ever since. His first pay cheque paid back his parents and moved him closer to the Hollywood elite, his second bought his dream home where he still lived, high up in the hills overlooking Los Angeles. His neighbours were like a who’s who of the movie world, and his circle of friends was mostly made up of British ex-pats, actors, producers and directors he had worked with over the years.
He’d also had a string of lovely companions including Amber, who purred, “I’m sorry it’s over,” as she lay in his arms one last time, adding, “Remember, what happens on set stays on set.”
Dan grinned. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Amber replied quickly. “I love Jack and the kids, but I just couldn’t resist you.”
Amber Angelo was Dan’s senior by fifteen years’ and an established actress with a string of hit movies to her name. She was a generous co-star, offering advice and help to her younger leading man. She was kind, funny, and drop dead gorgeous, and had relished the affair with Dan as much as he had.
“Don’t you think it’s time you found yourself a girlfriend?” she asked as she got dressed. Her driver was waiting outside to take her home. “You’re not a kid anymore and there are literally thousands of women waiting to throw themselves at your feet.”
“I’m only thirty, you cheeky cow,” Dan laughed. “I’m saving myself for the right woman.”
“And whilst you wait for her you’re screwing me?” Amber stood with her hands on her hips. “I mean it. You’re a great guy Dan, don’t waste yourself on groupies or married women. Find someone you can love.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes and watched as she finished getting dressed.
“I’ll miss you,” Amber dropped a kiss on his head. “It was fun while it lasted.”
“Certainly was,” he smirked.
“You’re coming to dinner next week, right? It’s our tenth wedding anniversary.”
“Yeah. If that’s not too weird,” Dan replied.
“Why would it be?” she laughed, and left the trailer.
When Amber had gone, Dan switched on the television and was immediately faced with a photograph of himself and well-known LA socialite Mariella Tovey. The daughter of one of the most successful producers in Hollywood, she had a reputation for bagging and bedding the hottest actors around.
He laughed out loud when the presenter suggested they were an item. He knew Mariella, but they had never slept together and he had no intention of doing so. He admired her father’s work and didn’t want to ruin any chance he had of collaborating with him in the future by indulging in a one-night-stand with his daughter. The photograph had actually been taken at a party a few months ago – but the voyeuristic public wouldn’t care about that.
He listened as the presenter voiced her opinion on his love life.
“Does this man ever stop? Mariella Tovey is the latest in a very, very long line of Hollywood women to fall under the spell of the charming Mr Flowers. Will this relationship last the distance or do we chalk it up to another notch on the action star’s bedpost?”
Dan threw a shoe at the television. He was starting to get fed up with the constant speculation and false rumours about every woman he was photographed with. He had been linked with more than two dozen of his co-stars over the years, as well as suffering plenty of kiss-and-tell stories made up by women he had rejected or never even met.
When he first arrived in Hollywood he hadn’t given it a second thought. He was grateful for the publicity and flattered by all the attention he received from the female population of LA. He was twenty years old in a new city and country, and he went a little wild for a short time. He enjoyed sex and the company of women, but the older and more established he became, he found himself less tolerant of the vacuous models and actresses he had slept with in the early days.
“She might be right,” he muttered as he got dressed. “Maybe it’s time I settled down.”
CHAPTER3
Dan stepped out of the lift into the swanky, ultra-modern offices of his management company, Walter Moreaux Enterprises – WME. There was a flurry of activity at reception as the female staff jostled for position to be the first to greet him.
“Good afternoon Mr Flowers,” one of them purred. “I’ll let Mr Manolo know you’re here. He asked that you head directly to his office.”
“Thank you,” Dan smiled and walked down the corridor, chuckling to himself at the commotion he had caused. He reached Vinnie Manolo’s office just as he was coming out to meet him.
“Hey man.” Vinnie slapped him on the back. “Come on in.” He motioned for Dan to take the seat across from his desk.
Vinnie’s office was a shrine to his first love – the movies. There were original film posters on the walls, signed photographs from some of the biggest stars in the world, and several dozen pictures of him with his clients.
