An Unholy Affair

Her perfect man wasn’t supposed to be a male escort.

Vicar Eveline Shaw has always dreamed of finding ‘the one’, but her job keeps getting in the way. Only one person has ever made her soul sing – a perfect stranger who walked away without a second glance.

Jack Newton has a talent few men have, but his job’s a dirty secret, and as his bank account gets bigger, his heart gets smaller. He left his one chance at happiness at a bar and didn’t look back.

Dragged back to Somerset after a family crisis, Jack discovers his dream woman living in Foxbrooke. But Eveline wants forever, and he’s an escort with no plans to stick around.

As the sparks flying between them ignite into an explosive affair, Jack’s past catches up with him. Now he has to choose: keep running, or risk everything for love?

Turning back to the room, Eveline smiled as she watched Jack and Shirley dance. He’d clearly had lessons at some point as he matched Shirley step for step. When the number finished, Shirley was elbowed out of the way by another woman who stepped with enthusiasm into Jack’s arms.

Eveline edged around the room to where Erica stood.

‘Where did you find him?’ Erica asked. ‘And can we keep him?’

She laughed. ‘He grew up here, but now lives in the south of France.’

‘Explains the tan. Is he here on holiday?’

‘No. His father died last week, so he’s sorting out the funeral, then staying a few more weeks to support his mother and help organise the Manor’s Winter Ball.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. Are you sure he’s got time to help us out?’

‘I think so. He’s very good, so he’ll be far quicker than you or I.’

‘Well, I appreciate you finding him for us.’

The two women lapsed into silence as they watched the couples dancing. Jack was the only man, and every few minutes when the songs changed, a different woman grabbed him.

When he’d danced with every lady present, Shirley took his hand, but this time dragged him over to where she and Erica were standing.

‘Eveline, you need to dance with Jack,’ she said.

‘Me?’ 

‘Oh yes,’ agreed Erica. ‘Good idea, Shirley.’

Eveline caught Jack’s eye. He looked wary.

She lifted the arm that was in a sling. ‘I can’t.’

‘You’ve still got both feet,’ Shirley replied. She turned to Jack. ‘You’ll dance with Eveline, won’t you?’

He hesitated, then nodded. ‘It would be my pleasure.’

The way he said “pleasure” sent a shiver running through her. Was it safe to dance with him? What’s the worst that can happen? You drool?

He bowed deeply and held out his hand. ‘Eveline, may I have this dance?’

She swallowed.

‘Yes, she will,’ Erica said, pushing her towards him. She pressed the remote for the stereo system. ‘Let me just find something a little slower.’

Eveline placed her hand in Jack’s and he drew it forward and placed it on his shoulder, then carefully held her, making sure he wasn’t touching her injured arm.

‘Okay?’ he asked.

She nodded, memories from the bar in London flooding through her. A slow melody played, and he moved them into the room.

‘I don’t know any steps,’ she whispered.

‘You don’t need to,’ he murmured. ‘Just listen and feel.’

Holding his gaze, Eveline let herself slip into a world where there were just the two of them, getting closer and closer until they merged into one. She wasn’t aware of the music, nor the other couples swaying next to them. All she felt was the fire of Jack’s touch and her own deep longing to join her body with his.

How would it feel to kiss him? As if reading her mind, his eyes flicked to her mouth. She sucked in a breath, then ran the tip of her tongue across her lips. His own were parted, his breath coming quicker, as his hands tensed around her waist.

There was a desperate ache of desire between her legs, an urge to feel his body pressed hard against hers. The flecks of gold in his irises seemed to shine even brighter, as his gaze grew darker and more heated. Please… Please…

A loud throat-clearing made her jump. Eveline turned to see Gladys staring at them with gimlet eyes, her face pinched as though she’d been sucking a lemon dipped in battery acid.

A jolt of guilt and hurt shot through her, followed by a quick appraisal of her actions since arriving at Foxbrooke Haven. Had she been inappropriate with Jack?

She glanced at him. For a nanosecond, she could see the tension in his jaw. Then it relaxed, and he smiled. He raised an eyebrow and a nervous thrill ran through her. Before she could ask what he was thinking, he whirled her into the centre of the room. Holding her tightly, he dipped her, his lips so close to hers that his face became blurry.

Then, before she could take a breath, she was righted, and Jack stepped back, giving another bow as people clapped and cheered.

Eveline acknowledged everyone with a brief nod, then dashed to Erica, her cheeks on fire.

‘So, shall I leave Jack to sort out the mural?’

Erica grinned and leaned closer. ‘I don’t think the mural is the only thing he’s going to be sorting out between now and Christmas…’

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