Ignite

By Kait Gamble

Can two friends masquerading as a married couple on a trip to paradise change friendship into something more?

Natalie needs a break from her stalled career as a software developer, so when her good friend Sebastian suddenly appears asking her to accompany him on a trip to paradise, how can she say no? The catch? She has to pretend to be his wife.

Sebastian must woo a potential partner and to do it he needs a wife STAT, so he turns to his old pal Natalie. She's smart, beautiful and they know nearly everything about each other. It's the perfect arrangement and things won't get complicated.

But what happens when the faked affection becomes all too real?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Jul 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784306359

Kait Gamble

Kait was born and raised in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest and started writing to entertain herself during the long winters as a child. Insatiably curious with a love of learning new things, she’s picked up many random skills including three languages and two martial arts. After travelling three continents (the other four are on her bucket list), she settled in England with her family where she spends most of her time cultivating her daughter’s love of reading and writing, scribbling ideas on every available scrap of paper, and trying out dialogue on her cat.

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Ignite

ISBN # 978-1-78430-635-9

©Copyright Kait Gamble 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright June 2015

Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 3.

The Long Way Round

IGNITE

Kait Gamble

Book two in The Long Way Round series

Can two friends masquerading as a married couple on a trip to paradise change friendship into something more?

Natalie needs a break from her stalled career as a software developer, so when her good friend Sebastian suddenly appears asking her to accompany him on a trip to paradise, how can she say no? The catch? She has to pretend to be his wife.

Sebastian must woo a potential partner and to do it he needs a wife STAT, so he turns to his old pal Natalie. She’s smart, beautiful and they know nearly everything about each other. It’s the perfect arrangement and things won’t get complicated.

But what happens when the faked affection becomes all too real?

Dedication

For PG

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

F-Type: Jaguar Cars

Big Mac: The McDonald’s Corporation

GQ: Advanced Publishing

Architectural Digest: Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.

Chapter One

Natalie Carter raked her hands through her hair for what felt like the millionth time that day. Or was it night? She had no idea. The hours had started running together not too long after she’d sat at the computer to stare at the screen. Judging by the number of mugs on the desk, it was either very late or really early. Not that it mattered, she wasn’t going to quit until she found the glitch in the code that mocked her. It defied logic—at least, her logic. She reached for her coffee mug and sighed when she found it empty.

A look at the clock at the bottom of her screen caused a groan to rise up her throat. She’d been at it all night and had resolved maybe three of the issues. The last one proved to be the most stubborn, as always.

Leaning over the back of her chair, she stretched. Going to bed was out of the question. She needed to keep working while it still made sense in her head. A short break was in order. A little fresh air, a tankard of coffee and she would be fine.

She stood and quickly did a few squats, toe touches and arm stretches. It helped, but it wasn’t enough. Spinning on the spot, she shifted books and magazines out of the way, so she could do some burpees. That would get the blood flowing.

She managed four and was mid push-up for number five when her cell rang.

Natalie hopped to her feet and grabbed it. A quick look at the name on the display brought a curve to her lips and unleashed a torrent of butterflies in her stomach.

She answered with a swipe of her finger. Sebastian? Long time.

Nat, I’m a few minutes away. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

Her breath hitched at the deep, husky timbre of his voice.

Natalie’s panicked gaze swept over the room as she managed a throaty, Great. See you soon.

Natalie dropped the phone and immediately started tidying. It wasn’t as though she lived in a sty. There just hadn’t been enough time over the past week to put things away properly. Industry books and magazines lay where she’d dropped them. A mini mountain of shoes had made a home under her desk where she usually kicked them off mid-brainwave in an attempt to get comfortable. A basket of clean laundry sat unfolded on her couch. Take-out containers littered her kitchen counters, along with a parade of coffee mugs.

She ran through the small space like a reverse tornado, clearing up the debris of her daily life.

Natalie had managed to clear it all up, open the curtains and windows, change into a pair of jeans and a top that was relatively unwrinkled and pull her wavy chestnut hair into a ponytail by the time there was a knock at the door.

She jammed a stick of gum in her mouth as she crossed the room to open the door and was greeted by Sebastian—all six foot four of him. He looked good. His black hair was tousled as if he’d run his hand through it a few times. Gunmetal gray eyes sparkled with mischief and—even with the comical grimace twisting his features—he was as handsome as ever. Dressed in an impeccable suit and tie, he could have just come out of a meeting. The impact he had on her was immediate. A flush of heat climbed her chest as the air rushed out of her lungs.

Natalie flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and managed a breathy, Hey.

Sebastian bowed, a gallant knight presenting his queen with tribute he held out a cardboard carrier laden with coffee in one hand and the most decadent cream-filled scones in the other. I come bearing gifts.

Natalie wasn’t surprised to see the coffee, but for him to look so sheepish and to come with the one pastry that he knew was her weak spot? Something was definitely up. She stepped aside. Come on in.

He swept past her, trailing the scent of his cologne and the tang of him. Sebastian made a small circle, taking a look at her apartment before meeting her gaze again.

Natalie wasn’t ashamed of her apartment. It wasn’t tiny, but it wasn’t what anyone would call luxurious. Certainly not what he was now used to, she was sure. She still cringed when he studied her place, though. His life, and everyone else’s, had grown by leaps and bounds, while hers still seemed to be stalled in the fledgling stages.

So what’s up? The one thing she didn’t want to hear was that he’d split with his latest woman. She hadn’t had nearly enough sleep and she wasn’t sure if she had the strength to deal with another one of his breakups.

Straight to business, huh? He took a moment to place his burden on the newly organized coffee table and handed her a scone. At least have a bite first.

Natalie eyed him warily. Whatever he wanted was big. Huge. But she capitulated to his request with a sigh. The bite was heavenly, but it only made her more suspicious. She chewed, waiting for an explanation for such an early-morning reappearance in her life. When he still said nothing, she arched an eyebrow and swallowed. Well?

He smiled sheepishly, but enough to show off the shallow dimple in his right cheek. I need you to be my wife.

Natalie was glad she had swallowed the scone because that would have made her choke for sure. What?

Jason had to bail and needs me to go meet some bigwig to finalize the deal. Apparently, the guy’s ultra-conservative and believes that everyone successful should be like him, which I think I am, except for one thing.

You need to be married. Natalie reached for the arm of the couch before perching herself on the end of it.

That’s where I was hoping you would come in. He looked at her hopefully, his eyes big and pleading. "I