If you’ve read the sexy, sassy, action-adventure Above and Beyond, then you know that Roxy and Rob have a mysterious back story that adds to their sizzle. For Christmas this year, we thought we’d give you a little gift: that back story, explored in great, sensual detail, over the next six days.

For those of you who haven’t yet read Above and Beyond, then this is a great introduction to some fantastic, fun characters.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

She spent the first two hours of her break luxuriating in the bath, the shower, and then the bath again. Cleanliness put an end to one of her two major longings. Thirty minutes until the male escort met her for lunch. It was crazy on every level, but her insides screamed excitement. No complicated feelings. Paid for online. Highly recommended by BFF. Nothing could go wrong.

Roxy cycled every justification through her mind for the umpteenth time. To waste a five-star executive spa suite in beautiful Tropical Cairns would be criminal. Her present living arrangements left her desperate for human touch. No shame in that. Twenty more hours and she would fly back to the island for who-knew-how-long.

Sure, Gregory cost a packet for the whole night, but why rush the process? The two-hour “change your mind? Money back guarantee!” clause sold it. Dammit, this itch needed scratching. Now.

Her message tone chimed — inbox from Juliet. Her smart phone may be the thing she missed most when she was in the tiny village.

So how’s civilisation? The text, to anyone else, would read as casual.

Of course, Roxy knew her best mate really meant, “Did you order the hot man for sex like we talked about before you left?”

He’ll be here in 30 zomg! Roxy hit reply.

Squeeee!

Roxy grinned and texted, Shut up. No really… Her stomach lurched. Hunger? Nerves? Desire?

Bahahahaha u will b fine!

Plenty of time to back out if need be. She replied, Yeah.

The answer came back. You will. Stop freaking out. Classic Juliet; the woman knew her.

Roxy took a deep breath. Naughty excitement exploded inside. She stretched her legs out on the ottoman and texted back. I’m good.

She wondered if Gregory did massage. That could be nice. Her phone buzzed.

B bad very bad YOLO!

Roxy chuckled and answered, Ok, go away now b4 I back out.

She studied the door, along the bar, the other door. No one. The photo on the net didn’t show his face, just a dark head of hair looking down and a tanned body dressed only in jeans. She was the only woman in here, though. It shouldn’t be tough for him to pick her out. Another message came through.

Lol wait till u c him *drool* I want deets tomoz hahahahahaa

Roxy smiled. This all came way easier to her best friend who’d holidayed in this hotel several times and promised, though she’d met Gregory, she’d never done the deed with him. Life is for the living, right? Her smart phone time said twenty minutes to go.

Rob Lawson sat in his carefully chosen seat, back in the corner, both doors in view, out of the line of sight of everyone present yet seeing everything. He watched her looking around, sipping her drink, using her phone. His attention travelled down her tanned legs and back up to the frayed edge of denim shorts barely covering anything.

Maybe she’d be meeting a friend or family, not a lover. Of course, if she was alone, Rob would be only too happy to keep her company for a while. Better than following her all day trying not to be noticed.

His speciality was watching — watching and learning. Roxy Williams, investigative journalist, young, stubborn, and looking to get her head blown off by the people-smuggling bosses if she wasn’t more careful. He gave her slim, toned body a long study. Federal policing had its perks, for sure. They had operatives on the island, just off the south coast of Papua New Guinea, so he knew the smugglers wouldn’t touch her there. It was far too risky. But out here, in the open city, she was not safe at all.

No one else in the Bureau of Federal Police wanted to make Roxy’s safety a priority. According to his boss, she went in there knowing the dangers, so any mishaps were her own fault. Rob’s request to have someone tail her was refused. So Rob took a few days off to do it himself. Something about her just brought out his protective instincts, though he’d never seen a stronger, more capable woman in action. Roxy was tough as old boot leather. He sipped his scotch and cola — it was five o’clock somewhere, and Rob needed the relaxing burn of alcohol down his throat. She glanced at the doors again and hunched a little. A man. She was definitely waiting for a man. It was in the nervous rise of her shoulders every time the door moved the slump of disappointment when it wasn’t who she expected.

Her fingers tightened around her coffee mug handle and her other hand drummed a beat out on the arm of the chair. What crazy bastard would stand her up? Her sun-bleached hair shone in the rays beaming through the huge plate glass. She’d cut it short — that was different — and her skin shone from a fresh scrubbing. But even through the layers of grubbiness, and a monitor screen, he’d been attracted to her.

Too many late, lonely nights watching surveillance videos in the past six months. But if some dickhead was going to leave her high and dry, then Rob had a duty to hot-blooded males everywhere to go keep her company. She looked at her watch, and checked her phone. Rob glanced at his watch, fifteen minutes past midday. He’d give it another five minutes and then he’d blindside the sucker and steal the girl.

After downing his drink, he left by the small side door marked staff only. He made his way through the kitchen, apologising to the staff for his stupidity, and used the other door to come out in the small lounge on the side she looked at the most. Over at the other door, another familiar face gave his heart a thump of fear. That man was looking at Roxy with a cold smile. He’d seen him on surveillance too, and he wasn’t one of the good guys. The man swallowed his drink, set his glass on the bar, and moved towards Roxy.

Rob stepped up his pace. She looked up and met his stare as he moved closer. She fidgeted a bit with her bag, and smiled.

He eyed off the ape who’d stopped and gone back to lean on the bar, glancing their way, wetting his lips every second. The best way to protect her was to be with her.

“Hi.” He stood beside the sofa she lounged on.

“Hi. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.” A half smile played at her mouth and she looked down.

Rob had two choices. The right one and the one he always made.

Chapter two coming tomorrow…

In the sticky, steamy jungles of Papua New Guinea, they fight for the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. They didn’t expect to have to fight for their own.

All investigative journalist Roxy Williams wanted was a hot one-night stand: quick, dirty, and completely one-off. A business transaction to ease stress, loosen tension, and allow her to get right back to her job — exposing the heart-breaking realities of people smuggling. So when all hell breaks loose in a small village on Papua New Guinea, the last person Roxy expects to see is her one-night-stand and male escort, Rob, with a boat, a beach, and an escape plan!

Rob is supposed to be long-gone from this assignment, but after their one night together, he can’t seem to let Roxy go. Using all his resources, Rob risks his job to keep track of her — and when a huge storm threatens, he goes after the sexy journalist. Now they’re together, in danger, and fighting for their lives. People smuggling is a big money industry, and the smugglers are playing for keeps.