Trapped By Vialli's Vows

Escaping...with his heir!

After falling for the notorious Italian tycoon, waitress Marnie Clarke is horrified to discover that—in Leandro Vialli’s world—she’s “his dirty little secret.” It breaks her fragile heart and she flees with her dignity...and their unborn baby!

Leandro refused to believe the child was his until a paternity test proved him wrong. So when a shocking accident steals Marnie’s memories, he seizes his chance. Convincing Marnie that she’s his fiancée is Leandro’s only chance to secure his legacy.

But before Leandro can say, “I do,” the past comes crashing back and Marnie remembers everything...

‘We planned on a very small, intimate service, with just the two of us and a couple of friends as witnesses.’

Silently Leandro acknowledged his frustration that he was making this up as he was going along.

Marnie frowned. ‘I’m sure I would have decided on a small wedding, but I would never have agreed to be married without inviting my family.’ Marnie noticed a flicker of surprise on Leandro’s features. ‘You will have to help my memory. Have I already chosen a wedding dress? It would be odd if I haven’t, seeing as the wedding is in one month.’

‘You decided to wait and choose a dress in Florence, nearer to the date of the wedding, because you don’t know what size you will be.’

Leandro quickly fabricated a reason for the delay while he made a mental note to invite Marnie’s relatives to the hotel in London where he had booked a simple wedding service. It was important that Marnie believed he genuinely wanted to marry her—which he did. But only so that he could claim his child. It was imperative that he got Marnie to the altar as soon as possible.

Wedlocked!

Conveniently wedded, passionately bedded!

Whether there’s a debt to be paid, a will to be obeyed or a business to be saved…

She’s got no choice but to say, ‘I do!’

But these billionaire bridegrooms have got another think coming if they think marriage will be that easy…

Soon their convenient brides become the object of an inconvenient desire!

Find out what happens after the vows in

The Billionaire’s Defiant Acquisition by Sharon Kendrick

One Night to Wedding Vows by Kim Lawrence

Wedded, Bedded, Betrayed by Michelle Smart

Expecting a Royal Scandal by Caitlin Crews

Look out for more Wedlocked! stories coming soon!

Trapped by Vialli’s Vows

Chantelle Shaw

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHANTELLE SHAW lives on the Kent coast and thinks up her stories while walking on the beach. She has been married for over thirty years and has six children. Her love affair with reading and writing Mills & Boon stories began as a teenager, and her first book was published in 2006. She likes strong-willed, slightly unusual characters. Chantelle also loves gardening, walking and wine!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Wedlocked!

Title Page

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

Extract

CHAPTER ONE

‘SO YOU’RE LEANDRO’S dirty little secret.’

Marnie jerked her gaze from the door of the restaurant—she’d been watching it for Leandro’s arrival—to the man who had sat down on the bar stool next to her. She wondered if she had misheard him.

‘I’m sorry?’

He grinned and held out his hand. ‘Forgive my little joke. I’m Fergus Leary, senior accountant at Vialli Entertainment. Everyone in the company is curious about why Leandro keeps his girlfriend hidden. We only heard of your existence when he asked his PA to phone you about the party.’

Marnie tried to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had taken an immediate dislike to Fergus, but smiled politely. At least the accountant had spoken to her, which was more than any of Leandro’s other staff had done. She had felt nervous enough when she’d arrived alone at the restaurant which had been booked for the private party, and the curious glances she’d received from the other guests had made her feel worse.

Like her, everyone seemed to be waiting for Leandro. He was fifteen minutes late and, although she’d tried calling him, his phone was constantly busy. There was nothing new in that, Marnie thought ruefully. She had only spoken to him a few times in the past two weeks while he had been away on a business trip to New York.

‘Leandro gets frustrated with the paparazzi’s constant attention so we avoid popular restaurants and bars,’ she explained to Fergus.

In fact lately she had wondered why Leandro never asked her to accompany him to social events, such as the star-studded film premiere he’d attended the previous week.

‘I’m going to the premiere because it’s a good business opportunity and a chance to network,’ he’d told her when, for the first time in their relationship, Marnie had queried why he hadn’t invited her to go with him.

‘You won’t know anyone, and I’m sure you would be bored.’ Her disappointment must have shown on her face, because then he had said in a conciliatory tone, ‘We’ll go out for dinner when I get back from New York. In fact we’ll have a weekend away somewhere. Choose where you want to go and I’ll make the arrangements. How about Prague? You’ve often said you would like to visit the city.’