Delucca's Marriage Contract
MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR…Giancarlo Delucca has one aim – to go global. Even if it means marrying the O’Connor heiress to secure the contract.Keelin O’Connor wants a place on the board – and no part in this business ‘arrangement’! Gianni may have vowed to seduce his wayward bride, but Keelin is fighting him every step down the aisle.Happily ever after was never part of the bargain, but Gianni finds himself intrigued by Keelin’s feisty defiance. And suddenly he’s determined to turn the beautiful Irish redhead’s ‘I don’t’ into an ‘I do’!Welcome to The Chatsfield, Rome!
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Gianniâs mouth twisted. âYou might not want this situation but you want me, as much as I want you.â
The air seemed to throb and shimmer between them with heat and tension, and Gianni stared at her for such a long moment that Keelin almost begged him to stop, but then he lifted his hand and looked at the watch on his wrist. He looked at her again, coolness in his eyes now. âA stylist and beauty team are on their way here to get you ready for the party. Iâll be back later to pick you up.â
Clearly nothing sheâd said had made one dent in his bid to secure this deal with her father; he was steamrollering ahead and taking her with him.
She put her hands on her hips, aware of the little betraying tremor. âNow wait just a minute, if you think that Iâm going to justââ
The words died in her throat when Gianni stalked closer, a look of dangerous intent on his face. It didnât scare Keelin that he might kiss her again, it excited her. But he didnât.
âThis marriage is happening, Keelin. Now more than ever. And if you donât start washing off that persona youâve been playing with for the last forty-eight hours, then Iâll be more than happy to take you to the shower to help you. So whatâs it to be?â
ABBY GREEN deferred doing a social anthropology degree to work freelance as an assistant director in the film and television industryâwhich is a social study in itself! Since then itâs been early starts, long hours, mucky fields, ugly car parks and wet-weather gearâespecially working in Ireland. She has no bona fide qualifications, but could probably help negotiate a peace agreement between two warring countries after years of dealing with recalcitrant actors. Since discovering a guide to writing romance one day, she decided to capitalise on her long-time love for Mills & Boon>® romances and attempt to follow in the footsteps of such authors as Kate Walker and Penny Jordan.
Sheâs enjoying the excuse to be paid to sit inside, away from the elements. She lives in Dublin and hopes that you will enjoy her stories. You can e-mail her at [email protected].
This is for Paul Gallant, my Canadian pen pal since we worked waiting tables together in Dublinâs Temple Bar (pre stag/hen party era) in 1990. Itâs been a pleasure communicating in the old-fashioned way with you. Hereâs to many more years of Irish/Canadian dispatches. x
Contents
âTHATâS THE DEAL, Delucca, take it or leave it. I donât think I need to tell you that if you leave it the OâConnor brand wonât be affected.â
Giancarlo Delucca gritted his jaw at the arrogant tone. The unspoken insinuation from the older Irish man wasnât subtle: But the Delucca brand might languish in European shopping aisles for years before making it globally.
Gianni, still reeling slightly, looked at Liam OâConnor, who sat in a leather chair with his back to the impressive view of Dublinâs financial district.
âAnd what does your daughter think of this proposed arranged marriage?â
OâConnorâs grey eyes narrowed, and there was a barely perceptible tightening around his mouth. âKeelin is loyal to the family business.â
Gianni responded with a hint of incredulity. âLoyal enough to agree to a marriage of convenience?â
Suddenly feeling agitated, Gianni didnât wait for a reply and went to stand at one of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. He put his hands in his pockets to stop himself from running them impatiently through his hairâa bad habit. He felt claustrophobic. Marriage. That word called up all sorts of dark images and bad memories. Heâd only ever seen the worst a marriage had to offer so heâd vowed never to take that route himself. But the unpalatable fact was that he needed this merger with the vastly successful OâConnor Foods brand to break into the more lucrative global market, and namely, America.
That would take him away from the bitter memories of his childhood and young adulthood. It would civilise the Delucca name, make him invulnerable, and in time no one would ever remember that Delucca had once been one of the Mafiaâs most notorious names.
OâConnorâs voice came from behind him. âKeelin is a beautiful woman. Well educated. Sheâll be an asset on your arm as you move forward and expand.â
Gianniâs mouth tightened as the kind of domestic scenario he hadnât ever envisaged took root in his mind, much to his disgust. He didnât want OâConnor to see the myriad emotions he was feeling in his eyes, so didnât turn around. âYou think that I canât find a wife of my own choosing?â Not that heâd contemplated it!
Liam OâConnor laughed dryly. âDelucca, I have no doubt that you could click your fingers and find a wife in seconds. Your reputationââ