“You said you had some papers for me to sign?” Dan hated the business side of his profession. He had no interest in investments, stocks and shares, or moving money off-shore, but Vinnie insisted he ran through every minute detail to keep him fully informed.
“Yeah.” He slid several documents across the table. “Just a signature on this one, and I need you to read through the small print on the contract from Universal. The lawyers have approved it but you need to know the finer details.”
“Can I take it home to read later?” he asked Vinnie. “I’m completely wiped out. I only popped in as I was passing on the way back from the lot.”
“Sure thing. But I want your feedback or approval tomorrow morning as they’re pushing hard to get it signed.” Vinnie shifted in his seat. “Did you read that script I dropped over last week?”
“Give me a bloody chance, Vin. I’ve literally just finished shooting.” Dan glared at him. “I gave it the once-over and it’s a load of bollocks. Why did you even put it in front of me?”
“Because I promised Steve Tanner that I would show you. He’s super-keen to get you on board.” Vinnie sat down opposite Dan. “But now you’ve read it, you can throw it in the trash and you’ll be able to answer him honestly when you see him next week.”
Dan laughed. “You think it’s awful as well?”
“Sure. And I knew you’d never go for it,” he grinned.
Vinnie was a great agent, one of the best in the business. Of Italian descent, he was short, olive-skinned and stocky. He started out in the mail room as an ambitious eighteen-year-old in love with movies. Now, almost three decades later, he was a partner at WME and handled a dozen of the most talented and famous actors in Hollywood.
Dan had popped up on his radar when a British friend raved about his performances in his BBC drama series ‘All in at One’. He was a complete unknown, but Vinnie had a gut feeling about him and pushed him hard for his signature on a management contract almost as soon as he moved to LA. Vinnie had been Dan’s agent for a decade and they were close friends as much as business partners.
“Are you two done?” Maddie Mitchell, Dan’s smart, sassy, well-connected publicist stuck her head around the door. “I need to run through the schedule.”
She handled all of his media appearances, interviews and press conferences, and was his last line of defence. She had been in the business of promoting movies and their stars for over twenty years and was known as a real ball-breaker. She was dedicated, loyal, and excellent at her job.
“I told the studio PR guys we’d work around the movie promotional schedule, but there are a few things that have come up I think you’ll wanna do.” She scrolled through her iPad and turned it around to show Dan.
“Really?” Dan feigned surprise. “Inside the Actors Studio wants me?”
Maddie laughed. “I don’t know why you’re shocked. You may not believe you’re a big shot but the rest of the world thinks you are.” She looked at Vinnie. “Tell him, will you?”
“He knows he’s hot property,” Vinnie smirked. “He’s just yanking your chain.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “Of course, it’s all down to me. Nothing to do with your acting abilities.”
“Ha. You keep telling yourself that.” Dan grinned. “What else?”
“The Late Late Show. James Cordon wants you on.” Maddie consulted the diary. “I just don’t think we can get it in right now.”
“Shame.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I like James but the studio is running me ragged and I’d rather pull back on everything else for now. Apart from Actors Studio. I really want to do that.”
“I’ll confirm with their people,” Maddie replied. “There’s a few magazine interview requests – GQ, Men’s Health – and the usual demands from the British tabloids.”
“They can all bugger off.” He stood up to leave. “Are we done?”
Maddie nodded. “Yeah, all good with me. I’ll email you later.”
“Vin?” He asked his manager.
“I want to bring you up to speed on a new project. I think it could be what you’ve been looking for but the script isn’t completed yet,” he replied.
“Then let’s talk about it when it is.” Dan called over his shoulder as he walked out of the room.
He was desperate to get home. He had been surviving on a few snatched hours of sleep a night for almost a month. Now the film had wrapped he could relax for a few weeks before the press junkets to promote the opening of his latest movie, ‘Catch me when I fall’. He would be attending premieres in six different countries over a two-week period, with TV and radio appearances in each one.
