Past Undone

Past Undone

A Novel by Viviane Brentanos

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release: June 15, 2012

Editor: Anne Duguid

Line Editor: Penny Ehrenkranz

Cover Designer: Suzannah Safi

Rating: L=  3   S=  3   V=  3

Words: 51370

Pages: 145

Price: $5.50

ISBN: 978-1-77127-028-1

Back Cover:

At nearly twenty-one, Sofie Jameson is a little tired of paying the price for her director father’s caped crusader routine. She wouldn’t mind so much. but the bodyguards he periodically hires to protect her possess as much charm and wit as a gulag guard.

Nik Lloyd is no exception.  Mr. Lloyd has one simple set of rules: do as I say and don’t speak unless spoken to. Sofie wants to hate him on sight, but it’s a little difficult when every time she looks at him, her feet leave the ground and she spins on an emotional roller coaster. Hidden away together in his beautiful Greek island home, Sofie soon realizes Mr. Lloyd is an “international man of mystery,” and a man, if his housekeeper is to be believed, who is hiding dark secrets. The housekeeper claims he is a tortured soul. The livid scar on his back convinces Sofie she may be right. Who does he cry for at night? And just who is the mysterious young girl, Bella, who turns up out of nowhere, latching on to Sofie with all the tenacity of a limpet?

Excerpt:

He watched her, waiting for her come back, no doubt, but she didn’t feel ready to oblige. She’d vented her rage last night. Mentally, she was exhausted.

“Miss Jamison,” he put down his fork, “while I realize we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, and at the risk of making it two feet, we need to talk. I must clarify the situation, and perhaps, you will understand the necessity of my rules.”

“All I understand is I have been plucked out of college, flown halfway across Europe, missing out on a holiday I was so looking forward to, and then you tell me I cannot keep my phone?”

“It’s too risky.” Bridging fingers together, he studied her, as if debating whether to elaborate. “While I understand your pique, I am afraid it is not my concern. I have a job to do, and that is to protect you at all costs. Your father is taking these threats very seriously, and after reading the files on this group, I do not blame him. These people do not joke around.”

“Oh piffle.” Sofie crammed more bread into an already full mouth. “They’re just a bunch of ignorant Bible thumpers.”

He curved his lips into an indulgent smile. “Ignorance is dangerous, Miss Jamison. These people are fanatics. They have killed before.”

Sofie scowled; he seemed determined to chip away at her bravado. “I thought you were supposed to reassure me.”

“I deal in realities. It’s the only way to do my job. I want you to be aware of the stakes, here. Your full cooperation is the key to your safety. So…” He raised his glass to his lips, gaze trained on her, expression and tone unemotional. “The rules. No phones, no Internet. Any contact with family and friends will be with my supervision. You will not leave the grounds unless I accompany you. Are we clear?”

Too stunned to reply, Sofie stopped chewing.

“Are we clear, Miss Jamison?” His eyes grew cold, while his mouth formed a resolute line.

“Yes.” She swallowed. “What do you want me to say? It’s not like I have a choice.”

“No, you do not.” The lines on his forehead smoothed out.

Sofie itched to reach over and empty the contents of her glass in his face.

“It won’t be forever, Miss Jamison.” He lowered his gaze, tone placating, as if she were five years old. “I believe the FBI and Scotland Yard are working together on this. Once they find the source of the threats against you, you will be free to return to your life.”

“Oh for goodness sake.” Sofie couldn’t hold back. “My name is Sofie. S. O. F. I. E. At least do me the courtesy of using my name.”

“I’m sorry.” Unriled by her outburst, he folded his napkin, before placing it next to his half-eaten food. “I thought you understood. We cannot be friends. Don’t try and make us so. It’s the only way this undesirable situation will work. I must remain one hundred percent emotionally detached.”

“Emotionally detached?” Sofie let rip with a harsh laugh. “You are severed from the neck up. I bet you can’t even spell emotion. Where did you learn people skills training? The Robot Academy?”

“Your opinion is of no relevance. One more thing. Last night I lost control. I apologize. It will not happen again. While you are under my care, you will not see me drink.”

