The Man, The Ring, The Wedding

The Man, The Ring, The Wedding
Patricia Thayer

WITH THESE RINGSTAMING THE TYCOONJust when Angelina Covelli was about to pitch her hopes of a "forever man" into the whistling wind, along came the dreamiest bachelor. John Rossi was gorgeous, sophisticated, wealthy–and just passing through town. Which put the dark tycoon off-limits!Angelina was so innocent…and utterly irresistible. But kissing was not part of the plan. His true identity secret, John intended to complete his family's vendetta against the Covellis. No matter how alluring he found sweet Angelina, John would never compromise his mission by wedding the enemy. Then again, he did have that ruby ring….…who will wed?

A lone ruby ring in a velvet case... (#ubfe63211-cc3f-5e70-bbdc-c02799d8efc0)Letter to Reader (#ubb30374d-c949-5fba-9bc5-9cef3a4fc868)Title Page (#u2fcba12c-f71d-511b-b742-4289f22912ab)Dedication (#u52761617-c5d9-5c73-a6e7-91d21ca7d16e)About the Author (#u7ae0a858-0c7a-5603-839d-e322ac1f21b0)Chapter One (#u7f5111f3-489c-58b8-9868-834931faa533)Chapter Two (#udddc135f-bcb4-55eb-8866-e27ff496a9a5)Chapter Three (#u28541250-7447-58ef-8bdb-2d75b80c7f81)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)Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

A lone ruby ring in a velvet case...

It all began when a young Vittoria Perrone fell madly in love with an American pilot during the Second World War. But their love put sweet Vittoria in danger sa the soldier left, promising to one day claim her as his bride.

Time passed and Vittoria’s family pledged her to another, Giovanni Valente Just before the day that promised to be her darkest—her wedding day—her beloved American, Enrico Covelli, returned, asking for her hand in marriage

Vittoria pleaded to be released from her marital obligation. Angry, Giovanni took the Perrone family betrothal rings, snatched the bride’s band and placed it an his little finger, swearing never to give et up. Forevermore, the Covelli family was to be cursed!

Fifty years later the her remained ... only to be lifted if the heirloom ruby rings were rejoined in the name of love and returned to the rightful heir, Vittoria’s lovely firstborn granddaughter, Angelina Covelli.

This is Angelina’s story ...

Dear Reader,

The end of the century is near, and we’re all eagerly anticipating the wonders to come. But no matter what happens, I believe that everyone will continue to need and to seek the unquenchable spirit of love...of romance. And here at Silhouette Romance, we’re delighted to present another month’s worth of terrific, emotional stories.

This month, RITA Award-winning author Marie Ferrarella offers a tender BUNDLES OF JOY tale, in which The Baby Beneath the Mistletoe brings together a man who’s lost his faith and a woman who challenges him to take a chance at love...and family. In Charlotte Maclay’s charming new novel, a millionaire playboy isn’t sure what he was Expecting at Christmas, but what he gets is a very pregnant butler! Elizabeth Harbison launches her wonderful new theme-based miniseries, CINDERELLA BRIDES, with the fairy-tale romance—complete with mistaken identity!—between Emma and the Earl.

In A Diamond for Kate by Moyra Tarling, discover whether a doctor makes his devoted nurse his devoted wife after learning about her past... Patricia Thayer’s cross-line miniseries WITH THESE RINGS retums to Romance and poses the question: Can The Man, the Ring, the Wedding end a fifty-year-old curse? You’ll have to read this dramatic story to find out! And though The Millionaire’s Proposition involves making a baby in Natalie Patrick’s upbeat Romance, can a down-on-her-luck waitress also convince him to make beautiful memories...as man and wife?

Enjoy this month’s offerings, and look forward to a new century of timeless, traditional tales guaranteed to touch your heart!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor, Silhouette Romance

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Aye., PO. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

The Man, The Ring, The Wedding

Patricia Thayer

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

To all the new brides and grooms in my family this year. Amy and Kelly Klossner, Heather and Chris Beam, and especially to my son and his wife, Brett and Daralynn. Here’s to a lifetime of love and romance.

To Millie Caggiano—thanks for sharing your big Italian family with me.