The traffic was unusually light for downtown LA and he was back home in the Hollywood Hills in no time. The electric gates swung open and he wound up the driveway towards his house. It was a modern, white-washed mansion set in five acres of lush grounds dotted with palm trees and a stunning array of colourful blooms. There was a vast swimming pool, a tennis court, and a movie screening room. The interior was sleek, modern and masculine.
Dan sighed as he walked through the front door. He missed England, and his family and friends, but he had made a good life for himself in LA. Along with Vinnie, his agent, he had a great team around him – Ken Kennedy, his personal manager; Maddie, his publicist; and Coby McBride, his incredibly camp but efficient PA. He had grown close to a few other actors and industry bods, but he still hankered for home.
He grabbed a beer from the fridge in the kitchen, kicked off his shoes and flopped down on the sofa with the television remote control in hand. After a few seconds of channel surfing he found the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon and settled back against the deep-filled cushions to soak up a taste of home. The day’s action was being covered in the highlights show and he was struggling to stay awake to watch. As his eyes were closing he caught a glimpse of the presenter and was immediately struck by her luminous on-screen presence.
“Hello, beautiful,” he muttered before finally succumbing to his exhaustion.
CHAPTER4
“You look amazing,” Georgiana said as she hugged Olivia. “Did you have a lovely time?”
“It was complete bliss.” Olivia had a faraway, dreamy look in her eyes.
Georgiana grinned. “That good, eh?”
“I know the doctor said it wasn’t good to fly at this stage of the pregnancy but I’m so glad we did. The villa was in the middle of nowhere and it was so beautiful. We didn’t want to come back.” She sighed and smiled to herself.
“If it hadn’t been for wanting our baby to be born here we would have stayed forever,” Sebastian said as he followed Olivia into the Manor. “It was very special.”
He dropped the bags, pulled Olivia into his arms and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.
“Oh God,” Georgiana groaned, and covered her eyes.” You two make me sick.”
“Just you wait,” Olivia laughed. “When the right man comes along you’ll feel the same.”
“She’s too young to settle down.” Sebastian was disapproving. There was a fifteen-year age gap between him and Georgiana. “There’s a whole world out there she needs to see before she ties herself down to some unworthy chap.”
“Oh, don’t you worry,” Georgiana grinned. “I have no intention of finding Mr Right. I’m having way too much fun for that.”
“I don’t want to know.” Sebastian shook his head and walked across the hall towards the kitchen.
“He’s only being protective,” Olivia whispered, making sure Sebastian was out of earshot. “So, what’s been going on while we’ve been away? Any gossip?”
“Dunno.” Georgiana shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve mostly been in London the last three weeks, two of those at Wimbledon.”
“Yes, we watched you every night. You were just brilliant. We’re both so proud of you darling.” Olivia’s eyes welled with tears. “Sorry, it’s the hormones. I’m crying at everything at the moment.”
“Well, we’ll have to see if we can get Sebastian a sponsorship deal with Kleenex then, won’t we?” Georgiana joked. “Let’s go and have supper. Hattie’s laid on a feast. I think she’s been missing having anyone to cook for, although I had noticed the dogs and horses are looking slightly more rotund than when I left.”
“Where is Hattie, anyway?” Olivia asked.
“She muttered something about needing some herb or another and dashed off,” Georgiana replied.
Sebastian was opening a bottle of wine when Hattie returned. “Hello gorgeous,” he crossed the room and kissed her on the cheek.
Hattie giggled and swatted him away. “Sorry. Had to get some rosemary from the farm shop, ours has some kind of disease. Well, don’t you both look well!” She smiled and gave Olivia a warm hug. “How’s the little one?”
“He’s fine. Cooking along quite nicely,” Olivia grinned and ran her hands over her swollen belly.
“She,” Sebastian corrected Olivia. “It’s a girl.”
“I don’t know why you don’t want to find out the sex,” Georgiana said. “Everyone else does these days. Makes painting the nursery a whole lot easier.”
