ABBY GREEN spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the film and TV industry as an assistant director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: there has to be more than this. So she sent off a partial to Harlequin Mills & Boon. After many rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born. She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here: www.abby-green.com
Giancarlo Delucca has one aim—to go global. Even if it means marrying the O'Connor heiress to secure the contract.
Keelin O'Connor wants a place on the board—and no part in this business "arrangement." Gianni may have vowed to seduce his wayward bride, but Keelin is fighting him every step of the way down the aisle.
Happily-ever-after was never part of the bargain, but Gianni finds himself intrigued by Keelin's feisty defiance. And suddenly he's determined to turn the beautiful Irish redhead's "I don't" into an "I do!”
Harlequin Presents; January 20, 2014
$4.99; 192 pages
ISBN-13: 9780373133116
EXCERPT
The woman in front of him didn't remotely resemble the picture he'd seen in O'Connor's office. Anger pierced him to think he'd been deceived. And rendered speechless for a moment, a state he was not used to, they just stared at each other.
And then the perfume seemed to dissipate mercifully, bringing some oxygen to his brain, restoring his faculties. He pushed the anger down, telling himself he was being too hasty.
Just as he thought that, he saw the gold necklace nestling close to that upsurge of cleavage. Joined-together looping letters spelled out K-e-e-l-i-n. Diamonds twinkled from either end.
His last lover had favoured nothing more obvious than tiny diamond stud earrings. But he forced himself to look at his potential future wife, smile and say smoothly, 'Miss O'Connor, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Giancarlo Delucca, welcome to Italy.'
She blinked, smiled and stepped back. 'Please excuse me. I just got back from doing some shopping near the Via del Corso.'
Gianni walked into the room, aware that even though she was in spindly high heels, she'd be tall without them. About five foot eight, he guessed. A dart of awareness pierced him, surprising him.
He heard the door click behind him and he had the most bizarre urge to turn around and escape. Fast. He pushed it down. He'd agreed to this cold-blooded agreement for lots of reasons, but also because he'd decided that he could handle a marriage that was a business transaction, not an emotional or romantic endeavour.
He steeled himself and turned to face Keelin again. For a second something about her over-the-top look felt slightly off but he got distracted by those unbelievably long legs and that impressive cleavage. Dio. He'd expected fresh-faced natural beauty. An intelligent refined woman, not a tarted-up society girl.
Keelin waved an arm to indicate the hundreds of luxe bags and gushed, 'Thank you so much for the welcome gift of the credit card, such a thoughtful gesture. Shopping in Rome is my absolute favourite. It's made me feel right at home.'
She glanced up from under her lashes in a way that set his teeth on edge, even as he realised that under all that smoky eye make-up her eyes were as huge and stunning as he might have expected. A kind of mossy green he'd never seen before.
'I'm afraid I saw the word trousseau and I got a little excited. They're delivering the rest tomorrow.'
'The rest?' He blanched at that, eyes widening slightly.
'Oh, yes.' She trilled a little laugh. 'This is just a few things to keep me going.
'Actually—' she looked around speculatively and bit her lip '—the Harrington Hotel is a beautiful hotel, Mr Delucca, but I'm used to a little more space. At The Chatsfield, for instance, they're so wonderful about storing shopping.'
Gianni bit down the distaste—he'd chosen this hotel because of its hushed discreet exclusivity. The Chatsfield's opulent luxuriousness tended to attract more attention, which Gianni instinctively shied away from.
'Anyway,' Keelin said brightly, drawing Gianni's attention back to her, 'this is fine for now, and I just heard a rumour that Sheikh Zayn and Sophie Parsons might be staying here.' She rolled her eyes theatrically. 'Did you see the pictures of their wedding? So glamorous and romantic. I'd love to catch a glimpse of them.'
No, Gianni thought grimly. He hadn't seen pictures of some society wedding. However, it rang a bell and he did recall something now about James Chatsfield hitting the headlines again for living up to his playboy reputation in some exclusive ski resort, which was just another reason to prefer the discretion of The Harrington.
Keelin was smiling at him guilelessly. She looked sweet but vacant. And for the first time Gianni felt something inside him tighten in rejection of a wife who would be little more than a glossy appendage on the end of his arm. Even though that's what he'd told himself he'd be happy with for the sake of a deal.
Before he could formulate another sentence though, Keelin had moved over to a small table with an ice bucket on top. As she bent forward slightly Gianni couldn't help but let his eyes follow the lean lines of her body. She was slim and toned, yet as undeniably curvy as she'd been in the photo. That at least hadn't lied.
And then the perfume seemed to dissipate mercifully, bringing some oxygen to his brain, restoring his faculties. He pushed the anger down, telling himself he was being too hasty.
Just as he thought that, he saw the gold necklace nestling close to that upsurge of cleavage. Joined-together looping letters spelled out K-e-e-l-i-n. Diamonds twinkled from either end.
