The Temp

By Tammy Tate

The perfect honeymoon spirals out of controL when Tony's ex-temp shows up on their flight and again at their resort. After an attempt is made on Kate's life, she learns that Caroline's sights are set on Tony. There's only one problem -- Kate.

Sometimes marriage comes with consequences...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tammy Tate
• Release date: Feb 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386768180

Tammy Tate

Tammy Tate was born and raised in Hollywood, Florida but has lived most of her adult life in Texas. Her passion to write began in high school and follows her everywhere she goes creating a world where anything is possible. She's been married to the same amazing man for over thirty-five years. Her secret to a long marriage? It's easy when you marry your best friend. In her world Friday night is still date night. Before becoming a full-time author, she was an Executive Secretary, a Computer Consultant/Technician, and a Communications Officer (Police Dispatcher). She doesn't mind a challenge and has raced a late-model in a women's powder puff race, ran barrels and poles in a play-day rodeo and drove an 18-wheeler. She and her husband have raised three wonderful children. If she's not breathing life into her characters, she’s spending time with her husband. December 2013, she signed her first book contract with a traditional publisher and has since become a best selling, award winning author. She loves to hear from you~ Email: [e-mail] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammytateauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/authortammytate Blog: http://authortammytate.blogspot.com

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Excerpt for The Temp

Tony rocked back in his chair. He scrubbed his face and mumbled, Unbelievable through his fingers.

What? Kate asked. Do you know her?

Tony dropped his hands into his lap. It’s Caroline.

"Caroline? Your ex-temp?"

Yeah, he whispered.

What’s she doing on this flight?

I don’t know. Maybe she’s going to Cancun for business.

He squeezed her hand like it would make Caroline’s presence a coincidence and not a premeditated effort to weasel her way back into his life.

Look, Tony said. I don’t have a clue why she’s here. Please believe me.

I believe you, Kate said regretting that she implied she didn’t.

But, she also recalled the hell Caroline had put them through after Tony proposed. At the time he didn’t elaborate much about his past relationship with Caroline except to say that she was a temp who had gotten too attached to him.

Chapter 1

As the 747 punched through the clouds, Venice disappeared and the early morning sun poured in through the small porthole window. Kate squinted at the four-carat bridal set on her ring finger. The edge of her mouth lifted.

Tony had exquisite taste. She’d give him that. He never said what the ring cost. Maybe the same as a high-end SUV.

Unlike Tony, Kate grew up poor in a small two-bedroom house in lower Manhattan. She didn't have designer clothes, but she couldn’t remember doing without either. Tony, on the other hand, was born into wealth.

As an engineer, her dad worked for a well-known steel company a few blocks from their house. After fifteen years he mortgaged their home and purchased a small fabrication company of his own. Her mother was against it, saying it was a bad idea. Even for a shrewd businessman like her dad. But after relentless persuasion, she gave in to the idea. 

The venture paid off. Five years later, he turned it into a multi-million-dollar corporation with several government contracts. As his only living heir, her dad gave her the position of his financial advisor. Kate loved crunching numbers. Her brain soaked up every aspect of the company. Profit margins soared beyond their expectations.

Tony came from a large family, most of which still lived in Italy. They had a thing for food. With the exception of Uncle Vinnie, if they didn’t own a restaurant, they managed one. The guest list they’d thrown together had over two-hundred relatives, spouses, and children listed. It only made sense to get married in Italy instead of New York.

Tony’s parents had two homes, one in New York and another in Venice that was an hour from Vinnie.

Tony warned her about his family’s obsession with colors. But that didn’t prepare her for the twenty-four relatives that greeted them at Gate B-12. Uncle Vinnie had on orange pants contrasting with cousin Anton’s neon green shoes. Sid wore a bright yellow shirt with purple buttons.

There were so many names to remember, her brain couldn’t keep up. When the introductions were over, she only retained three. His family was also big on kissing. Not one cheek, but two. Had she known that in advance, she wouldn’t have worn expensive makeup.

Uncle Vinnie owned fifty rolling acres with flowers, an olive orchard, and two seventeenth-century villas that overlooked a huge lake. His home and wedding planning business sat on a small portion of the land and, thanks to him, the wedding was perfect.

He took care of everything. The catering, a photographer, flowers arrangements, and transportation to and from the airport. 