“We don’t want to know,” Sebastian said. “We want it to be a surprise.”
“Well we’ll find out soon enough,” Olivia rubbed her belly again and was rewarded with a kick from deep within.
During dinner Georgiana quietly took her family in. She loved being with them in her ancestral home - they weren’t together enough, she thought. There was so much laughter and joy that echoed throughout the ancient building these days that it was a wonderful place to be.
She was delighted that her brother and Olivia had found each other after experiencing such misery with their previous partners. Looking at them, she knew she wanted to find the same all-consuming love that they had.
CHAPTER5
“I’m sorry Mr Hampton, but we can’t reach Camilla right now,” a faint voice crackled down the phone line. “Do you want to leave a message? She’s due back in a week or so.”
“A week? Bloody hell, woman, I could have died and been buried in that time,” a slightly deaf Edward Hampton, owner of the ultra-exclusive Riverside Golf and Country Club, shouted down the line. “Yes, all right then. Please ask her to kindly call her father when she has a chance between single-handedly saving the starving population of Africa and negotiating peace in the Congo.” He didn’t wait for a response.
“Bloody do-gooders,” Edward muttered. He struggled out of the chair behind the vast mahogany desk in his office overlooking the first hole of Riverside’s championship golf course. He was advancing in years and wanted to get out of the club while he still had some life left. At seventy-six, Edward was a shadow of the man who had once rowed Oxford Blues before taking over the family business, but he could still command a room. He had thick white hair, crinkly sparkling blue eyes, and a tanned, ruddy complexion that told of a lifetime outdoors.
A widower, Edward had been alone since the passing of his beloved wife, Pamela, seventeen years previously from ‘surgical complications’. His daughter, Camilla, had dealt with her grief by signing up as an aid worker, disappearing off to Africa almost the moment the funeral had ended. Her brother, David, had joined the army. A month into David’s first tour of Iraq his patrol vehicle hit an IED and he was killed instantly. Camilla returned to Appleton Vale for David’s funeral and had not been seen there since.
Quite why she had abandoned her father so completely was a mystery to Edward. They hadn’t fallen out, and as far as he was aware there simply was no other reason for her turning her back on him. He had been trying to get in touch with her for a month now, and even though he was positive what her response would be, he still felt he needed to tell her about his decision to sell The Riverside and retire gracefully. She wouldn’t want the club, it would only be a burden to her, an outrageous example of capitalism gone mad in her eyes.
The Riverside had been in Edward’s family for six hundred years. It was a three thousand-acre sporting estate with a magnificent and commanding mansion in the middle of its land. Hidden behind row upon row of trees, bushes and ancient walls, the main entrance was accessed through forbidding wrought-iron gates that shielded the ultra-exclusive club from the rest of the world. The club’s crest, a golden eagle, had been fashioned into the gates and there were raised flowerbeds either side studded with immaculate topiary.
As well as the eighteen-hole championship golf course, there was a tennis complex that had been cleverly developed using several ancient outbuildings as indoor courts, with a further six all-weather outdoor courts and a pavilion.
Inside the mansion there were luxurious locker rooms, sumptuous lounges and a billiards room. There was also a Michelin-starred restaurant, a more relaxed club house lounge, a wood-panelled bar, and a covered terrace that swept the length of the rear of the house overlooking the gardens and the final hole of the golf course.
Edward loved The Riverside but he was ready to move on and he had run out of time. Caleris Global was pushing him for an answer and he was ready to give it. The Riverside Golf and Country Club was indeed for sale.
CHAPTER6
“We’ll be landing in forty minutes, Mr Clayton,” the stewardess informed him. “Is there anything I can get for you? Coffee? Breakfast?”
“No. Thank you, Sheila. What are you gonna do with your time in London?” he enquired. Shelia had been looking after Wyatt on his private jet for more than five years along with her husband, Chip, who was the plane’s pilot.
“Windsor Castle this time, sir. We never quite seem to get out of town when we’re here,” she replied.
