A Diamond For Del Rio's Housekeeper

The housekeeper’s proposition...

When half his inheritance is left to his aunt’s housekeeper, English orphan Rosie Clifton, Spanish aristocrat Don Xavier Del Rio is determined to claim what’s rightfully his. So when Rosie surprises him with a marriage proposal, Xavier sees a way to get everything he wants...including Rosie in his bed!

Rosie will do anything to protect her home on the Isla Del Rey—even marry Xavier! She’ll provide him with an heir, in exchange for him leaving the untouched beauty of the island intact. But can she trust her charming new husband—or his devastating kiss?

‘I think we should get married.’

Xavier’s eyes widened. ‘I beg your pardon?’ he said faintly. ‘Am I imagining things, or did you just propose marriage?’

‘That’s exactly what I said,’ Rosie confirmed.

He looked incredulous.

‘It would solve all our problems,’ she said. ‘Yours especially,’ she hurried on, ‘So it seems to me to be the sensible thing to do—’

‘Sensible?’ He raked his hair with exasperated fingers.

‘You need an heir, or you’ll lose your half of the island to me, and unless you’ve got someone in mind—’

‘I don’t.’

‘Then...’

‘Better the devil I know?’ he suggested grimly.

‘You can’t buy me out—you should know that by now—and if we marry you get to keep your share.’

‘What’s in it for you?’

‘Everything,’ she said bluntly. And nothing, she thought. ‘A secure future for the islanders and the island,’ she insisted, ignoring the chill in his eyes. ‘So will you consider my suggestion?’

She had no idea what Xavier was thinking as he stared into the fire. Her best guess was that this was Xavier the businessman, weighing up the odds.

‘I can’t believe you’re serious about this,’ he said, looking around at last.

‘You’d have my full cooperation,’ she stressed, sensing the faintest of possibilities that he might say yes.

‘I would certainly expect your cooperation in bed.’

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 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 Trapped by Vialli’s Vows by Chantelle Shaw Baby of His Revenge by Jennie Lucas

Look out for more Wedlocked! stories

coming soon!

A Diamond for Del Rio’s Housekeeper

Susan Stephens

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SUSAN STEPHENS was a professional singer before meeting her husband on the Mediterranean island of Malta. In true Modern Romance style they met on Monday, became engaged on Friday and married three months later. Susan enjoys entertaining, travel and going to the theatre. To relax she reads, cooks and plays the piano, and when she’s had enough of relaxing she throws herself off mountains on skis, or gallops through the countryside singing loudly.

Books by Susan Stephens

Mills & Boon Modern Romance

In the Sheikh’s Service

Master of the Desert

One Night With Consequences

Bound to the Tuscan Billionaire

Hot Brazilian Nights!

In the Brazilian’s Debt At the Brazilian’s Command Brazilian’s Nine Months’ Notice Back in the Brazilian’s Bed

The Skavanga Diamonds

Diamond in the Desert The Flaw in His Diamond The Purest of Diamonds? His Forbidden Diamond

The Acostas!

The Untamed Argentinian The Shameless Life of Ruiz Acosta The Argentinian’s Solace A Taste of the Untamed The Man from Her Wayward Past Taming the Last Acosta

Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

For my wonderful readers, who give me licence to dream.

You’re always at the forefront of my mind, and this is for you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Wedlocked

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

‘THIS IS A private beach...’

Rosie had to raise her voice to reach the big, brutal-looking man lowering the anchor on his sleek black launch off shore. He’d stilled, so she was sure he’d heard her, but for some reason he’d chosen to ignore her. Waving her arms made no impact at all.

‘Damned invaders,’ Rosie’s late elderly employer, Doña Anna, would have said as she waved her walking stick at any sailors bold enough to drop anchor near her private island. ‘You can’t swim here! This is my island!’ Standing belligerently, with her crab-like hands planted firmly on her bony hips, Doña Anna would continue to berate visitors—whom Rosie had always thought couldn’t do much harm if all they wanted to do was enjoy the crystalline waters and sugar-sand beach for an hour or so—until they took the hint that they weren’t welcome and left for kinder waters.