To make sure everything fit properly, they got her wedding dress and Tony’s tux in New York, had them altered at a local shop, and then shipped them to Italy.

Now here it was, the day after the wedding and they were flying to Cancun to catch a yacht that would take them to Coral Reef Bay for a week-long honeymoon.

I did good, huh? Tony asked from the adjacent seat. His square jaw and short black hair, slightly wavy on top, gave him a bad-boy appearance. And, before you ask, he added, It’s insured.

It’s beautiful, Kate replied. I just wish you wouldn’t have spent so much money on jewelry.

Can I have that in writing?

What? You mean like a post-nuptial? 

Tony snickered. Baby, I’m joking. 

He dipped his head and kissed her fingers. She adored his show of affection in public. That and his chestnut colored eyes that could seduce her with a glance.

They met in college and soon became best friends. After graduation and while in New York, his parents hosted a dinner party in his honor and invited Kate and her parents. His dad announced he was retiring and turning his restaurant over to Tony. It wasn’t a gift. He was expected to pay him back.

That night Tony asked her on a real date. They dated for six months. Then one evening while watching the sun set from his New York apartment, he dropped onto one knee and proposed. 

Convinced that it was a match made in heaven, Kate accepted.

Can I get you something to drink?

A uniformed flight attendant blocking the aisle with her cart pulled her back to the present. Yes. Champagne please.

And, for you, sir? 

Make that two, he said.

"Is Billecart-Salmon okay?"

Tony nodded. 

The woman’s rosy red cheeks blazed a shade darker. 

Kate was used to it. He was handsome. Even in college, when he entered a room with his shoulders back, reeking of confidence, women noticed.

When it came to expensive beverages, Kate didn’t know one brand from the next. Beer was her drink of choice in college and even then, she drank sparingly.

Tony, on the other hand, was a master at pairing the perfect wine or champagne for any dish or occasion.

Chapter 2

The flight attendant served their champagne in goblets, then turned to a man seated across the aisle. Rather than wake him up, she moved on to a woman in front of him. 

Would you like something to drink, ma’am? she asked, using the same friendly approach.

Yes, the blonde replied. "Billecart-Salmon’s perfect." 

Smiling, the woman glanced down the aisle at Tony.

Tony rocked back in his chair. He scrubbed his face and mumbled, Unbelievable through his fingers.

What? Kate asked. Do you know her?

Tony dropped his hands into his lap. It’s Caroline.

"Caroline? Your ex-temp?"

Yeah, he whispered.

What’s she doing on this flight?

I don’t know. Maybe she’s going to Cancun for business.

He squeezed her hand like it would make Caroline’s presence a coincidence and not a premeditated effort to weasel her way back into his life.

Look, Tony said. I don’t have a clue why she’s here. Please believe me.

I believe you, Kate said regretting that she implied she didn’t.

But, she also recalled the hell Caroline had put them through after Tony proposed. At the time he didn’t elaborate much about his past relationship with Caroline except to say that she was a temp who had gotten too attached to him.

Things got weird. It was like Caroline kept tabs on them. Everywhere they went, she showed up. At one point, Tony even talked about getting a restraining order against her.

Then Caroline disappeared. Now she was here.

Leaning in, Kate spoke softly so as not to draw attention. Anything else I should know about Caroline?

I thought you said she wasn’t important?

That’s before she showed up on this plane.

Tony let out a long sigh. Seven months ago, my secretary took maternity leave. I called a local temp service looking for a replacement. They sent Caroline. In the beginning, she was proficient and fun to talk to. He made a face. Then she started complaining about how lonely she was. One day, she said she needed to talk. She asked me to meet her at a bar close to the office. One drink led to another. Two became too many to count.

Kate gave him a hard stare. You got drunk with her?

Drunk? No, he said.  "Drugged is more like it. He shook his head. There’s a lot I don’t remember about that night except for waking up the next morning, naked, with her in my bed."

Kate’s jaw dropped.

Hell, I even apologized for bringing her back to my apartment. Said it should have never happened. The words kept pouring out of his mouth. Caroline offered to fix breakfast. I told her I wasn’t hungry, but she insisted. After that being in the same room with her became awkward. At work, we barely spoke and when we did it was only work-related.

Why didn’t you tell me you had sex with her?

He frowned. That’s just it, he said. "I don't think we did. But when I woke up and she was