“That’s because we’re never here long enough,” he smiled. “I’m glad to be so accommodating this time.” Sheila smiled warmly and headed back towards the flight deck.
He leaned back in his leather seat and stared out of the window, watching the lush green fields and rolling countryside of England creep into view. Forty-two-year-old Wyatt Clayton was tall, lean and blonde, with a charming dimple right in the middle of his chin. His eyes were cobalt blue and his mouth was set in a permanent, almost mocking grin. He was the epitome of the all-American hero.
Born and raised in a Texan trailer park, he had fought tooth and nail to get away from his abusive father and make something of himself. Almost a quarter of a century later, he was founder and CEO of one of the largest property acquisition companies in the world – Athos.
He had never been married - although he had come close with his most recent ex-girlfriend, Ashley - and had no children. His focus had been on making a ton of money and a success of his life. He had a reputation as a playboy in America but he didn’t care. He liked female company and had a voracious appetite in the bedroom.
His money, looks and power made him one of America’s most eligible bachelors, but he had a ruthless, mean streak that made him dangerous to get tangled up with - in business or pleasure.
He glanced at his emails one more time, checking to see if his right-hand-man, Bobby Garnett, had sent through the contracts for a huge chunk of land in Montana he had recently purchased.
Bobby had not let him down. The contracts were in order, approved by his legal team, and ready for his signature.
Another email caught his eye. It was from Emily Delevigne at Caleris Global – a company he had recently hired for its expertise in commercial property acquisitions in the UK.
Mr Clayton,
I’m pleased to inform you that I have found several properties that meet with your requirements.
I have attached the particulars for your perusal, and look forward to discussing them with you on Thursday.
Kind regards,
Emily Delevigne
He didn’t need to look at them. There was only one property he was interested in and he had hand-picked Caleris, and in particular Emily Delevigne, because of it.
He had purposefully flown through the night to make the most of his time in England - his schedule was tightly packed. As well as his meetings with Caleris Global, he had a handful of investors to woo and a couple of dinners to attend. He had also somehow managed to squeeze in a visit to his tailor on Savile Row - a biannual necessity.
The jet touched down at Farnborough private airport precisely on schedule, and Wyatt’s driver was waiting to collect him at the VIP arrivals suite. An hour later, he was in his hotel in London standing under a steaming shower washing the flight off his weary body. He was in fantastic shape, still as fit as he had been in his twenties thanks to a strict regime of running and working out. His appetite for business was unending and he was still as hungry for success as he had been all those years ago. However, it seemed like every new project came with even bigger issues than the last, and it was a constant battle to cross the finish line.
“This is gonna be one hell of a fight,” he muttered.
CHAPTER7
“Mr Clayton? I’m Emily Delevigne.” Emily walked across the lobby with her hand outstretched. “Welcome to Caleris Global. Did you have a good trip over?”
Wyatt shook her hand. “Yeah, it wasn’t too bad. Let’s get right down to it. Show me what you got.” He followed her into the lift that took them to her fifth-floor office.
They sat down and Emily pushed a small pile of documents across the desk. “This is the one you’re going to be most interested in, I think,” she tapped the top of the pile. “It has everything you asked for. It’s an old, impressive building, with an excellent reputation, fantastic facilities, a great deal of privacy, and some very, very rich members. It has been in the same family for many generations.”
Wyatt smiled. He knew a whole lot more about The Riverside Golf and Country Club than he was ever going to let on. The property Emily had earmarked was one he and his investors had wanted for a very long time, but it had always been out of his grasp – until now.
Emily continued: “It’s not even on the open market yet. It’s somewhere I’m already rather familiar with as my closest friend lives in the same area and her husband is a high-profile member of the club.”
“And?” Wyatt narrowed his eyes.
“And I think there may be a little local opposition to your plans. But I’m sure that’s nothing new for you.” Emily had done her research. Wyatt had fought many battles in the cutthroat commercial property market and had a reputation for being one of the most ruthless businessmen in the world. Nothing ever got in his way.