“Hey.” She waved a hand, flustered by his act of contrition. A Benedictine monk had nothing on this guy. “Don’t sweat it. It’s not as if you were falling on the floor.”

“Nevertheless, it was unprofessional.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “I get it. You’re afraid I’ll report back to my dad.”

His blank stare told her what he thought of her petty response. “It was a joke.” She affected a pained eye roll. “God, life with you must be so much fun. I pity your wife. You are married, I take it.”

“Should I be?” His stance relaxed.

“Well…” She sat back, studying him with one eye closed. “I thought—”

“You thought you’d be clever and try to goad personal information from me. No, I am not married.”

“Girlfriend?” She leaned forward again, elbows on the table, chin resting in bridged fingers. She attacked him with her number one flirt smile. No harm in trying, she reasoned.

“No girlfriend.”

“Oh, I don’t believe that, Mr.… What did you say your name was?”

“I didn’t.” He wasn’t playing. He stood. “But if it will satisfy your ill-mannered curiosity, my name is Nicholas Lloyd. I am thirty-two and single and will probably remain so for a long time. Most important, I am very, very good at my job. That is all that need concern you. I am going for a swim, and then I will sleep for a couple of hours. I suggest you do the same.”

Buffeted by his admonishing tone, Sofie squirmed. Her cheeks burned. Talk about making her feel small? He’d crushed her as if she were an insignificant bug.

“I just woke up.” Her reply came out too sullen, but that’s how he made her feel: a sulky little girl.

“Suit yourself.”

With a disinterested raising of an eyebrow, he made for the pool area—only to turn back. “Oh, Miss Jamison, don’t try to leave. The gates are locked, and the security alarms are in full working order. If you wish to go anywhere, I will accompany you, but you do not leave the premises. There is a small cove beyond those trees.” He waved in the direction of a line of cypresses. “You may swim there. It is inaccessible by road, and the local coast guard has been ordered to keep all craft from within three kilometers of the property.”

“Aye aye, Captain.”  Sofie saluted. Once again, her sarcasm bounced off his back. His shoulder wasn’t cold; it was sculpted in ice.

About the Author:

I was born in Reading UK in 1958. My father is English and my mother is French although there is a strong vein of Spanish on my maternal grandmother’s side. I was educated at various schools before completing Sixth Form College at St Peter's Huntingdon. I somehow managed to collect A levels in English, French and History and I subsequently won a place at Sheffield University where I decided to read Classical Civilization. Once there, however, I decided that I had had enough of the academic life; I found the student mentality rather false and having been brought up in student circles, rather boring. Much to my mother's horror, I gave up my studies and went to London to begin a course as a Canine Beautician. In 1984, my first husband and I parted ways amicably and I decided to visit the Ionian island of Corfu to celebrate my new freedom. It proved to be a life-changing decision. I still remember to this day, sitting in a café-bar, overlooking the crystal clear azure sea and saying to my friend. "I never want to leave here". I absolutely love the life-style here. I would recommend it to anyone. I remarried and have two children.

But I decided that there was more to me than being a mother and wife {although, I hasten to add, it is a worthy assignment.} I decided to finally get my head down and do what I'd always promised myself; I was going to write. I have been writing romance since my early teens, mostly for my own satisfaction and for my friends but now I really want to work at it. Writing has become my passion. I have always been a "Romantic", often accused of not living in the real world but who wants to do that? I like to call my work Romance with a quirky, humorous Brit twist and I am always striving to make my characters real, characters we can all relate to. I hope you all enjoy my world.

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Customer Reviews:

One can always look forward to witty dialogue, roller coaster emotions and unexpected turns in a Viviane Brentanos read. Past Undone does not disappoint on any of these accounts. Not unlike a savory meal, devouring a read this delicious, thought provoking and entertaining ought to be illegal. Fortunately for us, it is not.rnSpending a few hours in Greece with these characters is cherry on top. Spoiled child Sophie is astute enough to realize when she finds herself in an amazing situation. Unanswered questions and mystical happenings keep the pages flying and the reader's mind racing toward the amazing conclusion. The elusive Bella coupled with a mysterious bodyguard Sophie can't seem to get past make this the perfect, if unexpected romantic escape.

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