Seduced: The Unexpected Virgin. Emily McKay

       ‘I don’t want you falling in love with me and then one day waking up and realizing I’m not the man you wanted me to be.’

      ‘So where does that leave us?’ she asked, her tone tinged with defiance.

      He shrugged. ‘We’ll still work together.’

      ‘I meant where does this leave us personally? You’re convinced I’m some delicate flower who can’t handle being involved with you. But you’re wrong. I can handle anything.’

      He smiled at her bravado. And her choice of words. He should probably just calmly walk away from that innuendo, but, damn it, he couldn’t.

      ‘Am I to assume you want to handle me?’

      Dear Reader,

      It’s always a thrill to work on a continuity. For starters, it’s a huge honour to work with so many of the authors whose work I admire. Working on a continuity also helps me stretch and grow as a writer. For example, the hero of this story, Ward Miller, is a musician. Rock star is not a profession I would have picked for a hero all on my own, yet I ended up having a blast writing about Ward.

      I live near Austin, Texas, which is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. One of my favourite local musicians is a guitarist and singer named Monte Montgomery. When I gave a voice to Ward, it was Monte’s music that I heard in my mind. If you want to hear Ward … um, I mean Monte, check out ‘Love Come Knockin’ ‘ or ‘When Will I.’ They’re all available on iTunes.

      I hope you enjoy this book and the whole continuity. As for me, I can’t wait to read all the books in the series!

       Emily McKay

      About the Author

      EMILY McKAY has been reading romance novels since she was eleven years old. Her first Mills & Boon^® novel came free in a box of Hefty rubbish bags. She has been reading and loving romance novels ever since. She lives in Texas with her geeky husband, her two kids and too many pets. Her debut novel, Baby, Be Mine, was a RITA^® Award finalist for Best First Book and Best Short Contemporary. She was a 2009 RT Book Reviews Career Achievement nominee for Series Romance. You can hang out with her online at the Mills & Boon^® site, JauntyQuills.com or her website, www.EmilyMcKay.com.

      Seduced: The

       Unexpected

       Virgin

      Emily McKay

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      This book is—quite naturally—for all the musicians whose music I love and listen to obsessively in the final stages of writing my books. In particular, Nancy Giffith, for her poignant lyrics and her ability to tell a story with more emotional resonance in three minutes than I can tell in two hundred and forty pages. And Monte Montgomery, for giving a sound and voice to Ward.

      Don’t miss a single book in this series!

      The Takeover

      For better, for worse. For business, for pleasure.

       These tycoons have vowed to have it all!

      Claimed: The Pregnant Heiress by Day Leclaire

      Seduced: The Unexpected Virgin by Emily McKay

      Revealed: His Secret Child by Sandra Hyatt

      Bought: His Temporary Fiancée by Yvonne Lindsay

      Exposed: Her Undercover Millionaire by Michelle Celmer

      Acquired: The CEO’s Small-Town Bride by Catherine Mann

      One

      The last thing Ana Rodriguez needed in her life was another preening, self-indulgent star. Mere weeks ago, she’d walked away from her successful career as a costume designer in Hollywood for precisely that reason. So when her best friend, Emma Worth, had suggested she apply for the job as the director for a charity starting up in her hometown of Vista del Mar, Ana had jumped at the chance.

      A fresh start was just what she needed. Away from the drama of Hollywood. Away from stars who would make her life miserable just because she didn’t put out.

      Since then, she’d found out she’d be working with Ward Miller, a musical superstar who glowed brighter than anyone she’d known in Hollywood. In her experience, the bigger the name, the bigger the ego. Only now, instead of merely dressing the megalomaniac, she had to pander to his every need, listen to his opinions, take his advice and generally make sure he was thrilled to be the celebrity face of the charity, Hannah’s Hope.

      With a critical eye, she scanned the charity’s humble front office. As their mission statement said, they provided “mentoring and resources for disadvantaged individuals.” Which was a fancy way of saying “We help poor people.” In general, Ana wasn’t fond of fancy ways of saying things.

      “You’re stewing,” a friendly voice chided.

      Ana looked over her shoulder to Christi Cox, her assistant director. “I’m not stewing. I’m mulling.”

      Which was just a fancy way of saying “stewing.” Ana uncrossed her arms to toy with the delicate trio of golden loops that comprised her earrings.

      The furnishings of the front room were clean, but strictly utilitarian. Functional worktables supplemented with used chairs and bookshelves she’d picked up on Craigslist. The conference room, offices and kitchen in back were even less chic. She’d sent Omar, Hannah’s Hope’s third employee, out to the grocery store to buy coffee. But she doubted even the most gourmet of brews would impress Miller.

      She’d dressed up the front room as best she could, with some throw pillows, a floor lamp—to soften the glare of overhead fluorescents—and a bright throw rug, all items she’d had at home. They reflected her eclectic style and added a touch of comfort to the room, but no elegance.

      In short, the facilities for Hannah’s Hope looked exactly like what they were: fifty percent meeting space, fifty percent classroom, one hundred percent last, best hope for its clientele. Zero percent schmooze room for spoiled celebrities.

      She couldn’t shake the fear that Miller would walk in here and turn his nose up at all they’d done. But underneath that was a deeper fear. That he’d walk in here, have one conversation with her and realize she was a fraud who lacked the skills to make Hannah’s Hope really soar.

      If anyone could see through her, it was Miller. He wasn’t just a musical god, he was also legendary for his charitable work on behalf of the Cara Miller Foundation, an organization he’d started after the death of his wife. He’d donated and raised countless millions. He sat on the board of more charities than she could count, including the newly formed board of Hannah’s Hope.

      And the truth was, she’d gotten this job only because Emma also sat on the board. Growing up with Emma was practically her sole qualification for being the director of Hannah’s Hope.

      The hopes and dreams of the entire town rested on her shoulders. She didn’t dare let them down. Not when they needed her so desperately.

      Besides, she needed this job. Not just because she’d quit her other one. Not because she’d invested all her savings in a tiny bungalow in one of Vista del Mar’s middle-class neighborhoods. But because after four years of draping fabric and making beautiful people look good, she needed to do something important. She needed to make a difference.

      If only she had more time to get her feet under her before Miller showed up. It was bad enough that she felt so horribly unprepared for this job, why did she have to deal with him so early in her stint as director? Rafe Cameron, the charity’s founder, was an inattentive board member at best.