His Novice

By Arabella Sheen

Nathan Stockman controls his own destiny and answers to no one. But when Summer Jenkin erupts into his life, he finds it hard to resist the temptation to bed her. She’s everything he’s not. She’s classy, she’s young, and she’s ... virginal.

Dare he be the man responsible for awakening her to the pleasures of lovemaking, or should he walk away before they become emotionally entangled?

Summer doesn’t care that Nathan is older than she is, and it certainly doesn’t stop her from wanting a night of passion in his arms. Offering to be his novice is no guarantee he will teach her everything he knows about love, but she’s ready and more than willing to learn how to please him ... both in and out of bed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight
• Release date: Apr 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9780369506023

Arabella Sheen

Arabella Sheen is a British author of sizzling, sensual Contemporary and Historical romance novels.Published with Evernight Publishing, she is also a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association.Arabella likes nothing more than starting a new novel with romantic plots and passionate characters with whom her readers can share some stolen moments.​In her free time, and when she's not reading or writing romance novels, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she can be found curled on the sofa pandering to the demands of her attention-seeking moggy.Having worked and lived in the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands as a theatre nurse for nearly twenty years, Arabella now lives in the southwest of England with her family.

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Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2022 Arabella Sheen

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0602-3

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: CA Clauson

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

HIS NOVICE

Arabella Sheen

Copyright © 2022

Chapter One

Summer Jenkins tilted her head at an angle and raised her eyebrows questioningly. She was surprised to see her brother still at the table in their spacious breakfast room. Usually, by the time she had showered and dressed, Clive, with an hour’s commute ahead of him, was well on his way to his office in the city.

Noticing his cup was half empty, Summer picked up the insulated coffee thermos and poured him a refill. Then, having tipped some of the dark, steamy liquid into a mug for herself, she took a cautious sip hoping not to scald her lips. She never ate breakfast, but she was addicted to coffee, and she couldn’t attack her everyday chores until she’d had at least two mugs of the hot aromatic brew to kick start her morning.

I thought you were working today. A dark strand of her short wavy hair fell forward, and hooking it between her fingers, she tucked it neatly back behind her ear. Didn’t you say you had a lot of loose ends to tie up?

Taking her drink to the cushioned seat nestled in the bay window, she sat on the padded ledge hoping to enjoy the fierce warmth of the morning sun through the open window as it hit the east side of their ancestral home.

She loved Meadow Brook House, an old Georgian building that had been the family’s home for three generations, but it had now passed to Clive, the eldest son, to look after.

You’re right, Clive said. I did say I’d go to work and look at some papers, but after last night’s party, I guess I forgot to set the alarm. Besides, if my team of junior lawyers can’t manage without me, then perhaps I ought to sack the lot of them.

Summer knew Clive wasn’t serious. He ran his law practice in the city like a colonel would organize his regimental troops, and those that worked for Campbell and Jenkins were the best. Clive and his partner, Alexander Campbell, hadn’t built their reputations as dynamite lawyers without having a great support team behind them. And although she might not like to admit it, she was secretly proud of her brother’s success.

Sorry about the mess in the other room, Clive said. I hadn’t expected last night’s party to go on for so long. I thought it would be dinner and a few drinks, but when Dobson mentioned a new witness that needed protection, things sort of got out of hand.

Playing hostess to her brother’s guests was one of Summer’s jobs, and while working from home as a full-time website designer, she could do both. A housekeeper by day, and designer by night, she made sure Clive had everything he required, and when the need arose, she acted as his hostess and entertained his dinner guests.

Summer was aware things were bound to change should Clive decide to marry. But for now, she was happy to look after Meadow Brook and let the future take care of itself.

Lifting the coffee mug to her lips, she took another sip and glanced out of the window. The mowed lawns of Meadow Brook stretched before her and the colorful rose beds clustered about the garden were in full bloom.

Something caught her eye and looking closer, she could see a man standing near the pool with a long-handled net in hand. He was scooping dead leaves from the water, and with careful precision, he was filling a wheelbarrow with debris and dirt.

Dressed in denims and a t-shirt, he looked more than capable of doing the job, but that wasn’t the problem. What bothered her was the fact she was instantly turned on by the man and was prepared to sit all morning at the window watching his rippling muscles while she fantasized about what his fingers could do once they got inside her knickers. She had no idea who he was or where he came from, but she definitely wouldn’t mind finding out.

Summer glanced at Clive, and asked, Any idea what’s happened to Clarkson?

Clive shrugged. I imagine he’s about somewhere. It’s Friday…

Then if Clarkson is supposed to be gardening, do you know why there’s a stranger cleaning our pool?

Her brother rose from the breakfast table and joined her at the window.

Ah, that’s no stranger. That’s Nathan Stockman, a good friend of mine. Sorry, I forgot to mention he would be coming. I told Nathan he could stay with us for a while.

Stay with us?

Yes. He’s between houses at the moment. I said he’s more than welcome to lodge in the guest cottage.

Although Meadow Brook House was officially her brother’s home, it was Summer who managed the house and organized the staff, and it would have been nice if Clive had told her he’d let out the cottage.

And what or perhaps who is Nathan, exactly? she asked.

Nathan and I go way back. We knew one another when I was at university. Clive tilted his head questioningly. Haven’t you two met before? I thought you had, otherwise…

Otherwise, what?

Otherwise, I would have introduced you before allowing him to move in. Don’t worry, he’s coming to the house for drinks and dinner tonight, which means the two of you will have a chance to get to know one another.

Summer still didn’t know if Nathan was at Meadow Brook as a guest or as an employee. Thinking it strange her brother should suggest the hired help came to dinner, she kept silent.

In one gulp, she downed the remainder of her coffee and grimaced. It had gone cold and tasted bitter.

I doubt that’s going to happen, she said. Aren’t you supposed to be spending the weekend in Bath with the Fitzpatricks? I thought you were driving straight from London to Bath so you could see Elizabeth.

She was tempted to say fuck Elizabeth. She was pretty sure Clive was trying to get into Elizabeth Fitzpatrick’s knickers and was hoping to score this weekend. For months he’d been chasing Elizabeth hoping to get laid and it look like she had caved in and had agreed to see him.

By the look on Clive’s face, it appeared he’d forgotten his weekend plans.

Damn! Clive glanced at his watch and frowned. I haven’t even packed my weekend case. Did I tell you that on Monday after a meeting with a client to discuss developments a few of us are flying to Germany? We’ll be staying for a couple of weeks, maybe more.

You hadn’t mentioned it, but I thought I heard something about a flight to Germany last night when you were talking with your team. I didn’t eavesdrop, but…

Clive reached around Summer and grabbed a half-eaten slice of toast