Blinded by Desire
Arabella Sheen
Back Cover Copy
Is Jason ready to give love a chance, and can he capture Beth’s heart?
Jason Andre is a successful billionaire architect who thinks he can get what he wants when he wants.
Beth Ashton is a feisty redhead with an up-and-coming career as a landscape designer. And she wants nothing to do with Jason.
From the outset, sparks fly between them. She excites him and he infuriates her.
When Jason’s light aircraft crashes and he loses his sight, Beth steps in and does exactly what she promised she wouldn’t do…she works for him.
Are Beth and Jason destined to love or is passion and desire the only thing on offer?
Chapter Two - Excerpt 5
Beth eased her crushed hand from Jason’s powerful grip and
slowly began flexing her numb fingers back into life.
Her eyes travelled up the length of his white shirt to his
bronzed, tanned face, and their eyes locked. She was captured, mesmerised by
his gaze. She was falling, diving fathoms into their deep, dark, depths while
wanting only to escape from his intense, penetrating scrutiny.
“I hadn’t expected a woman,” Jason explained.
Beth’s thoughts were jerked back to the present. “And now
that you know Ashton Landscaping is run by me…are you disappointed, Mr. Andre?”
She’d meant her cutting remarks to hit home, and they had.
Jason smiled. But it
wasn’t a smile of friendship. It was more like a smile of cautious warning. And
then he said, “The tigress has claws, and they are sharp claws. Almost as sharp
as her tongue. But how could any man be disappointed with you, Miss Ashton?”
Beth felt Jason’s gaze travel the length of her body from the
top of her head to her elegantly clad feet. She’d been examined, assessed, and stripped all in one go.
The atmosphere was tense, and with the friction growing
between Beth was thankful when Sophie stepped in to break the strain of the
moment.
“I’m sure dinner is nearly ready to be served. Shall we go
through to the dining room?” And then, in the style of a perfect hostess,
Sophie ushered everyone toward the door.
Entering the dining room, Beth was impressed. A long,
hardwood table dressed to precision, held centre place. Soft light from the
candles shone onto the crisp, white table cloth and the polished silverware.
Everything sparkled. And while a log fire burnt bright in the hearth, a warm
heat was being thrown out.
It was a typical English country house setting, and during
the evening, Charles played the eloquent host, allowing Sophie to entertain her
guests faultlessly.
When the meal was nearly finished, Jason set down his knife
and fork and turned to Beth. Instinct told her that he was about to make his move.
Throughout dinner, everyone had talked pleasantries, chatting
about the latest films they had seen or the most recent book they had read. But
when coffee was served, conversation turned to business.
“Have you been at Clifton Hall long, Miss Ashton?” Jason
asked.
“About three months,” she explained. “Staying in the lodge
house has been ideal and really convenient. Depending on the size of a project
it makes life a lot easier for everyone if I’m on site while landscaping.”
Charles had reached across the table and was busy refilling
everyone’s liqueur glass from the decanter. “Having Beth staying in our guest
house allows her to come and go as she pleases…day or night,” Charles said.
Beth was on the alert. Was Charles implying something? Day or Night! What did he mean by that?
Was there supposed to be a double connotation behind his innuendo? If Beth
found her host’s words offensive…she
wondered what Jason and Sophie were thinking.
“I prefer to be on base, or at least as near as possible, if
I’m working on a project.” For some reason, Beth felt the need to clarify.
Especially after what Charles had just said. Then, lifting her glass to her
lips, she took a sip of the creamy, whisky liqueur. “I usually rent a house for
the duration of a project, but while I’ve been at Clifton Hall, the guest house
has been ideal. However, now that the landscaping is more or less complete, I
really ought to be getting back to my own home in Devon.”
On hearing Beth say she was thinking of leaving, Sophie
became agitated. “But my dear, you can’t go just yet. The flower beds have to
be planted, and then there’s the rockery.”
“My team’s quite capable of completing any jobs that remain
to be done. And with no real reason for me to stay longer, that leaves me free
to move on to my next project.”
Jason swirled his warmed brandy in the glass.
“So, you will be free to take on my garden project…if
I should offer you the opportunity to design for me?”
In one massive rush, a sinking feeling came over Beth and hit
her in the pit of her stomach. She realised she’d fallen into Jason’s trap. She
had told him she was fully booked, and unable to take on extra work. And now,
she’d just said that when she left Clifton Hall, she would be free to take on
more projects.