Wyatt studied the brochure for a few minutes, and then flicked through the details of the other properties Emily had matched to his requirements. He returned to the first.
“No. This is the one. Get into it and report directly to me next week when I’m back in the States. I’m flying to China tomorrow afternoon. I’ve got big plans for this place, so the members can either get on board or find another club.” Wyatt stood up to leave. He kept his meetings brief and to the point. “I’ll expect a detailed report, I don’t want any surprises.”
After Wyatt had left her office, Emily picked up the phone and dialled Olivia’s number. She answered almost immediately.
“How spooky, I was just about to call you,” Olivia laughed.
“How are you feeling?” Emily asked.
“Fat and revolting,” Olivia replied with a sigh.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve looked amazing throughout the whole bloody pregnancy.” Emily laughed. “Is it ok if I come down for a few days? Is Sebastian home or away?”
“God yes, get yourself down here immediately. He’s playing in the Irish Open and he promised Rory he’d go to help with a charity thing. I didn’t have the heart to ask him to stick around just to keep me amused, but I’m dying of boredom. You’ll be a most welcome guest.”
“I’ll head straight down after work, so should be with you by supper time. Oh, that’s my call waiting. Got to go, see you later.” Emily rang off.
In Appleton Vale, Olivia hung up the phone and waddled towards the kitchen. The baby was due in a couple of weeks and she couldn’t relax or get comfortable. No-one had been more surprised when she and Sebastian had found out they were expecting a baby. It had most certainly not been in their immediate plans. Delighted as they both were, a tiny part of Olivia wished that they could have had more time to be just the two of them.
Everything had happened so quickly - her life over the past few years had been a whirlwind. She had arrived in Appleton Vale to ghost-write Sebastian’s autobiography two years ago and had never left. Sebastian had been at his very lowest and on the verge of self-destruction when they met, having seen his game, his reputation and his personal life torn apart by the tragic loss of his first wife Ellie and her daughter Lizzie. He had fallen in disgrace from the very top of the world golf rankings, and his status as a one-time global sports icon had altered so dramatically that he had become poison to all but a few close friends.
Meeting Olivia had turned things around for him. They had an undeniable attraction from the start, but it took months for either of them to realise that they had fallen in love, and many more to actually admit it. Sebastian had bared his soul in a daring ‘Piers Morgan Life Stories’ interview in a bid to capture her heart. It worked, and just days later he triumphed in The Open Championship - his fallen star was restored.
Sebastian continued to mine his rich vein of form, fighting his way back to World number one, much to the delight of his fans around the globe. He won a third US Masters title in April, bringing his Majors total to five, and firmly re-established himself as the best in the game.
By contrast, his wedding to Olivia had been a quiet affair, with only a handful of close friends and family invited to Appleton Manor for a beautiful service in the grounds of the estate. It had been an unseasonably warm October morning, with the sun low in the sky and leaves dancing on the trees, when they had promised to love and honour each other for the rest of their days.
And now, as Olivia eased her heavily pregnant body onto one of the chairs around the battered pine kitchen table, the back door opened and Georgiana came bounding in with Lady at her heels.
“Morning, Liv, any movement?” Georgiana asked as she was ambushed by Hector and Ace.
“If one more person asks me that I’m going to explode,” Olivia snapped. “Don’t you think I’d tell you if it were time?” She rubbed her belly and sighed.
“Ok, no need to bite my head off,” Georgiana rolled her eyes and patted the dogs. “Sebastian wants an hourly update, you know what he’s like.”
“Well he shouldn’t have bloody well gone away then.” Olivia yelled in frustration.
Georgiana pulled a chair up alongside Olivia and took her hand, “I know it’s hard with him being away, but to be fair, you were the one who pushed him to go so you can’t really complain.”
“God I’m sorry, I’m being a bitch. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m supposed to be all happy and relaxed, and I’m anything but.” She sniffed into a tissue.
Georgiana gave Olivia a hug and got up to turn the kettle on.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, it’s just your hormones. How about a nice cup of tea and some of Hattie’s ginger cake?”
