Page 1 of Covert

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Samantha Piper needed this job more than she needed anything in her entire twenty-five years on the planet.

So what if she’d tampered with the truth, changed her surname, and taken a crash course in subservience? It would be worth it.

Besides, she would’ve done a lot worse to gain employment as Dylan Harmon’s butler.

“What do you think?” Sam pirouetted in front of her best friend, Ebony.

“Honestly?” Ebony made circles at her temple with her index finger. “I think you’re nuts.”

“Why? Doesn’t the uniform fit?” Sam glanced over her shoulder at her reflection in the mirror. “Does it make my butt look big?”

Ebony snorted. “Oh yeah, your minuscule toosh looks gigantic.” She rolled her eyes. “Give me a break.”

Sam laughed and sat on the part of anatomy under discussion. “You’re probably right. I am nuts, but this is what I want to do. The least you can do is support me.”

Ebony wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Hey, who’s been your biggest fan all these years? And who gaveyou a crash course in ‘bowing and scraping, butler-style’? Not to mention a glowing reference.”

Sam snickered. “Point taken. Let’s hope I remember your tips when it comes to the crunch.”

“When is that?” Ebony tapped her bottom lip, pretending to ponder. “When the dashing Dylan asks you to hold his warmed towel as he steps from a hot shower, water sluicing down his great bod, from his broad shoulders to his—“

“Stop.” Sam clamped a hand over her friend’s mouth. “If I wasn’t nervous before, now I’m petrified.”

“Since when has any guy intimidated you?”

“If you’re referring to my archaic father and his crones, fine, I can usually handle them.” She grimaced. “ I hope Dylan Harmon proves to be as amenable.”

Ebony chuckled. “I’m sure your five hunky brothers would love to hear you describe them as crones.”

Sam wrinkled her nose. “To you, they’re hunks. To me, they’re major pains in the ass.”

“Whatever.” Ebony glanced at her watch. “Isn’t it time you left? Wouldn’t want to miss your flight and be late on your first day.”

Sam noted the time on her bedside clock and sighed. “Wish me luck. I’m going to need it.”

Ebony hugged her. “You’ll be fine. Remember everything I taught you and it’ll be a cinch.”

If only.

Since when had Sam’s life been easy? She’d bucked the system for as long as she could remember, ignoring the old-fashioned views of her parents, who were still caught up in the ancient fairytale of their royal blood.

So she descended from Russian royalty? Big deal.

The more her family treated her like a princess, the more she wanted to rebel. When her five, older male siblings joined herparents in reinforcing her “duties” as the only princess in the family, she’d been pushed over the edge.

The result? A three-month contract in Melbourne as Dylan Harmon’s butler, as far as she could get from Queensland, family constraints, and their ridiculous expectations.

What better way to shun family ties and prove her independence than accept a position as some rich boy’s servant?

Not that she’d told her family that. Instead, she spun some lame story about meeting a prospective husband through her friend Ebony, and they’d bought it. In fact, her parents had practically pushed her out the door when she mentioned the possibility of matrimony to an influential man like Dylan Harmon.

After all, what better way to ensure royal heirs than matching their princess daughter with the prince of Australia’s landowners?

“Good luck, honey, you’ll be fine. And remember, call me if you need anything.” Ebony blew her a kiss as she walked out the door, leaving Sam alone with her thoughts.

Picking up her bag and scanning the room one last time, Sam hoped her best friend was right and everything would be fine, as long as she kept her mind on the job and Dylan Harmon didn’t treat her like the rest of the men in her life.

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