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  “Me, too, for you.” She smiled up at him with the radiant happiness that warmed him to the center of his being. “Shall we go home?”

  It was a home, thanks to her.

  “If we can pry your daughter out of here without a scene, yes.”

  “I think we both know that is an unreasonable expectation.”

  “Also your genes, I presume?”

  “So much,” she agreed sheepishly.

  “I look forward to wearing her designs in ten or twelve years’ time.”

  Ester made her first painted macaroni necklace two years later. Her father proudly wore it to his office the next day.

  * * * * *

  Coming next month

  A CINDERELLA TO SECURE HIS HEIR

  Michelle Smart

  ‘Do not misunderstand me. Getting custody of Domenico is my primary motivation. He is a Palvetti and he deserves to take his place with us, his family. In my care he can have everything but if custody were all I wanted, he would already be with me.’

  She took another sip of her drink. Normally she hated whisky in any of its forms but right then the burn it made in her throat was welcome. It was the fire she needed to cut through her despair. ‘Then what do you want? I think of all the work we’ve done, all the hours spent, all the money spent–’

  ‘I wanted to get to know you.’

  She finally allowed herself to look at him. ‘Why?’

  The emerald eyes that had turned her veins to treacle lasered into hers. He leaned forward and spoke quietly. ‘I wanted to learn about you through more than the reports and photographs my investigators provided me with.’

  ‘You had me investigated?’

  ‘I thought it prudent to look into the character of the person caring for my nephew.’

  Her head span so violently she felt dizzy with the motion.

  He’d been spying on her.

  She should have known Alessio’s silence since she’d refused his offer of money in exchange for Dom had been ominous. She’d lulled herself into a false sense of security and underestimated him and underestimated the lengths he would be prepared to go to.

  Everything Domenico had said about his brother was true, and more.

  Through the ringing in her ears, he continued. ‘Do not worry. Any childhood indiscretions are your own concern. I only wanted to know about the last five years of your life and what I learned about you intrigued me. It was clear to me from the investigators’ reports and your refusal of my financial offer that you had an affection for my nephew…’

  ‘Affection does not cover a fraction of the love I feel for him,’ she told him fiercely.

  ‘I am beginning to understand that for myself.’

  ‘Good, because I will never let him go without a fight.’

  ‘I understand that too but you must know that if it came to a fight, you would never win. I could have gone through the British courts and made my case for custody—I think we are both aware that my wealth and power would have outmatched your efforts—but Domenico is familiar with you and it is better for him if you remain in his life than be cut off.’

  She held his gaze and lifted her chin. ‘I’m all he knows.’

  He raised a nonchalant shoulder. ‘But he is very young. If it comes to it, he will adapt without you quickly. For the avoidance of doubt, I do not want that outcome.’

  ‘What outcome do you want?’

  ‘Marriage.’

  Drum beats joined the chorus of sound in her head. ‘What on earth are you talking about?’

  He rose from his seat and headed back to the bar. ‘Once I have Domenico in Milan it will be a simple matter for me to take legal guardianship of him.’ He poured himself another large measure and swirled it in his glass. ‘I recognise your genuine affection for each other and have no wish to separate you. In all our best interests, I am prepared to marry you.’

  Dumbfounded, Beth shook her head, desperately trying to rid herself of all the noise in her ears so she could think properly. ‘I wouldn’t marry you if you paid me.’

  Continue reading

  A CINDERELLA TO SECURE HIS HEIR

  Michelle Smart

  Available next month

  www.millsandboon.co.uk

  Copyright ©2019 by Michelle Smart

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