THE VALENTE SERIES
From The CEO Takes A Wife:
From The C.O.O. Must Marry:
From Valente's Baby:
A woman would have to be desperate to marry a stranger, but marry Alex Valente? He had to be kidding.
A look of implacable determination crossed his face. "What's that perfume you're wearing?"
She stared at him, baffled at the change in subject. "You must know what it is. It's 'Valente's Woman'."
"So you like it then?" He didn't give her time to answer. "Or did you wear it just for me tonight?" he asked, his voice taking on a husky quality that shivered through her.
She ignored that shiver. "No, I didn't wear it just for you tonight. It happens to be a gorgeous scent and I love it. I wear it all the time." And that was the truth.
He inclined his head, his eyes turning businesslike. "And so do most women in Australia."
"I'm sure you're right." This particular perfume called to something inside her, possessing a fascinating quality and retaining a sensual edge that was to her mind the perfect perfume. She rather thought she'd like to wear it for the rest of her life.
Ahead, the path wore over a small sand dune and down to a sun-kissed beach, partly scattered with couples lying on towels or parents playing in the shallows with their children. An older man jogged along the water's edge. A couple of surfboard riders bobbed out in the sea, waiting for larger waves that appeared to be in vain today.
She sighed in appreciation. "It's beautiful."
"Yes."
She kicked off her sandals, enjoying the sudden feel of soft sand trickling through her toes. "It's been ages since I walked along a beach."
He stepped out of his sandals. "Then what are we waiting for?" When she went to pick up her sandals, he instructed, "Leave them. We'll get them on our way back."
She blinked in surprise. "But won't someone steal them?"
He gave a dismissive shrug. "If they're that desperate then they're welcome to them."
"Oh." She shrugged. "Well, I guess a man like you doesn't need to worry about the cost of things."
A muscle tightened at the edge of his jaw. "A man like me?"
The next day they headed to the States in the family's private jet. Alex had a heavy schedule on arrival in Los Angeles so he had to get some paperwork out of the way first. Eventually he was able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the breather.
And enjoy the beautiful woman opposite him in the lounge area of the aircraft.
Even when she made him mad.
For a while there last evening, he'd been so angry with her he'd barely been able to eat dinner. How the hell could she think he'd had something to do with the cancellation of the venue? He'd never do something like that.
Okay, he'd been determined she would accompany him to the States today, but everything he did was direct and upfront. None of being deceitful stuff for him, and especially not when it came to family.
And right now, Olivia was family.
His immediate family.
His.
Watching her, something began to unfurl deep inside him. It just seemed so damn right having her here with him. All at once he wasn't so sure he wanted to let her go when the year was up.
Nick paused, trying to find the words that had been going over and over in his head all night. "Did he tell you he and my mother are moving into a smaller place in the city?"
She blinked in surprise. "No, he didn't." Her forehead cleared. "So that's why he wants me to redecorate. He's planning on selling."
"No, he's not selling. He wants to keep it in the family. He wants me to have it."
Her eyes lit up, making her look even more beautiful. "Oh, that's wonderful, Nick. This place is gorgeous. I've always loved coming here."
Something wavered inside him. "Then perhaps you'd like to stay."
Her enthusiasm paused. "What do you mean? Rent it from you or something?"
"I mean share it with me."
"Sh..share it with you?" she all but squeaked.
"He wants me to marry you, Sasha."
She sucked in a sharp breath, then slowly let it out. "Good Lord."
Half an hour later they were sitting in the corner at a local pub, sipping their drinks. The hotel was on the heritage listing as were many buildings in the Hawkesbury district.
"Any special reason for the cabin fever?" he asked, leaning back in his chair, his eyes watchful.
It sounded a ridiculous thing for her to say now. They'd been out of the house a lot lately and cabin fever was the last thing she'd be.
She wrinkled her nose. "I guess it's more that we haven't had much time to ourselves."
He nodded. "And all that with your father doesn't help either, does it?"
She gave a silent gasp. "Wh..what?"
"With Porter being in hospital."
"Oh." She swallowed. "Yes."
His look sharpened. "You've been tense all night. Are you sure you're telling me everything? He's not taken a turn for the worse, has he?"
"No, he's fine." Panic bounced inside her. She had to get thoughts of her father out of Nick's mind and onto something else. Otherwise she might give herself way.
"You seem to be enjoying the view," he said over lunch at the harborside restaurant.
Sasha turned to look at him with a smile. "Their menu boasts they have the most glorious view in the world. I was merely checking it out."
"And?"
She surveyed the Harbour Bridge and Opera House through the large glass windows. "I'd say their claim is well-supported."
"... If any person can show just cause why these two people may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
Lana's heart fluttered with anxiety in the ensuing silence, wishing that someone... anyone... would put a stop to this lunacy. If only Megan would cry, she might have the confidence to say no to this marriage.
The Registrar continued with the ceremony.
And suddenly it was too late.
Soon she would be a married woman and there wasn't a thing she could do about it.
"You may now kiss each other."
Oh Lord.
As if Matt knew that she couldn't look at him to save her life right now, he put his hand on her arm and turned her toward him, a solemn look in his eyes.
He lowered his head and she repressed a shiver, not out of repulsion but because in the mere few days since he'd come back into her life she could not ignore his compelling presence.
And then his lips touched hers in a precise kiss that said he was cool and in control and in no way did he want a response from her.
She was glad to oblige.
It would be her secret that his touch still made her tingle. She'd take that secret to the grave, she knew, as he moved back, his eyes dark and inscrutable.
Matt remained quiet while he concentrated on driving, then parking the car in the Opera House car park. He cupped her elbow as they walked to the elevator that would take them up to the concourse area, but she broke contact with him when they stepped around a crowd of people chatting.
"We might run into some people I know," he said in a clipped tone, cupping her elbow again. "So do you think you could look like you actually want to be with me?"
She tried to ignore the tingle of his touch. "You don't have to put on a show tonight, Matt. Everyone would have figured out by now why you married me."
He swore quietly. "I don't give a damn what everyone thinks they know, but I do have some pride. You're a beautiful woman and they would expect that we're having a physical relationship."
"Then they'd be wrong," she said, but her mind was on his comment.
He thought her beautiful.
Just as quickly another thought replaced it.
He also thought her a thief.
The next morning she was secretly glad of his company when they stepped out on the eighth floor of The House of Valente together. She wasn't actually nervous about it all, more uneasy. The real thief could still be here and could be watching her.
His middle-aged personal assistant greeted her warmly. "Lana, it's so nice to have you back."
"Thank you, Irene," she said, feeling cheered by the reception. She'd always enjoyed working here. Until her awareness of Matt had grown out of control.
Her eyes fell on Matt's office and out of nowhere memories of the Christmas party came flooding back. She felt her cheeks begin to heat up, but thankfully the others didn't appear to notice.
Three brothers whose wealthy father insists his sons must marry to carry on the family name....
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