“Don’t you have better things to do than babysit me?” Olivia smiled weakly.
“No. You’re the family priority right now. I have to be at the yard for the farrier in an hour, and then I’m off to London for a production meeting and staying the night. Hattie will be back from Fiddlebury by then to take over.”
“Take over? You make it sound like I need a constant nursemaid.” Olivia’s attempt at a joke sounded hollow.
“Don’t be silly. The baby could come any day now, and the last thing you need to be is alone. Sebastian will go nuts if one of us isn’t with you if it happens while he’s away, and none of us wants to incur that particular wrath.” She rolled her eyes.
“Well you don’t need to worry, Emily’s coming down tonight. She’ll be here for supper.”
“That’s nice, shame I’ll miss her,” Georgiana replied as she stuffed a large chunk of cake into her mouth. “I’m meeting some friends at The Duke.”
“Christopher?” Olivia couldn’t keep up with her sister-in-law’s prolific dating.
“Nah, dumped him last month,” she grinned. “He was way too needy, I just want to have a bit of fun.”
Olivia laughed. “Don’t let Sebastian hear you say that again. He just can’t handle the thought of you dating.”
Georgiana shrugged her shoulders and flashed a cheeky smile. “What’s he going to do about it?”
“So, who’s the new lucky man then?” Olivia was keen to find out more.
“There isn’t one, yet!” Georgiana laughed. “Let’s just say I’m open to offers for someone to sweep me off my feet.”
“That sounds exciting. I doubt Sebastian could even lift me up right now, let alone sweep me off my swollen feet.” Olivia looked down at her feet and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about, silly,” Georgiana said. “He’s one hundred per cent in love with you, he worships the ground you walk on. Wait till the baby comes, he’ll be showering you with gifts. Ooh, maybe even some enormous diamonds,” she grinned.
Olivia laughed. “You mercenary little so-and-so.”
“Just saying.” Georgiana raised an eyebrow.
“Just saying what?” Hattie asked as she struggled through the kitchen door with a dozen shopping bags.
“Nothing you need to know,” Georgiana giggled, and jumped up to help her.
“Oh deary me, that was an effort,” Hattie puffed. “I’ve never seen Fiddlebury so busy for a Tuesday. I got those bits you wanted Olivia, although I’m still failing to understand quite how bananas, caramel syrup, ham and fried onions can blend together to form anything even remotely edible.”
“Trust me, it’s satisfying every craving I have right now.” Olivia began delving in the bags for something else to eat.
“Bloody hell, you’ve just had two slices of cake. How many are you eating for?” Georgiana instantly regretted her joke when Olivia shot her an evil look.
Olivia sighed. “I look revolting anyway so what’s another few pounds? Maybe that’s why Sebastian was so keen to get away from me?”
“Now you’re just being ridiculous,” Georgiana retorted. “He didn’t even want to go - you pushed him. If you want him here, just call him. He’s got the jet on standby and he’ll be here in a flash.” Olivia’s fluctuating hormones were starting to jar. “Now, stop being so bloody obtuse and go and relax. Read a book, take the dogs for a stroll, do something, anything,” she urged.
Hattie backed her up. “Yes, why don’t you go and relax in the study and I’ll bring you some more tea.”
“I’m pregnant, not a bloody invalid,” Olivia snapped and waddled out of the room. leaving Hattie and Georgiana looking at each other and rolling their eyes.
CHAPTER8
It was nearing midnight in the ultra-exclusive private members club The Duke in Knightsbridge, and Georgiana was thoroughly enjoying herself.
The Duke had been open a year and Georgiana had been a frequent visitor since its launch. She liked the atmosphere. The average age of the membership was thirty-five which created a young and vibrant feel. It was, however, designed and furnished in the style of a traditional gentlemen’s club with ornate wood panelling, sweeping staircases and beautiful art-deco lighting and furniture. The basement had been turned into a nightclub, dimly lit with private booths dotted around the edges of the room, and a gleaming mirrored bar running the length of one wall.
