Around the World with My Ex: Travel round the world with the latest book from bestselling author Maxine Morrey!

‘Sorry?’ I said, pulling myself back to the moment.

My boss frowned at me. ‘Are you sure you’re not sick, Mia?’

I took a sip of the water I was still holding and gave him my most professional smile.

‘Definitely not. I’m perfectly fine.’

Hunter turned his back on us to gaze out of the window, taking in the view upstream towards the rest of London.

Jeremy gave me a look, tilted his head towards our guest and then back at me. I shrugged. I wasn’t about to let on that we had… history. If Jeremy thought there was more to it than Hunter just being a little arrogant, then there was every chance he would pull me from the job. His daughter’s happiness was his priority and I totally understood that. If he thought my past with Hunter might cause any ripples in that happiness, I knew he’d seriously reconsider whether I was the right person for the job. But I knew I was. This was my chance. And I wasn’t about to give that up for anyone. I’d worked for this and I was sure as hell not going to let Hunter Scott take it away from me. I knew I could do this job. Even though I wasn’t entirely sure what the assignment was yet, I still knew I could do it, whatever it was. Even if Hunter thought differently. My boss gave an eyebrow-raise, before turning back to Hunter and asking him about his most recent assignment. Something in deepest Bolivia for National Geographic, apparently.

‘I hope you’re not going to be too bored with this assignment. It’s obviously a lot different from what you usually do.’ The fact that Hunter had immediately brought up his preference for a different journalist clearly had my boss on a heightened-alert status. And he’d researched him, just as he would have done anyone who was going to be in close proximity to his only child. Hunter’s reputation was such that he could pretty much pick and choose who he worked with. And it was clear to all of us he didn’t choose to work with me. My boss knew me. And he’d chosen me. But I could tell he wasn’t entirely unconcerned about the possibility of his daughter’s preferred, award-winning photographer backing out because of that choice. Hunter smiled and leant back in the chair he’d now sat in.

‘I’ve glanced over the itinerary, and I’ve been to most of these places before. I know where to find something entertaining to do if I need to.’

Or someone more entertaining to do, more likely. At six-foot-three, and what I’d often seen described as “ruggedly beautiful”, Hunter Scott stood out. I knew from experience he’d be hit on before he finished ordering his first drink at the bar. He’d never been into all that one-night stand stuff much before, but from the clippings I’d seen, and meeting him again just now, he didn’t appear to be the same man I’d once known. Hunter stood to leave and I stood too, instantly wishing I’d chosen to wear heels today instead of flats. I tilted my head up to where he now stood, pretty much a whole foot taller than me.

‘Guess I’ll see you tonight at the restaurant,’ he said, looking down at me.

I thought about asking him to try repeating the sentence with a little less enthusiasm but I didn’t think it would be physically possible for him to do so.

‘You will indeed.’

‘Great.’

Again. So much enthusiasm.

Jeremy pumped his hand energetically and Hunter left, with most of the surrounding female – and a few male – eyes upon him as he did so. I made to leave too but my boss gestured for me to stay. I closed the door and turned back, tilting my head in question.

‘Wasn’t sure if we’d lost him there. Seems like he’s used to people agreeing with his demands. Talent can do that for you.’

Not to mention the fact that he’s hot as—

‘But I think we’re OK.’ Jeremy interrupted my thought. ‘From what I hear, when this guy gives his word, he means it.’

‘You could have warned me he’d already tried to get me bumped.’

‘It wasn’t that he didn’t want to work with you. It was just that he preferred this other woman.’

I wasn’t so sure of the truth of the first half but was pretty damn sure about the second bit.

‘But you’re right. I should have given you a heads-up about that. To be honest, I didn’t think he’d bring it up. I guess he felt the need to be super-honest.’

Yeah. Something like that.

‘I guess so. Well, at least I know where I stand with him now, anyway.’

Jeremy leant back in his seat again and fixed me with a serious look. ‘Mia. You’re a really good writer. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t be sending you on this. Just be the competent, intelligent journalist you are and Scott will soon see you’re just as good as this other woman. Probably better.’

‘Absolutely. Understood.’ I wasn’t entirely convinced anything I did would change the opinion Hunter Scott held about me – but this was work. And I was going to do my damnedest to make this break pay for me. It was pretty clear that Hunter was different from the man I’d known five years ago. But I was different too. And just because his now-stellar career had led him to a point where he could command his own price, date socialites and be regularly listed looking all hot and daring in yet another article on the World’s Most Eligible and Exciting Bachelors, it didn’t mean I was going to be intimidated by him. And it certainly didn’t mean I was about to give up the career chance of a lifetime just because the circumstances might make him a little uncomfortable. I was going to have to deal with it, so he damn well could too.