PATRICIA THAYER

has been writing for fourteen years and has published over ten books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion and a prestigious RITA Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition.

Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of twenty-eight years, Steve, and her three sons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251.

Chapter One

She was looking at her future.

Angelina Covelli walked up the concrete steps of the historic hotel, passing by the familiar brass plaque on the cornerstone that read Grand Haven Hotel 1898. The old stone building had been a landmark in Haven Springs for the past thirty years.

Standing at the weathered oak doors, Angelina traced her fingers over beveled window panels with the initials GH cut into the frosted glass. Then taking a deep breath to renew her courage, she stepped across the threshold and went inside. After waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit lobby, she glanced around. Dust and cobwebs covered nearly everything, and a musty odor hung in the stuffy air.

Angelina smiled and slowly pivoted in a circle, trying to take in all the grandeur. “Incredible,” she breathed, her soft voice echoing off the bare walls.

She had toured the hotel once before with her brothers, but there hadn’t been nearly enough time to take everything in. She hoped to be able to see a lot more of this place in the following months when Covelli and Sons secured the bid to renovate. Her excitement—and relief—grew. The family business would be financially stable again. Just like when her dad was alive.

The last two years had been rough ones, but that was about to end along with her job as office manager for the family construction business. She could finally move on with her life—find that niche that would fulfill her and give her independence. But first she had to find the man who was going to help her.

“Hello, is anyone here?” Angelina called out as she approached the dark oak front desk with the intricately carved detail and marble top. Where was he? she wondered. John Rossi’s assistant had told her his boss would be arriving today. Although their appointment wasn’t until tomorrow afternoon, Angelina didn’t want to miss the chance to speak to the CEO before every other contractor descended on the hotel. She was going to make sure she made an impression—and was awarded the renovation job.

Walking along the grimy marble floor, she was careful her heels didn’t catch in the cracked tile. Her attention was drawn to the crystal teardrop chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling, making an elegant pathway through the large lobby and ending at a wide staircase that led to the second-floor balcony.

She climbed the steps cushioned by once-scarlet carpeting, now torn and faded by age. What a shame this beautiful place hadn’t been taken care of. Running a hand along the brass railing, she made the long trip to the top, wondering what it had been like to spend an evening as a guest here in the hotel’s heyday.

Her grandmother Vittoria had told her stories about the society balls held upstairs in the grand ballroom. Women dressed in long satin gowns and men in tuxedos had come from all around. Angelina hadn’t been to a formal dance since her prom. She smiled. She nearly hadn’t had a date that night because her brother Rick had threatened to break Jimmy Hitchcock’s arm if he got out of line.

No wonder men won’t come near me, Angelina thought, then sadly remembered why she was alone. It had been her choice, ever since she had lost the wonderful man she had met in college. Within two seconds she’d known that the handsome man with the warm hazel eyes would be her one true love. They were destined to be together...forever. But that had all changed when he died, leaving her alone. Love had betrayed her—now she was concentrating on her career.

She pushed away any sad thoughts as she turned and started back down the steps, imagining herself in an elegant, floor-length dress, a handsome man waiting for her at the front of the sweeping staircase. Someone like... She caught a sudden movement out of the corner of her eye. She jerked her head around to find a man standing in the shadows.

She gasped as her heart nearly jumped into her throat. The tall stranger had dark short hair and piercing eyes. He was dressed in faded jeans, a denim shirt and work boots.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I didn’t know anyone was here.” Who was he?

“What are you doing here?” he asked, as he approached the bottom step.

“I have an appointment,” she lied. “With Mr. Rossi. And you are?”

John Rossi watched as the beautiful woman came down the stairs. She was small in stature, but her body didn’t lack curves. His gaze moved over her charcoal-colored business jacket then lingered on her hips covered by a slim skirt.

“You could say that I work here,” he murmured, taking advantage of his angle to study her long, gorgeous legs.

“Oh, so you’re getting things ready for Mr. Rossi’s arrival?”

Slowly, his eyes raised to meet her sky-blue gaze. “Actually, I am—”

She waved a hand. “I’ll be working for Rossi International, too. That’s why I’m here.”