Bought by the Rich Man: Taken by the Highest Bidder / Bought by Her Latin Lover / Bought by the Billionaire

Bought by the Rich Man: Taken by the Highest Bidder / Bought by Her Latin Lover / Bought by the Billionaire
Jane Porter

Julia James

Myrna Mackenzie

Taken by the Highest Bidder by Jane PorterSamantha van Bergen has been won by the highest bidder: dark and sexy Italian racing driver Cristiano Bartolo. Virginal Sam suspects Cristiano will seduce her! But she quickly finds out he has another reason for wanting her – bedding her is just a bonus!Bought by Her Latin Lover by Julia JamesSpanish millionaire Cesar Montarez wants Rosalind the moment he sees her. But Rosalind is determined she’ll never be his, until Cesar discovers that she has secret debts. Now he can buy her – and Rosalind must pay his price! Bought by the Billionaire by Myrna MackenzieWhen Ethan Bennington told cleaner Maggie that he could transform her into a society lady, she thought he was crazy. But one look into his amazing eyes and she was willing to try anything for the sexy billionaire…

Bought by theRich Man

Three hot heroes who are wealthy,autocratic and in charge!

Three glittering, passionate romances fromthree bestselling Mills & Boon authors!

In February 2009 Mills & Boon bringyou two classic collections, eachfeaturing three favourite romancesby our bestselling authors…

BOUGHT BY THE RICH MANTaken by the Highest Bidder by Jane Porter Bought by Her Latin Lover by Julia James Bought by the Billionaire by Myrna Mackenzie

AT HER LATINLOVER’S COMMAND

The Italian Count’s Command by Sara Wood The French Count’s Mistress by Susan Stephens At the Spanish Duke’s Command by Fiona Hood-Stewart

Jane Porter grew up on a diet of Mills & Boon

romances, reading late at night under the covers so her mother wouldn’t see! She wrote her first book at age eight, and spent many of her school and college years living abroad, immersing herself in other cultures and continuing to read voraciously. Now Jane has settled down in rugged Seattle, Washington, with her gorgeous husband and two sons. Jane loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at PO Box 524, Bellevue, WA 98009, USA. Or visit her website at www.janeporter.com

Bought by the Rich Man

TAKEN BY THE HIGHEST BIDDER

by

Jane Porter

BOUGHT BY HER LATIN LOVER

by

Julia James

BOUGHT BY THE BILLIONAIRE

by

Myrna Mackenzie

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

TAKEN BY THE HIGHEST BIDDER

by

Jane Porter

CHAPTER ONE

SAMANTHA VAN BERGEN’S husband was missing in action. Again. And unfortunately, Sam knew where he was.

She knew where to find him when he didn’t return home for days at a time, and she knew what to expect.

Disaster.

This was a battle, she thought, drawing her gray velvet cloak closer to her evening gown as she swiftly climbed the stairs to Monte Carlo’s grand Le Casino, a battle she was losing.

Johann had always been a compulsive gambler but he used to win more. He used to walk away from the table when it turned ugly. But he didn’t do that anymore. He just sat there, losing. Losing. Losing.

They’d already lost so much. Their savings. The chic penthouse. The Ferrari—not that Sam had ever driven it.

What was left? She wondered, climbing the casino’s marble steps.

In Le Casino’s VIP card room, Cristiano Bartolo lounged at his favorite table when the door to their private room opened. Annoyed by the interruption, he glanced up, but his irritation eased as he recognized beautiful, blond Samantha van Bergen, or more commonly known as the baroness van Bergen.

It was, he thought, mouth curving faintly, such a huge, stately title for such a young blushing English bride.

He played his card, then looked up to watch her unfasten the top hook on her velvet cloak, letting the dove-gray velvet fabric fall back over one shoulder revealing her white evening gown beneath.

She fascinated him. He didn’t know why. He’d only seen her once before, but she’d made such an impression that night six months ago he knew he’d never forget her.

The first time he’d seen her had been here, at Le Casino, as well. Then, as now, he’d been sitting at the exclusive high roller tables, and then, as now, every head at the table had turned. Cristiano turned, too, to see what had caught every man’s attention.

No wonder every man stared.

The baroness was small, slim, beautiful. She had a delicate oval face framed by blond ringlets, long loose curls that gave her a decidedly angelic appearance, although her eyes, slightly tilted at the corners, were not completely innocent.

Beautiful girls were a dime a dozen, but she touched him; with her serious expression, her dark brown brows pulled, the deep furrow between arched brows.

Cristiano watched now as the young baroness stood just inside the door, not nervous or uncertain, just focused. She wore a look of utter concentration, an expression of grave concern, and Cristiano was certain this is what Joan of Arc must have looked like before battle as she moved to Johann van Bergen’s side.

Cristiano had never liked Johann, would never like Johann, and had deliberately sat at this table so he could play the baron. Cristiano had discovered months ago that Johann van Bergen didn’t know how to play cards, couldn’t gamble and hadn’t a clue how to walk away from a game even when he was being bled. And he was most definitely bleeding tonight.

Bleeding out.

Bleeding dry.

Cristiano scooped up a handful of chips, moved them forward, upping the ante by two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. It wasn’t a small bet, but neither was it huge. Over five million pounds had already been wagered tonight. Johann’s loss to Cristiano’s gain.

Eyes narrowing, Cristiano watched as Samantha approached the table, watched one long loose blond tendril slide forward on her shoulder, dangle across her breast. He envied the curl. Longed to take it, twine it around his fingers and then dip it between her full breasts.

Cristiano reached for his whiskey, sipped it, let the heat and fire warm him, wanting Samantha. She made him feel—curious, carnal, intent on possession.