They would always find their way through.
And all the while they would stay here, in this ancient place where they’d found each other. When the tide was low, they would welcome in the world. There would be laughter in the halls, and deliciously creepy stories about disappearances both centuries old and more recent.
But soon enough the tide would come in, and the castle would be theirs again.
Like their heart made stone and cared for throughout time, they would love this place. They would love each other and their children. They would choose light over dark, hope over heartache, and they would do what no other Franceschi ever had across the ages.
They would make Castello Nero a home.
Their home.
And he kissed her again, long and deep, because that was how forever happened when it was made of love—one life-altering kiss at a time.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781488059575
Claimed in the Italian’s Castle
Copyright © 2020 by Caitlin Crews
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].
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A coldhearted billionaire
And the innocent to tame him!
The moment he spotted Ella Riding, Roman knew she would be his. Unworldly Ella was his grandfather’s ward, living the life Roman had been denied. Ignoring his guilt at letting her fall for and marry him, he believed his revenge was faultless…
Ella may be naive, but she’s no pushover. After discovering Roman’s lies, she can’t pretend their passion-filled marriage never happened. Instead, she’ll challenge him. Roman might see himself as a big bad wolf, but she knows he could be so much more…
Dear Reader,
When I was asked if I would rework a fairy tale for a Harlequin Presents series, I knew immediately which one I wanted to do. Admittedly when I was a child, my mother would read Tolkien and Douglas Adams rather than the Brothers Grimm, but I’ve always loved the tale of Red Riding Hood. The imagery is so striking—dark forests, red flowing capes, glowing yellow eyes peering out from the shadows. Staying on the path, veering off it, temptation, danger, empowerment… All of these things are deliciously irresistible to a writer!
Whether it was the traditional tale of the little girl outwitting the wolf with the help of the huntsman and saving her grandmother in the process, retellings like Angela Carter’s or the film and TV adaptations, I was always drawn to the wolf. Was he bad or misunderstood? Was he the villain, or could he possibly be the hero?
And that’s what I wanted to explore in Taming the Big Bad Billionaire. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
Happy reading!
Pippa xx
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
Beauty and Her One-Night Baby by Dani Collins
Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight by Natalie Anderson
Claimed in the Italian’s Castle by Caitlin Crews
Expecting His Billion-Dollar Scandal by Cathy Williams
Taming the Big Bad Billionaire by Pippa Roscoe
The Flaw in His Marriage Plan by Tara Pammi
His Innocent’s Passionate Awakening by Melanie Milburne
Taming the Big Bad Billionaire
Pippa Roscoe
Pippa Roscoe lives in Norfolk near her family and makes daily promises to herself that this is the day she’ll leave the computer to take a long walk in the countryside. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t dreaming about handsome heroes and innocent heroines. Totally her mother’s fault, of course—she gave Pippa her first romance to read at the age of seven! She is inconceivably happy that she gets to share those daydreams with you all. Follow her on Twitter, @pipparoscoe.
Books by Pippa Roscoe
Harlequin Presents
Conquering His Virgin Queen
Virgin Princess’s Marriage Debt
Demanding His Billion-Dollar Heir
The Winners’ Circle
A Ring to Take His Revenge
Claimed for the Greek’s Child
Reclaimed by the Powerful Sheikh
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
For anyone who ever got goose bumps when they heard, “Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.”
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
CHAPTER ONE
‘Always stay on the path,’ her grandmother had said. ‘For bad things lurk in the woods…dark things, monsters and wolves.’
But Little Red Riding Hood didn’t listen to her grandmother because she didn’t
