âWho is the woman sitting opposite me now?â Massimo asked. âIs she the social-climbing gold digger, or the girl with the golden heart?â
âWhat if I am both?â she asked, a fleeting shadow of sadness in her gray-blue eyes as they returned to his. âWhat if they are one and the same?â
The waiter appeared at that moment to take their order, giving Massimo time to reflect on her answer. Massimo had waited so long for revenge. He had thought of nothing else for five long years. Each punishing day working at building his investment empire had been for this chance to turn the tables on her. He had been ruthless in his pursuit of wealth and power. His anger toward his stepfather had become almost insignificant as he had planned his revenge on her.
He was not going to be lured in by her innocent act all over again.
This time he would have her where he wanted her, where he had dreamed of having her for the past five years.
In his bed.
MELANIE MILBURNE read her first Harlequin>® novel when she was seventeen and has never looked back. She decided she would settle for nothing less than a tall, dark and handsome hero as her future husband. Well, sheâs not only still reading romance, but writing it as well! And the tall, dark and handsome hero? She fell in love with him on the second date and was secretly engaged to him within six weeks.
Two sons later, they arrived in Hobart, Tasmaniaâthe jewel in the Australian crown. Once their boys were safely in school, Melanie went back to university and upgraded, receiving her bachelorâs and then her masterâs degree.
As part of her final assessment, she conducted a tutorial on the romance genre. While she was reading a paragraph from the novel of a prominent Harlequin>® author, the door suddenly burst open. The husband she thought was working was actually standing there dressed in a tuxedo, his dark brown eyes centered on her startled blue ones. He strode purposefully across the room, hauled Melanie into his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately before setting her back down and leaving without a single word. The lecturer gave Melanie a high distinction and her fellow students gave her jealous glares! And so her pilgrimage into romance writing was set!
Melanie also enjoys long-distance running and is a nationally ranked masters swimmer in Australia. She learned to swim as an adult, so for anyone out there who thinks they canât do somethingâyou can! Her motto is âDonât say I canât; say I CAN TRY.â
To my mother-in-law, Joyce, and my late
father-in-law, Alf Wilkinson. I dedicate this book to you for the very special gift you gave me in producing the most adorable man in the worldâ your son. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love you.
IT WAS the sort of funeral where no one shed a tear.
Nikki accepted everyoneâs condolences with a composed expression on her face, even though in spite of everything she still felt a sense of deep sadness as the coffin was lowered into the cold, dark soil.
âSo sorry about Joseph,â one of the sales managers said as he shook her hand a few minutes later. âBut he wouldnât want to have lingered on any longer.â
âThank you, Henry,â she said, even managing to crack a small, grateful smile. âNo, indeed he wouldnât.â
âMrs Ferliani?â A journalist pushed through the small knot of mourners. âHave you any comment on the successful takeover bid of Ferliani Fashions conducted by your late husbandâs stepson Massimo Androletti?â
Nikki felt a shockwave go through her body at the mention of that name. Sheâd already scanned the small congregation repeatedly, in case heâd had the audacity to appear, but so far she hadnât caught sight of him. âNo, I havenât,â she said coolly. âNow, please leave; this is a private ceremony.â
âIs it true there is nothing left of your late husbandâs estate?â the journalist persisted. âThat Massimo Androletti now owns the business and even the house you live in?â
Nikki set her mouth. âI have no comment.â
Another reporter joined the first. âOur sources say Joseph Ferliani lost a fortune on the stock exchange, and in an effort to recoup the losses gambled away everything he and you owned.â
âMrs Ferliani has already told you she has no comment to make,â a deep male voice said from just behind Nikki.
She swung around to look a long way upwards into the black, diamond gaze of Massimo Androletti. She fought hard not to reveal how seeing him after all this time affected her, but Nikki was almost certain he had noticed the tiny up-and-down movement of her throat. His expression was mask-like, but there was a glint of steely purpose in his eyes that secretly terrified her. Her stomach hollowed out, her legs began to tremble and her chest felt as if something hard and thick had lodged itself halfway down, making it almost impossible to draw in the air necessary to breathe.