‘Not really.’ He shrugged, as if facing her again was the easiest thing in the world—as if he hadn’t spent the best part of the night locked in sensual dreams with her. ‘I heard at dinner last night from Sophie that you worked here …’ That would account for dreaming of her, Matteo decided, and then he remembered why they could never be.

She preferred her work to him.

‘Are your clientele richer here, Bella?’

‘They are.’ Bella smiled. ‘I wonder if even you could afford me now.’

‘Oh, but I’m sure that I could,’ Matteo said. ‘Given that I’m looking to buy this hotel. In a few months time I may well be your boss …’

‘Never!’ Bella spat.

‘Why are you suddenly so cross?’ Matteo asked, his voice a low husk, his face far too close to hers, so close that he could feel her soft rapid breaths on his cheek. ‘From what I remember we parted on very friendly terms.’

Playboys of Sicily

Taming Italy’s most notorious men!

You won’t want to miss this sizzlingly dramatic new duet from USA TODAY bestselling author Carol Marinelli—available only from Mills & Boon® Modern™ Romance!

Tycoon Luka might agree to be ex-flame Sophie’s fake fiancé … but at what cost?

Sicilian’s Shock Proposal Available July 2015

Bella hasn’t seen millionaire Matteo since that night. He’s as irresistible as ever, but will he still want her after he discovers her secret?

His Sicilian Cinderella Available August 2015

CAROL MARINELLI is a Taurus, with Taurus rising, yet she still thinks she’s a secret Gemini. Originally from England, she now lives in Australia and is a single mother of three. Apart from her children, writing romance and the friendships forged along the way are her passion. She chooses to believe in a happy-ever-after for all, and strives for that in her writing.

PROLOGUE

‘YOU’LL COME WITH ME?’ Matteo checked. ‘You’ll meet me and Luka at the airport this morning?’

He couldn’t quite meet Bella’s eyes—not just because there was a bruise on her cheek that his hand had made, more that last night had left him feeling more open and exposed than Matteo was used to.

And yet, for the most part, there was no sense of regret.

Bella looked up at the man who had had her heart since she was sixteen. On her first day as a chambermaid at Brezza Oceana she had started her shift feeling awkward in her uniform and missing her friends from school, but at least her closest friend Sophie had started working there that day too.

Bella and Sophie had walked along a corridor, only to see a few of Malvolio’s men coming towards them, including Matteo Santini and his half-brother Dino.

The young women had stepped back to let the group pass but even as they’d done so Bella had braced herself for what was to come.

Sophie was out of bounds. She had been promised to Luka and they would get engaged soon. Even though he lived in England, Luka was Malvolio’s son and so they didn’t say anything to her.

The lewd comments were instead all aimed at Bella, because they knew she was Maria Gatti’s daughter and were aware of her mother’s occupation.

Bella was more than used to it.

‘Hey!’

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