His last lover had favoured nothing more obvious than tiny diamond stud earrings. But he forced himself to look at his potential future wife, smile and say smoothly, 'Miss O'Connor, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Giancarlo Delucca, welcome to Italy.'
She blinked, smiled and stepped back. 'Please excuse me. I just got back from doing some shopping near the Via del Corso.'
Gianni walked into the room, aware that even though she was in spindly high heels, she'd be tall without them. About five foot eight, he guessed. A dart of awareness pierced him, surprising him.
He heard the door click behind him and he had the most bizarre urge to turn around and escape. Fast. He pushed it down. He'd agreed to this cold-blooded agreement for lots of reasons, but also because he'd decided that he could handle a marriage that was a business transaction, not an emotional or romantic endeavour.
He steeled himself and turned to face Keelin again. For a second something about her over-the-top look felt slightly off but he got distracted by those unbelievably long legs and that impressive cleavage. Dio. He'd expected fresh-faced natural beauty. An intelligent refined woman, not a tarted-up society girl.
Keelin waved an arm to indicate the hundreds of luxe bags and gushed, 'Thank you so much for the welcome gift of the credit card, such a thoughtful gesture. Shopping in Rome is my absolute favourite. It's made me feel right at home.'
She glanced up from under her lashes in a way that set his teeth on edge, even as he realised that under all that smoky eye make-up her eyes were as huge and stunning as he might have expected. A kind of mossy green he'd never seen before.
'I'm afraid I saw the word trousseau and I got a little excited. They're delivering the rest tomorrow.'
'The rest?' He blanched at that, eyes widening slightly.
'Oh, yes.' She trilled a little laugh. 'This is just a few things to keep me going.
'Actually—' she looked around speculatively and bit her lip '—the Harrington Hotel is a beautiful hotel, Mr Delucca, but I'm used to a little more space. At The Chatsfield, for instance, they're so wonderful about storing shopping.'
Gianni bit down the distaste—he'd chosen this hotel because of its hushed discreet exclusivity. The Chatsfield's opulent luxuriousness tended to attract more attention, which Gianni instinctively shied away from.
'Anyway,' Keelin said brightly, drawing Gianni's attention back to her, 'this is fine for now, and I just heard a rumour that Sheikh Zayn and Sophie Parsons might be staying here.' She rolled her eyes theatrically. 'Did you see the pictures of their wedding? So glamorous and romantic. I'd love to catch a glimpse of them.'
No, Gianni thought grimly. He hadn't seen pictures of some society wedding. However, it rang a bell and he did recall something now about James Chatsfield hitting the headlines again for living up to his playboy reputation in some exclusive ski resort, which was just another reason to prefer the discretion of The Harrington.
Keelin was smiling at him guilelessly. She looked sweet but vacant. And for the first time Gianni felt something inside him tighten in rejection of a wife who would be little more than a glossy appendage on the end of his arm. Even though that's what he'd told himself he'd be happy with for the sake of a deal.
Before he could formulate another sentence though, Keelin had moved over to a small table with an ice bucket on top. As she bent forward slightly Gianni couldn't help but let his eyes follow the lean lines of her body. She was slim and toned, yet as undeniably curvy as she'd been in the photo. That at least hadn't lied.
AND SOME MORE GREAT READS...
When Elizabeth Shelton finds her boss murdered, her life is thrown into turmoil. But nothing shocks her more than learning she's pregnant by the victim’s son. She kept her attraction to mogul Whit Adair hidden for years before their one-night tryst—and now she must keep another secret. When the killer targets her next, Whit goes from her one-time lover to her full-time bodyguard. Taking her to his ranch for safekeeping, Whit discovers the truth about the baby. He offers his protection, but Elizabeth wants more—his love. For his child and its mother, he'll do anything—even take down a murderer.
CARRYING HIS SECRET
By Marie Ferrarella
Harlequin Presents; February 3, 2015
$5.50; 288 pages
ISBN-13: 9780373279050
Even with a baby on the way, Amelia's holding out for the perfect husband. Tyler has 30 days to prove he's the one.
Best friends Tyler Dixon and Amelia Kennedy eloped to Vegas on a whim. But before they can deal with their quickie divorce, she confesses: she's pregnant. Now there's no way Tyler will
agree to go their separate ways. He wants them to stay married, raise their child together, share a house—and a bed.
Yet Amelia has always dreamed of a perfect marriage and she doesn't think this self-made millionaire is lifetime material despite their friendship. She's given him just one month to prove her wrong.
THIRTY DAYS TO WIN HIS WIFE
By Andrea Laurence
Harlequin Desire; February 3, 2015
$5.25 US; 192 pages
ISBN-13: 9780373733699
AND NOW THE GIVEAWAY
1 US winner will win a copy of Delucca's Marriage Contract by Abby Green.
Good luck!
)
**No compensation was received for posting. This site is not responsible for the prize shipment, lost, damaged or stolen prizes.
interesting characters
ReplyDelete