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Eyes shot up and all conversation ceased as Cole Hunter burst in and let loose a growl Cole wouldn’t apologize He abhorred being kept in the dark, particularly when the deception concerned the man he respected most in the world

Once, Cole’s father had been a corporate powerhouse, a leader to be admired and, frequently, feared More recently, however, Guthrie Hunter had softened The responsibility of running Hunter Enterprises had fallen largely upon Cole’s shoulders The eldest of four, he was the person family leaned upon in a crisis, whether the drama unfolded here in Sydney or at one of the other Hunter offices located in Los Angeles and New York City

Cole didn’t want to think about that ongoing drama in Seattle

His father’s personal receptionist flew to her feet With a look, Cole set her back in her seat then strode toward colossal doors that displayed the flourishing Hunter Enterprises es well oiled and on track if he wasn’t informed? Dammit, he couldn’t fix what he didn’t know

Cole broke through the doors Turning to close theuests waiting in the reception area, one being a woman ide summer-blue eyes and flaxen hair that fell like tu pulse skipped several beats before thu back to life Work in television production meant beautiful ladies day in and day out, but true star quality was one in a million and this wo for a show, Cole surmised A special project if Guthrie Hunter planned to conduct the interview hi else he knew zip about

His jaw tight, Cole sla around, he faced the polished hardwood desk, which had prefaced that wall of glittering awards for as long as Cole could reh-backed leather chair, receiver pressed to an ear Cole’s sources said three hours had passed since a second attempt had been made on his father’s life Guthrie had probably wondered what had kept his firstborn so long

Stopping dead center of the enormous office suite, Cole set his fists on his hips Despite broiling frustration, he kept his tone low and clear

"Whoever’s responsible won’t see light outside of a prison cell before both poles have melted" When his throat uncharacteristically thickened, Cole’s hands fell to his sides "For God’s sake, Dad, shots were fired This guy’s not about to stop"

Guthriewords into thehis son, he tipped his clean-shaven chin a notch higher

"I have this under control"

"Like you had it under control a o when your car was run off the road?"

"The authorities concluded that was an accident"

Cole looked heavenward God, give ed to a stolen vehicle"

"Doesn’t mean the accident was an attempt on my life"

"I’ll tell you what it does uards until this is sorted And I don’t want to hear any arguer, Guthrie’s smooth expression fell Sixty-two-year-old palms pressed upon the desk and Guthrie pushed to his feet with the agility and posture of a er Cole’s jacketed shoulders rolled back There wasn’t a h, even noith an ax to grind, his father caanized a bodyguard," Guthrie said "He’s a private detective, as well"

Absorbing his father’s words, Cole willed away the red haze riree and then two Flexing his fingers at his sides, he blew out that pent-up breath

"What were you thinking, keeping this fro the desk, the older h on Cole’s jacketed ar’s under control"

Cole winced Guthrie was kidding hio, when his father was recovering froery and Cole had turned thirty, the fanated an equal portion to e Here in Sydney, Cole manned the Australian television cable and free-air interests When he wasn’t chasing skirt, Dex, the middle son, looked after the ed, overachiever and youngest of the Hunter boys froe, Wynn took care of the printfull-blood sibling Teagan was off doing her own thing in Washington State

Initially Cole had bristled at the idea of Daddy’s Girl shunning her responsibilities and refusing to step up to help run the business Hunter Enterprises had provided well for thener gowns includedalthough, to be fair, with the top three jobs filled, her role would need to be a subordinate one But given the ti over his brothers’ business and personal decisions, Cole had to be grateful that the Hunter wild child had opted out God knows he had enough to deal with

Of course Cole still loved his brothers and sister Nothing could ever change that They’d shared a wonderful ian beauty who had beamed whenever she’d told a new acquaintance that both he and Wynn had been born in Atlanta With only two years separating each, the Hunter children had grown up tight But, thanks to gossip azines and the Net, all the world knew about the rifts, whichof such a vast enterprise under separate helence and Wynn’s overzealousness, Hunter’s reputation had taken some blows recently For everyone’s sake, Cole was deterenuine leadership over every quadrant of Hunter Enterprises, or die trying

Guthrie wanted his children to ether With their fatherhappy fah on i away fro view of co Sydney Harbour’s vast blanket of blue

"I’d be happier speaking to Brandon Powell about organizing full-time protection," he said

"I know you and Brandon have been friends for years, and his security firm is one of the best It’s not that I didn’t consider it But, frankly, I need so the bill"

Cole pivoted around "If you’re suggesting Brandon would ever act unprofessionally - "

"I’e every detail ofwhat transpires beneath the sanctity of my family’s roof, and that is not an option I know you don’t approve of Eloise, but - " Guthrie’s furrowed brow eased and, weary of that particular fight, he exhaled "Son, my wife makes me happy"

"As happy as my mother used to make you?"

"As happy as one day I hope you will be with someone you truly care for"

Cole refused to acknowledge the sheen in his father’s eyes or the uncomfortable restriction in his own chest Instead, he headed back to those massive double doors Lust and love were two different states A e should know better His eldest son certainly did

As if to highlight the point, the first thing to catch Cole’s eye as he strode back into his father’s reception lounge was that blonde and her star quality coaxing hied, lush-lipped orbit What red-bloodedcurves close, to sample the soft press of that body and sweet scent of her skin? But that urge was sexual, only lust

One day, Cole hoped to find the right woman Someone he’d be proud to call the mother of his children Someone he would respect and receive respect fro of that word In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if Eloise was behind those bullets for hire Despite his father’s edict just now, he had no qualht the same

When his father’s voice broke into his thoughts, Cole blinked his attention away fro to Cole’s left, Guthrie was studying him, salt-and-pepper brows hitched at a quizzical - or was that approving? - angle

"I see you’ve met our new producer, Taryn Quinn"