Delucca's Marriage Contract

Delucca's Marriage Contract
ABBY GREEN

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!

Gianni’s mouth twisted. ‘You might not want this situation but you want me, as much as I want you.’

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. ‘A stylist and beauty team are on their way here to get you ready for the party. I’ll be back later to pick you up.’

Clearly nothing she’d 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. ‘Now wait just a minute, if you think that I’m going to just—’

The words died in her throat when Gianni stalked closer, a look of dangerous intent on his face. It didn’t scare Keelin that he might kiss her again, it excited her. But he didn’t.

‘This marriage is happening, Keelin. Now more than ever. And if you don’t start washing off that persona you’ve been playing with for the last forty-eight hours, then I’ll be more than happy to take you to the shower to help you. So what’s it to be?’

Delucca’s

Marriage

Contract

Abby Green

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABBY GREEN deferred doing a social anthropology degree to work freelance as an assistant director in the film and television industry—which is a social study in itself! Since then it’s been early starts, long hours, mucky fields, ugly car parks and wet-weather gear—especially 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.

She’s 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 abbygreen3@yahoo.co.uk (mailto:abbygreen3@yahoo.co.uk).

This is for Paul Gallant, my Canadian pen pal since we worked waiting tables together in Dublin’s Temple Bar (pre stag/hen party era) in 1990. It’s been a pleasure communicating in the old-fashioned way with you. Here’s to many more years of Irish/Canadian dispatches. x

Contents

Cover (#ubed20229-43ab-52d3-9384-c70661b3dcf2)

Introduction (#u5700e170-842c-5308-b0d2-7a881bb5a21b)

The Chatsfield (#u33fe32a8-845c-5413-89ba-03fd2cd8f27b)

Title Page (#u145b7406-a3b4-5e17-94e7-9cb55d6b06d0)

About the Author (#u833d9134-e0e2-56bf-b8bf-bb7219f2ad7d)

Dedication (#ue4a42d1a-e575-5f53-b5c3-4fff4ef72a9f)

Harrington Family Tree (#u2c12d617-125d-5a37-9850-11a59ab28a98)

Chatsfield Family Tree (#u70b90d17-785d-503d-9514-64178d1874c7)

PROLOGUE (#uad958fc9-2b19-5ca4-82b2-a8d9c6ee7e21)

CHAPTER ONE (#ubc8b68cc-cefa-5256-bbb1-1c72fe3cbf5e)

CHAPTER TWO (#ubb8a8bb7-133b-51c7-b6f8-95ff5ddca5b3)

CHAPTER THREE (#u94af0cb9-c1b2-5bd1-8d89-13b729b2ff05)

CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Welcome Ms Green (#litres_trial_promo)

Welcome Mr. Delucca (#litres_trial_promo)

Endpages (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

PROLOGUE (#ulink_03301dcc-4a6f-5cb7-80c0-9a43b8861003)

‘THAT’S THE DEAL, Delucca, take it or leave it. I don’t think I need to tell you that if you leave it the O’Connor brand won’t be affected.’

Giancarlo Delucca gritted his jaw at the arrogant tone. The unspoken insinuation from the older Irish man wasn’t subtle: But the Delucca brand might languish in European shopping aisles for years before making it globally.

Gianni, still reeling slightly, looked at Liam O’Connor, who sat in a leather chair with his back to the impressive view of Dublin’s financial district.

‘And what does your daughter think of this proposed arranged marriage?’

O’Connor’s grey eyes narrowed, and there was a barely perceptible tightening around his mouth. ‘Keelin is loyal to the family business.’

Gianni responded with a hint of incredulity. ‘Loyal enough to agree to a marriage of convenience?’