Page 17 (1/2)

Prologue

“It’s going to be a tough Christmas for someone”

No one knew if Dana Black, editor in chief of Hard Neas joking or not A “tough Christmas” could be a euphemism for an interview conducted over Christmas in Barbados, which Dana would keep for herself Equally, it could ned, and the manufacturers wanted it tested on the tundra Seated at the back of the ues, all of wholy contented, as if the statement Dana Black had made was meant for someone else

Someone called Amber?

A couple of Alanced at her with sympathy She replied with a don’t-worry-about-me smile It was no secret that Ah the usual cub reporter’s trial-by-crap assignments, which meant if a lousy job came up, hers was the first name out of the hat

But as that’s what I’m here for…

“Alexei Riga…”

When Dana announced this and brought up a new fraiant screen, Aed into a power socket This was definitely her assignment She would kill to keep it

“Billionaire playboy polo player—” Dana had to pause to get her team’s attention as everyone had been distracted by the titan on horseback “At least, that’s e’re supposed to believe, but I think there’s so on in Alexei’s life”

There was certainly a lust stor around the female office staff as they studied the steely-eyed Russian This first close-up of Alexei Riga had stunned the entire tealadiator with a face hard enough to crack rock, the Russian oligarch looked like a erous? Oh yes In every way there was, Amber concluded as her sex-starved body clenched repeatedly with approval Who wouldn’t want a shot atice?

“Aht interest you…”

Several disgruntled heads swiveled Aled out

Dana was the best in the business, and the entire team wanted to come to her attention Dana was the ative journalist The editor was a hard task if she didn’t finish with some ounds to show for it She wasn’t quite as surprised as everyone else that Dana had thought of her for this assignment, as Ah she hadn’t expected to dig her way out of the Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched column quite so fast

“Here is Alexei side his teammates in the top-ranked Blood and Thunder polo teaood so far,” Dana allowed, “but several tirid, and no one see That’s what I need to find out I want to dive into this story and dig out all the dirt Who can give me what I want?”

Amber didn’t hesitate “I can”

“Yes You’d be an excellent choice,” Dana agreed

Ignoring the murmur of interest that ran around the room, Amber confirmed, “I fit the brief I can ride We have horses on the farues “And, as you hinted,” she added, directing this comment to Dana Black, as the only person in the room to have seen Amber’s full CV, “I do have some other useful skills—”

“Cooking?” one wag called out

“I can cook,” Arew a lot of our own food on the farm”

“Turnips à la carte,” another commented snidely

“I wish you joy of that,” the first co up farm food to so? That should go doell” He laughed unpleasantly

These hly competitive events, and not all those present were Aht as she jotted down every way she’d like to ride Alexei Riga into next week and back, on the pretext of scribbling important notes