The eyes of every red-blooded man in the club were fixed on Georgiana. Oblivious to the attention she was attracting, she whirled around the dance floor, her moves perfectly in time with each pulsating beat. In four-inch Louboutins and an impossibly tight dress that barely skimmed the top of her thighs, her outfit left nothing to the imagination.
“A real little firecracker, isn’t she?” JJ Proctor nodded in Georgiana’s direction and grinned at Wyatt.
“You don’t say.” Wyatt had his eye on the raven-haired beauty dancing with utter abandonment. He knew exactly who she was.
“Georgiana Bloom. Baby sister of Sebastian Bloom, the golfer. Christ, she’s hot.” JJ was almost drooling.
“Yeah,” Wyatt watched as she floated off the dance floor towards the bar.
“They both lucked out in the beauty stakes, huh? She’s the new darling of BBC Sport.” JJ said. “Would you like to meet her?”
“Sure thing,” Wyatt replied.
JJ and Georgiana were on first name terms, both having spent more time in The Duke than either would care to admit. He was also Olivia’s best friend Emily’s boss. He cornered Georgiana at the bar where she was chatting to a group of friends.
“Georgiana, please excuse me, but I have a friend who’s interested in making your acquaintance. May I bring him over?”
“Hey, JJ. You and I really have to stop meeting like this, people will talk,” she laughed and took a sip of champagne. Glancing over his shoulder she locked eyes with Wyatt and was instantly drawn to him. “Sure, bring him over. The more the merrier.” She was attempting to sound nonchalant but her stomach was churning. The way the incredibly attractive stranger was looking at her was unnerving.
JJ beckoned for Wyatt to join them.
“Georgiana Bloom, may I introduce you to Wyatt Clayton.”
Wyatt stepped forward and offered her his hand in greeting. “Charmed to meet you, Ms Bloom.”
“Oh please, call me Georgiana,” The second their hands touched her heart skipped a beat. “And what brings you to our shores, Wyatt?”
“I’m here for business, but I may just stay for you.” He amped up the charm, fully aware of her immediate attraction to him.
Georgiana gulped and was lost for words. She fiddled with the hem of her dress, finding it impossible to look at him.
“Let me buy you a drink. I’d like to get to know you better. Come with me.” He took her hand in his and led her to a booth away from prying eyes where he knew he would have her full attention.
Once inside the booth he closed the privacy screen, sat down and turned to face her.
“You’re the most goddamned beautiful woman I’ve ever had the fortune to meet,” he said, unabashed. “You’ve stirred up something crazy in me, baby.”
Georgiana blushed and hung her head to hide her embarrassment.
“Look at me,” Wyatt urged. “Don’t be afraid, I’m not gonna hurt you.”
“I’m not afraid,” she whispered. “I’m just a little shocked.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I’ve never felt like this before. I mean, I don’t even know you, yet I’m so drawn to you.”
“Me too, sugar.” Wyatt was playing with her.
She grinned and took a large gulp of champagne.
“I don’t just want your body, but it’ll do for starters.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
An hour later they were still locked in conversation, oblivious to the world around them. Georgiana’s friends and JJ had called it a night, and now they were alone.
Filling her in on his past, Wyatt told her: “My daddy was a real son of a bitch, but grandpa was a different story.” He smiled as he remembered the kindness grandpa Clayton had bestowed on him. “He said he knew I had it in me to be better, do better, and I owe a helluva lot of my success to him. I reckon he was pretty bummed out by his loser son and wanted to set me on a different path. By the time I was sixteen he’d saved every spare dime he had to give me a way outta there, and boy did I take it.”
“My father isn’t much better,” Georgiana stated, taking another large gulp of champagne to steady her nerves. “He did a runner when my mother died and is now the founder of some weird cult masquerading as a yoga retreat in Bali.” She rolled her eyes and Wyatt burst out laughing.
“A cult? What’s their M.O?’ He teased Georgiana and was rewarded with a dazzling smile.
