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A Diamond For Del Rio's Housekeeper
Susan Stephens
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?
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 (http://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 (http://www.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 (#ud0ed7aab-add2-572a-9b28-d9a836bc0997)
Back Cover Text (#u1bcc4ebd-e895-5c77-a72a-d9e58c45b1df)
Introduction (#ue5a0780f-9a3e-5f43-9046-6a71c3d990df)
Wedlocked (#ulink_09464b73-d587-57d2-8920-b4f534683044)
Title Page (#ufc209e8a-e229-5f57-af84-9cb83c535415)
About the Author (#ue7644fec-1b61-54c2-af46-410485c7b2eb)
Dedication (#u05a78c76-783c-519b-91a1-b3fe0470986a)
CHAPTER ONE (#ude669591-3e3f-5859-866a-b42d998ff597)
CHAPTER TWO (#u069af224-4364-5010-98a8-3c33e140ba5f)
CHAPTER THREE (#ufe9b515b-87e1-5038-8814-506eedb89771)
CHAPTER FOUR (#u3f554070-6d32-532d-b904-797cf6e1c14e)
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)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u7b603109-7f4c-5eda-8bc7-18df1c1d2a97)
‘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.
Rosie tensed as the man stared straight at her. With maybe fifty yards between them, his penetrating assessment stabbed her like an arrow.
Her body reacted in the craziest way, softening and yearning as the force of his personality washed over her. The effect was as powerful as if they were standing toe to toe.
She was instantly in ‘fight or flight’ mode. Her brain sharpened to make that call. Only what they’d called her pure, damned stubbornness at the orphanage was keeping her rooted to the spot. She might not have had the best of starts in life, but she wasn’t a victim and never would be.
