Three weeks ago, her contractions had kicked in, sending Luca into frenzied panic, even though he had been as cool as a cucumber as the time for the birth had drawn ever closer, wisely telling her when she should pack her bag for the hospital and assuring her that it was all probably going to be far calmer than she feared.
He had stayed with her for the duration of the ten-hour labour, had even helped to deliver their daughter and had only admitted afterwards that he had been close to passing out several times.
He was the most devoted father Cordelia could have hoped for. Now, she felt his arms around her as he shifted against her, levering himself up to gaze at their daughter, breathing softly in her basket, her tiny hands balled into fists. She had a mop of curly dark hair and was pale gold. She was the most wonderful thing they had ever seen and they never tired of admitting it.
Her father had flown over three days after Giulietta was born, along with Doris, and, after fussing over his granddaughter, he had shyly announced that he and Doris would be joining forces to expand the business.
‘When you say joining forces…’ Cordelia had encouraged and he had gone a deeper shade of scarlet.
‘Woman’s only gone and proposed,’ he’d said gruffly, while Doris had looked at him with such tenderness that Cordelia had wanted to rush over and give her a huge hug.
The solitary man who had spent a lifetime mourning the life that had passed him by was finally waking up and Cordelia couldn’t have been happier.
There would be another wedding in three months’ time and Luca was already making noises about having a proper honeymoon afterwards. Somewhere hot and sunny, with a private beach, where they could relive good times, specifically the good times that had brought their beautiful baby into the world.
‘She’s a miracle,’ Luca murmured, wrapping his arm around his wife and nestling closer to her. ‘In case I haven’t mentioned it, you girls are the two most important people in my life.’
‘I think you’ve mentioned it before.’ Cordelia smiled. She wriggled until she was facing him and their bodies were pressed against one another.
‘Have I mentioned, in that case, that I am already thinking that when it comes to family numbers, four seems a far more rounded number than three?’
Cordelia laughed, eyes gleaming. ‘Is that a fact?’
‘I never thought I’d hear myself say it, my dearest love, but loving you is the best thing that ever happened to me…’
* * * * *
WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK FROM
Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Welcome to the glamorous lives of royals and billionaires, where passion knows no bounds. Be swept into a world of luxury, wealth and exotic locations.
8 NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE EVERY MONTH!
Love Harlequin romance?
DISCOVER.
Be the first to find out about promotions, news and exclusive content!
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Instagram.com/HarlequinBooks
Pinterest.com/HarlequinBooks
ReaderService.com
EXPLORE.
Sign up for the Harlequin e-newsletter and download a free book from any series at
TryHarlequin.com
CONNECT.
Join our Harlequin community to share your thoughts and connect with other romance readers!
Facebook.com/groups/HarlequinConnection
ISBN: 9781488059582
Expecting His Billion-Dollar Scandal
Copyright © 2020 by Cathy Williams
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at [email protected].
Harlequin Enterprises ULC
22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.Harlequin.com
A match made for revenge…
Or redemption?
Family is everything to tycoon Vincenzo. The man who ruined his mother’s life will pay, and Vincenzo has planned the perfect revenge. He’ll wed his enemy’s adopted daughter: Alessandra. The flaw in his plan? Their fiery attraction…and his need to protect her.
Supermodel Alessandra is used to men wanting her for her fame. What she’s not used to is a man wanting to know the real her. Alessandra trusts that Vincenzo is that man. But to have her, the Italian must stop his quest for vengeance…
Dear Reader,
I’ve always been fascinated by what makes a hero a hero. Especially in the context of the thrilling, dominating heroes who populate our favorite Harlequin Presents novels. For me, even the most irredeemable hero still has a core of something inside, a quality that just needs to be teased out by our spunky heroine.
Just like in The Frog Prince. I believe that depending on whichever version of the original Brothers Grimm tale you like, it took the heroine to not only see something heroic about the hero but also to give him that kiss or nudge or sometimes even to break the walls down—as in the case of Alessandra Giovanni, who makes Vincenzo see that at the core of him, he is a hero.
Especially when it comes to the woman he loves.
I hope you enjoy my version of The Frog Prince.
Tara
Once Upon a Temptation
Will they live passionately ever after?
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a billionaire—or eight! Each billionaire had riches beyond your wildest imagination. Still, they were each missing something: love. But the path to true love is never easy…even if you’re one of the world’s richest men!
Inspired by fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood, the Once Upon a Temptation collection will take you on a passion-filled journey of ultimate escapism.
Fall in love with…
Cinderella’s Royal Secret by Lynne Graham
