Sex, Spies and Sapphires
Shelley Munro
An heirloom sapphire. That’s where Sarah Walsh’s troubles began. Oh and sex. That came into the equation when she met Flynn Wangford. Now he has her sapphire and she wants it back.
Bad boy Flynn is causing trouble again. Sarah and fellow spy, sometimes lover Thomas MacIntyre attend Lord Maxwell’s society birthday party, their assignment to protect the British prime minister and royal guest Princess Leila from Mundavia while keeping an eye on Flynn Wangford. For Sarah it’s a chance to retrieve her sapphire, an opportunity she fully intends to exploit. Somehow, she’ll juggle official duties and best the cocky Australian. But before she knows it, Sarah is alone with Flynn and somehow they end up horizontal. The sex is explosive and hot, hot, hot, but she can’t stop thinking about Thomas. Two men. They’re so different yet both are delectable and very distracting for a woman with a mission.
Sarah must concentrate on recovering her sapphire but it seems she and Flynn aren’t the only players in the quest to secure the gemstone. Thomas wants the sapphire as well.
Sex, Spies and Sapphires is due for release on 11 May. I’ve just found out I’m going to be away for release date and thought I’d post an early excerpt.
Sex, Spies & Sapphires by Shelley Munro
Flynn Wangford stood in the castle turret overlooking the car park, watching the new arrivals with interest. The morning sun warmed his bare arms while a soft breeze ruffled his blond hair. From his post he could see rolling green slopes stretching as far as the stream on the boundary of the castle grounds. For the weekend, security guards patrolled the perimeter of the property, intent on keeping both the public and the paparazzi at bay.
The prime minister and her aid arrived, carefully walking toward the castle with a body length between them. Lord Maxwell’s staff hustled them inside, out of range of the long lenses of the press. Flynn smirked, knowing the reasons they were so press-shy. Threesomes weren’t the done thing in correct political circles, no matter how stimulating it was to make love with two people at once. Never mind that he’d doctored the photos. He’d done a bloody good job—even if he did say so himself.
No doubt his presence was part of the reason for the increased security. The officials were probably cursing the familial ties that made his invitation to the birthday festivities an automatic one. Too bad. True, he stood to make money out of the photos, but financial gain hadn’t been his sole intention. No, he’d wanted to shake the royal house of Mundavia and show them how vulnerable they were. Rhyme and reason…
A gleaming black Rolls-Royce pulled up minutes later. The driver stopped the car and a man climbed out, rushing to open one of the rear doors. A pair of silk-encased legs slid from the car. Flynn knew those legs, but even if he hadn’t, the small flag flying from the car would have given it away.
Princess Leila from Mundavia.
An unfortunate inclusion at this weekend event. There was something about the woman. He didn’t trust her because despite her party-girl behavior, there was a shrewd calculation in her icy blue eyes. Flynn shuddered remembering her touching him on the sly. She hadn’t liked his rejection and her presence would complicate his mission. And as for the man—her companion. Flynn smiled while his hands dug into the stone sill of the turret. He’d enjoy reacquainting himself with Thomas MacIntyre. An interesting man and one of depth and real passion. Flynn hummed under his breath, his tongue doing a slow, sensual slide across his bottom lip.
The princess took Thomas’ arm, hugging her model-slender body against his side. Her tinkling laugh carried on the breeze, bringing a sly grin to Flynn. It seemed with typical disregard for protocol, Princess Leila intended that Thomas MacIntyre guard her body very carefully indeed. Wonder what Thomas thought about it. As he watched, the man adroitly passed her over to Lord Maxwell and faded into the background.
Ah, cleverly done. Flynn’s admiration was fleeting. This time. MacIntyre would have to do better next time because Flynn knew from experience that Princess Leila never repeated a mistake. Actually, since he wasn’t the one in her sights, it might prove fun watching MacIntyre squirm.
They disappeared from sight. Flynn continued to watch the arrivals, both men and women. He recognized most of them. A pop star. A movie starlet. Lord Falconer and his wife. An interesting mix of guests to celebrate Lord Maxwell’s fiftieth birthday.
A bright red sports car sped down the tree-lined road leading to the castle, a plume of dust spilling out behind. Flynn fingered the golden chain circling his neck. He watched the car pull up beside a blue BMW.
Sweet Sarah. Lady Sarah Justice.
Flynn tugged on the golden chain and rubbed the sapphire pendant that hung from it between his fingers. The gemstone was smooth and warm to the touch. Although it wasn’t exactly a masculine look, Flynn liked the feel of it around his neck. A trophy. A grin bloomed. He was looking forward to seeing Lady Sarah, watching the irritation on her pretty face when she noticed he wore her sapphire. Of course, she’d want it back. But that wasn’t going to happen, not if he kept his wits about him.
