Jennifer Hayward - A Debt Paid In The Marriage Bed

The unwilling Ricci wife...

Angelina’s world is shattered when Lorenzo Ricci walks through the door of her engagement party and demands she call off the wedding—because she’s still married to him! She left the formidable Italian to save her heart, but now, with her family business at stake, Angelina must consider his terms...

In need of an heir, Lorenzo will use any means to reclaim his wayward wife and return her to their marriage bed. He’ll make her debts disappear if she repays him...in desire! The chemistry may be alive and well between them, but can they survive their tempestuous reunion unscathed?

“What are you insinuating? That you’ll pull the plug on the aid you’re giving to my family, toss me out on the street, if I don’t agree to come back to you?”

“I prefer to think of it as incentive. We owe our marriage a fair shot before we relegate it to the history books. You come back to me, we try and make it work, I pull Carmichael out of its financial difficulties before it becomes a footnote in the list of great American dynasties. It’s a win-win .”

A win-win ? Angelina stared at Lorenzo, disbelieving. “You would really hold that over my head?”

“You didn’t play fair when you walked out on me, tesoro . You just cut and ran. So, yes, I will use whatever means required to make you see the light. To do the right thing.”

“I asked you to go to counseling. I begged you to. I tried to save our marriage and then I left.”

“You expected us to solve things overnight. It doesn’t happen that way.”

Her fingers curled tight around the delicate stem of her champagne flute. “Putting the two of us back in a marriage where we’ll destroy one other is not doing the right thing.”

“We’re both older and wiser. I think we can make it work.”

She shook her head. “That’s where you’re mistaken. That’s where you’ve played the wrong card, Lorenzo. Because I will never become your wife again.”

She turned on her heel and left. He let her go, because he knew she’d be back. He’d never gambled on a deal he couldn’t win.

JENNIFER HAYWARDhas been a fan of romance since filching her sister’s novels to escape her teenage angst. Her career in journalism and PR, including years of working alongside powerful, charismatic CEOs and travelling the world, has provided perfect fodder for the fast-paced, sexy stories she likes to write—always with a touch of humour. A native of Canada’s East Coast, Jennifer lives in Toronto with her Viking husband and young Viking-in-training.

Books by Jennifer Hayward

Mills & Boon Modern Romance

Reunited for the Billionaire’s Legacy

Tempted by Her Billionaire Boss

The Italian’s Deal for I Do

The Magnate’s Manifesto

Changing Constantinou’s Game

The Billionaire’s Legacy

A Deal for the Di Sione Ring

Kingdoms & Crowns

Carrying the King’s Pride

Claiming the Royal Innocent

Marrying Her Royal Enemy

The Delicious De Campos

The Divorce Party

An Exquisite Challenge

The Truth About De Campo

Visit the Author Profile page

at millsandboon.co.ukfor more titles.

A Debt Paid in the Marriage Bed

Jennifer Hayward

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For my dad—a gifted surgeon, teacher, woodworker and master of anything trivia, you were also the greatest father I could have hoped to have.

There is a piece of you, Dad, in every hero I write, because you were larger than life. I can’t imagine a world without you, where I can’t ever pick up the phone again and pick your brain on a storyline. I only know if I live a life half as courageous and remarkable as yours I will be happy. xx

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The unwilling Ricci wife... Angelina’s world is shattered when Lorenzo Ricci walks through the door of her engagement party and demands she call off the wedding—because she’s still married to him! She left the formidable Italian to save her heart, but now, with her family business at stake, Angelina must consider his terms... In need of an heir, Lorenzo will use any means to reclaim his wayward wife and return her to their marriage bed. He’ll make her debts disappear if she repays him...in desire! The chemistry may be alive and well between them, but can they survive their tempestuous reunion unscathed?

Introduction “What are you insinuating? That you’ll pull the plug on the aid you’re giving to my family, toss me out on the street, if I don’t agree to come back to you?” “I prefer to think of it as incentive. We owe our marriage a fair shot before we relegate it to the history books. You come back to me, we try and make it work, I pull Carmichael out of its financial difficulties before it becomes a footnote in the list of great American dynasties. It’s a win-win .” A win-win ? Angelina stared at Lorenzo, disbelieving. “You would really hold that over my head?” “You didn’t play fair when you walked out on me, tesoro . You just cut and ran. So, yes, I will use whatever means required to make you see the light. To do the right thing.” “I asked you to go to counseling. I begged you to. I tried to save our marriage and then I left.” “You expected us to solve things overnight. It doesn’t happen that way.” Her fingers curled tight around the delicate stem of her champagne flute. “Putting the two of us back in a marriage where we’ll destroy one other is not doing the right thing.” “We’re both older and wiser. I think we can make it work.” She shook her head. “That’s where you’re mistaken. That’s where you’ve played the wrong card, Lorenzo. Because I will never become your wife again.” She turned on her heel and left. He let her go, because he knew she’d be back. He’d never gambled on a deal he couldn’t win.

About the Author JENNIFER HAYWARD has been a fan of romance since filching her sister’s novels to escape her teenage angst. Her career in journalism and PR, including years of working alongside powerful, charismatic CEOs and travelling the world, has provided perfect fodder for the fast-paced, sexy stories she likes to write—always with a touch of humour. A native of Canada’s East Coast, Jennifer lives in Toronto with her Viking husband and young Viking-in-training. Books by Jennifer Hayward Mills & Boon Modern Romance Reunited for the Billionaire’s Legacy Tempted by Her Billionaire Boss The Italian’s Deal for I Do The Magnate’s Manifesto Changing Constantinou’s Game The Billionaire’s Legacy A Deal for the Di Sione Ring Kingdoms & Crowns Carrying the King’s Pride Claiming the Royal Innocent Marrying Her Royal Enemy The Delicious De Campos The Divorce Party An Exquisite Challenge The Truth About De Campo Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Title Page A Debt Paid in the Marriage Bed Jennifer Hayward www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication For my dad—a gifted surgeon, teacher, woodworker and master of anything trivia, you were also the greatest father I could have hoped to have. There is a piece of you, Dad, in every hero I write, because you were larger than life. I can’t imagine a world without you, where I can’t ever pick up the phone again and pick your brain on a storyline. I only know if I live a life half as courageous and remarkable as yours I will be happy. xx