Maggie Winters blames Carter Enterprises CEO, Alec Carter for the death of her husband.  She believes that revenge is the only way to regain the joy she once had in life, including an active and adventurous sex life.  Lacking resources to match those of rich and influential Alec Carter, Maggie plots lure Alec into a sordid sex scandal which will ruin his business reputation.  Just as he puts plans in place to rescue his company from the brink of disaster, Alec becomes obsessed with a mystery woman who lures him into a weeklong sexual tryst.  Both Maggie and Alec are unprepared when lust promises to become love.  Both must learn to trust if they want the promised lifetime of love and loving.

Read an Excerpt from The Widow’s Revenge

From Chapter Two:  New York City, November 21^st

Alec checked his watch.  7:30 AM stared back at him.  He had a half hour before his emergency meeting with the Carter Enterprises senior management team.  The instant the elevator doors opened, the scent of ginger and oranges filled his head.  Camille!  Then she appeared, like some sort of sensual phantasm.  Her black dress and veil emerged against the dark wood panels that attempted to give the elevator elegance.  The attempt failed.  Anything would when compared with her slender, graceful form.

She’d been tantalizing him every day since the masquerade.  But always at a distance, never allowing him a clear view of her face, and always disappearing before he could get close.  He’d begun to watch for her, hoping that just once she would come within speaking range.  Looks like today was his day to have his hopes fulfilled.  She’d be near enough to speak to, perhaps even touch, for the entire elevator ride.  A lot could happen in sixty seconds.

In a fog of fascination, only dimly aware of other passengers, he entered the car.  Her head moved as he did, and he felt her gaze on him.  He wondered, as he always did, if her eyes really were that clear, lake deep blue he remembered from the charity masquerade?  Or did some other color hide beneath the translucent black cloth?  What expression would he see on her face, if he, she or fate lifted that veil aside?  Would he see an echo of his own sexual desire flare across her flawless skin and lithe figure?  Maybe some other emotion fired her eyes and colored her cheeks?  Perhaps, she’d be as cool and remote as her constant polite silence implied.  And that thought had him debating what her voice might sound like, for beyond a single throaty whisper stating his name, he’d never heard her speak.  She faced forward once more.  Over her face, the folds of dusky silk shifted.  Did he catch the glimmer of a smile?

He liked to think that he could bring some small joy to her.  She had to be a widow and a stranger.  No woman of his acquaintance who wasn’t widowed, and few who were, would wear a veil or extend her mourning for more than a week or two.  Especially when the woman was as beautiful as he knew his mystery woman to be beneath her calf length black sheath.  What a shame, Alec thought.  Whatever sorrow drove her to hide herself from the world deprived her of all it had to offer.  He’d witnessed her passion at the masquerade, and for that passion to hide in mourning was criminal.

The elevator began its upward journey.  He had to find out her name—all that he could about her—and he didn’t have much time.  Silently he cursed the other people in the elevator.  Rejoicing every time the car stopped and let one or two off.  Once he got her alone there would be no more teasing glimpses, no more jerking him around like his deceased father had.  It could have been that which made him imagine her mourning, if he’d mourned his father at all.  But a more thorough going, self-absorbed, philandering bastard than Alec Carter Sr., his son couldn’t imagine.

He turned his thoughts back to the woman.  Despite the obvious signs of her grief, he couldn’t share her sadness.  Most likely, it was that grief which caused her to cross his path so frequently, thereby allowing him the opportunity to fantasize about her for a few moments.  He tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help an occasional glance in her direction.  She drew him in the most basic way.  From the curve of blonde hair that shone against her neck and shoulders, past pale arms and long hands to her gorgeous legs.  He couldn’t get enough of looking at her.  He found himself praying that the ventilation system in the elevator would stir the air so he could glimpse the flesh where the kick pleat of her skirt flirted with the smooth taut line of her mid-thigh.

The elevator stopped.  Three people got off.  Only one elderly woman remained besides himself and the mystery woman.  Alec’s teeth ground together.  How long before he could be alone with her?  When they were finally alone, would this be the day that the power would fail, jerk the elevator to a stop and toss her into his arms.  Surely there was more to her allure for him than chemistry.  Simple curiosity, no doubt.  A heightened sense of mystery created by her silence, the severe colors and the veil.  His tie felt too tight.  He swallowed, but it didn’t help.  Nothing would short of ….  Good thing fantasies don’t actually happen, Alec told himself, making a discreet adjustment to the fit of his slacks.  If I got my hands on her I’d never let go until we were both sweaty and very satisfied.  He shook his head.  Maybe there was more of Alec Sr. in him than he cared to admit.

The bell dinged bringing Alec to awareness of an imminent stop.  What if she got off?  He’d follow.  He’d text a postponement for the meeting, but he wouldn’t lose this opportunity.

The car stopped.  With slow careful steps the elderly lady left the elevator.  Alec held his breath, but the woman in black remained.

Being near her was sheer torture, and he wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world.  Thank heaven the Carter Enterprises’ corporate offices were at the opposite end of the hall from the elevator bank.  The walk, uncomfortable as it may be, would give him enough time to recover before he paraded past the secretaries who shared the outer office.  They didn’t miss a thing, especially where their new, and very single, CEO was concerned.  He could imagine the water cooler gossip if he began arriving at the office with an erection tenting his pants every morning.

The doors closed, and the widow sighed.

Alec looked up just as she sagged against the side of the car.  He rushed to support her.  “Are you all right?”

She leaned against him.  Beneath where her palms rested atop his suit coat and shirt his skin burned.

“I’m fine, really.  It’s just a little dizzy spell.  It will pass.”

Her voice was all he’d imagined and more.  A dusky purr that vibrated across his skin and made him want to babble at random just to hear her respond.

“Then rest a moment.”

She raised her face to look at him and shifted away by a degree.  “I couldn’t.”

“Please.”  His arm tightened around her, bringing her back.  “I won’t hurt you.  I just want to help.”

“I’m glad.  Because I need your help.”  She pushed back against his arm.  A space opened between them.  She raised one hand.  Reaching behind her, she pushed the button that halted the elevator between floors. . . .