“I’m afraid not, Mr. Andre. There’s still work to finish off
here and I have other clients on my waiting list. My services are needed
elsewhere.”
Charles unexpectedly reached across the table and covered
Beth’s hand with his.
Beth was surprised by Charles’s action.
“Yes, we still need Beth’s services,” Charles said,
ambiguously. “So, there’s every reason for Beth to remain at Clifton Hall.
Isn’t there, my dear?”
His words were suggestive, and Beth felt her cheeks burning
with a shameful embarrassment. She didn’t know exactly what Charles was
implying, but what was worse, was that his wife was sitting at the same table,
listening. What must Sophie be thinking?
Endeavouring not to draw attention to herself, Beth began
pulling her hand away from beneath Charles’s, but he wasn’t letting go. And
then she was too late. Jason had seen what had happened.
His eyes were like daggers as he looked across the table
toward her. It wasn’t a kind look. A dark eyebrow was raised cynically, and as
his gaze fixed intently on her hand still gripped tightly in Charles’s, she
inwardly cringed. With Jason’s penetrating eyes focused upon her, fearful
shivers of dread ran along her spine.
For no logical reason she could think of, she felt a sense of
panic. But she had nothing to be afraid of…or had she? There was nothing to
hide. And no matter how it might look, she wasn’t having an affair with
Charles. Nothing was happening between them.
Whatever Jason might think, she had no reason to feel
ashamed. But inexplicably, she did. And when Beth looked at Sophie, and could
see the hurt showing on Sophie’s face, she felt mortified. Innocently, and
without meaning to be, she knew she was the cause of that pain.
Beth had no intention of hurting Sophie, and she would never
consider having a relationship with her friend’s husband…or any other married
man.
When Beth first met Charles, she’d suspected he was a bit of
a Casanova. He was the type. The sort that looked at a lady and wanted more
than what was on offer. But until now, Charles had never tried anything on with
her. Beth had kept her distance and had held him at bay.
Perhaps this evening, things had changed because he was
trying to compete with Jason for the limelight. But for whatever reason,
Charles was coming on strong, and she didn’t like it.
She didn’t like his attentiveness, and she didn’t like being
used by any man to make a point.
Eventually, and with some semblance of dignity, she managed
to retrieve her hand, but she could still feel Jason’s eyes locked on her. He
was staring with a look of pure revulsion.
“Jason, do tell us what your plans are for this weekend.”
Sophie had broken the awkward silence caused by her husband.
Jason tore his eyes away from Beth, and looked at his sister.
“If Miss Ashton’s available, tomorrow, I’d like to show her
the layout of the villa in Greece. I need
her opinion on the gardens. That is…if she’s not too busy with Charles!”
The sarcasm and derision in his voice was coming fast and
hard.
As Jason spoke, his eyes had moved from Beth to Charles and
back again. He was making a point, and his message was coming across loud and
clear.
Jason was waiting for an answer.
Beth didn’t know what to say, and felt she was being backed
into a corner. She didn’t like the man, and she had absolutely no intention of
working for him.
Sounding smug, Charles announced, “Jason, I’m afraid you
might be disappointed about your plans for the weekend. I’m taking Beth out.”
The silence in the room was deafening. It was as if a bomb
had dropped.
For a moment Jason said nothing. His teeth were clenched
together and a pulse could be seen visibly throbbing along his jawline. He was
controlling his rage.
“Really?” Jason replied.
Charles looked triumphant. “I’m surprising Beth. We’re going to
a horticultural show tomorrow. Last week, she told me she wanted to go to the
show in Middleford.”
Beth was amazed Charles would dare suggest such a thing.
“Charles no…everyone knew I was planning to go home, to
Devon. I can’t go with you. I’ve only stayed at Clifton Hall this weekend
because Sophie has asked me to see Jason.”
“I’m sure my brother-in-law won’t mind if you looked at his
project another time. Will you, Jason?”
Jason drummed his fingers rapidly on the white tablecloth.
“No, that’s fine. I’ve nothing urgent to discuss with Miss Ashton, either
tomorrow, or any other time.”
Jason’s voice was casual. Too casual.
There was a surface anger in his tone, and his rage was
evident for all to see. But the fury wasn’t directed toward Charles, it was aimed
at Beth.
Beth felt threatened. So much so, that she almost got up from
the table with the intention of leaving the room. All she wanted to do was
escape from Clifton Hall and travel, if need be, in the darkness of the night,
to the security of her own home in Devon.
For some peculiar reason, Charles’s behaviour was annoying
Jason, and Jason was fuming about the apparent set-up at Clifton Hall. Things
weren’t working out to his liking.
“Of course Beth can go to the show. The project’s not that
important,” Jason said offhandedly, as if indifferent. “Beth doesn’t have to
work for me.”
He sounded bored with the whole subject, but she suspected he
wasn’t. He was playing cat and mouse. He had a threatening steely glint in his
eye and she knew he could ruin her business if he wished to. And although she
didn’t want to work for him, she didn’t want to take the chance and lose her
business reputation. And Jason could ruin her at the drop of a hat. All he had
to do was spread the work and she would be finished as a landscape gardener.
Feeling defeated and beaten, and with her pride about to take
a bashing, Beth realised she had to make an effort and save Ashton
Landscaping’s good name.
Unwaveringly, she made a decision.
“Charles, my business obligations are very important to me.
Mr. Andre has been kind enough to―”
When she had said Jason’s name, he had raised a hand, and
stopped her in mid flow.
“It’s Jason. And if you’re going work for me, sooner
or later you’re going to have to call me Jason.”
Work for him!
She had no intention of working for this arrogantly
conceited, obnoxious man, but she realised it wouldn’t do for her to make an
enemy of him either. She wasn’t going anywhere near his project, at any price.
Looking Jason straight in the eye, she carefully repeated his
name.
“Jason…” she said softly, and the stiff, sugar sweet
smile, she forced onto her lips hurt. “I’m sorry Charles, but Jason is here on
business, and business always has to come first.”
It would be pointless for her to look at Jason’s blueprints,
but if she refused, it might appear she had other plans. Plans of an illicit,
clandestine nature with his sister’s husband. And she couldn’t have Jason, or
Sophie, think she was willing to spend the day with Charles.
“Is nine o’clock in the library alright for you, Jason?”
She had burned her bridges.
“Yes. Nine’s fine,” And strangely for once, it looked as if Jason felt no jubilation in getting what he
wanted.
Beth wondered if he had considered her wishes, or suspected
she might have preferred to visit the horticultural show instead, but it was only a fleeting thought. Deep
down, she knew he wouldn’t have cared for her needs, at least, not at the
expense of his desires.
Then when, Charles pulled out her chair and took her arm, she
knew any possible consideration Jason might have felt for her had vanished.
Derision was etched on his face.
“I’m afraid it’s early to bed for you, Beth. If you have to
be up at the crack of dawn to work, you’ll need your beauty sleep.” Charles,
without waiting for Beth’s consent, started steering her toward the door. “Come
on, I’ll walk you home. It seems you have a busy morning ahead of you.”
“Charles there’s no need for you to see me home. I’m not
likely to get mugged in your grounds, am
I? And there’s no need for you to leave Sophie or Mr. Andre at the dinner
table. Stay and finish your meal, please. I can find my way back to the lodge,
but thanks all the same.”
Beth hurriedly said goodnight, and with the three of them
staring after her in amazement, she left the
room. But not before she’d heard Charles say, “I think to be on the safe side,
I’ll walk Beth to the guest house. I ought to be back before you’ve finished
your coffee. I shouldn’t be too long. But if I’m delayed…don’t wait up.”
Beth could only imagine the humiliation Sophie must be
feeling, and the revulsion that would be showing on Jason’s face as he mumbled,
“So that’s how things are.”
Blinded by Desire
Copyright © 2012 by – Arabella Sheen
ISBN: 9780957569829
Publisher: priceplacebooks
Electronic Publication: May 2012
Cover: Fantasia Frog Designs
eBooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
UNIVERSAL BUY LINKS: https://books2read.com/u/4NQXno
Arabella Sheen Website: http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/
About Arabella Sheen
Arabella Sheen is a British author of contemporary romance and likes nothing more than the challenge of starting a new novel with fresh ideas and inspiring characters.
One of the many things Arabella loves to do is to read. And when she’s not researching or writing about romance, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she is curled on the sofa with a book, while pandering to the demands of her attention seeking cat.
Having lived and worked in the Netherlands as a theatre nurse for nearly twenty years, she now lives in the south west of England with her family.
Arabella hopes her readers have as much pleasure from her romance stories as she has in writing them.
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