Donna Hill - Heart's Reward

Heart’s Reward

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Dear Reader,

We hope you enjoy Heart’s Reward, the final story in Arabesque’s Match Made series. Over the past three months we have introduced you to the Platinum Society—an exclusive matchmaking service run by Melanie Harte, a third-generation matchmaker, for wealthy, high-profile clients.

Never get involved with the client has always been Melanie Harte’s motto, and her reputation depends on it. Yet suddenly two of her most eligible prospects are pursuing the matchmaker herself. Rafe Lawson is a senator’s son with a player’s charm and a seductive smile. Claude Montgomery is the senator’s ambitious, charismatic and very attractive special assistant. Both men are off-the-charts sexy—and completely off-limits. But as Melanie’s feelings for one of them deepens, it puts more than her company at risk.

We hope you enjoyed the entire Match Made series. And if you missed the first two novels—Heart’s Secret by Adrianne Byrd and Heart’s Choice by Celeste O. Norfleet—be sure to read about those couples and how they found their match made in heaven.

Evette Porter

Editor

Arabesque

This book is totally dedicated to my editor Evette Porter who has the patience of a saint!

Thanks for your support.

I want to thank all of the wonderful readers who continue to support my work. You guys are the amazing ones. I could not do this without you.

I hope I continue to write the stories that make you feel good.

A big shout out goes to Adrianne Byrd and Celeste O. Norfleet for their amazing work on this series. Both are hard acts to follow.

I hope you enjoy this steamy conclusion to the Match Made series. I had an interesting time writing about Melanie Harte and the dilemmas she finds herself in. I would love to hear what you think about Heart’s Reward and the entire series. Join my blog, www.donnahill.blogspot.com, and share your thoughts, or send me an e-mail at dhassistant@gmail.com. And you can always visit me online at www.donnahill.com or on Facebook. I’d love to hear from you!

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

The Harte mansion sat majestically on the bluffs of Sag Harbor, overlooking the swell of waves across the bay. The nearest neighbor was a long walk away—a perfect location since it served to shield the many high-powered clients that frequented it from prying eyes. To the average person it was simply a fabulously gorgeous home tucked away in the quaint Long Island resort town. But the Harte family and the clients they served knew otherwise. The mansion was the home of The Platinum Society, the country’s most elite and discreet matchmaking service.

Tonight, however, the mansion shone like a beacon. Its glass windows were lit up by the brilliance of crystal chandeliers and the shimmering glow of candlelight. The line of cars obscured the winding driveway and wrapped around to the back of the house. Music from the live band could be heard drifting across the water, gently wafting through the night air.

Melanie Harte moved among her guests with an assured grace. She had hosted more of these soirees than she could count. Her summer gatherings were an opportunity for her clients to meet and mingle and relax and enjoy some of the perks that their huge fee afforded them. They were always lively affairs, and every party was invariably punctuated with at least one surprise. Tonight was no different.

In the midst of all the music and good food, Melanie grabbed the microphone.

“I hope everyone is having a wonderful time tonight.” Her sultry voice rang out over the ebb and flow of conversation until it dimmed. All eyes turned in her direction. “You know how much I love these gatherings and a chance to see all of you.”

“We love you, Melanie!” someone shouted from the side of the room.

The crowd burst into spontaneous applause.

“I love you back! But I have something we can all shout about.” She introduced Sergio, who came up to the mic.

Sergio Alvarez had graced the cover of hundreds of magazines and women practically fell over themselves to get his attention. But he’d had no luck in finding a woman who wanted him for who he was and not the picture on a cover or the size of his wallet. He’d been referred by a satisfied client and, once again, The Platinum Society struck gold. Tonight he announced his engagement to Valencia Martinez, a professional photographer who was successful and financially secure in her own right. They made the perfect couple and Melanie could just see the headlines when it was announced that Sergio was officially off the market.

The guests whooped with joy for the happy couple and the band segued to Earth Wind and Fire’s Celebration.

It was nearly 2:00 a.m. by the time the last guest filed out. Melanie locked the door, kicked off her shoes and went to join her family in the kitchen.

“We’re all crashing here tonight,” her nephew Vincent announced, draping his arm around his wife, Cherise. Veronica, his sister, and their cousin Jessica were seated at the table with their heads nestled on their folded arms.

“Fine with me. You know where your rooms are.” Melanie yawned.

Jessica stood and stretched. “Pretty great about Sergio and Valencia.”

They all hummed their agreement, too tired to do much else, and began to drift to their rooms murmuring their good nights.

Melanie set the alarm and turned out the lights. From the top of the stairs she looked out at the room that had been filled with happy, eager people searching for and in some cases finding love.

She turned and opened the door to her bedroom. Her work at least for tonight was done. Tomorrow was another full day. She yawned again. She was going to need every wink of sleep she could get.

Melanie Harte reluctantly stirred from a deep sleep. She’d dreamed of Steven last night and the three beautiful years they’d spent together. It had been nearly a decade since his death. And although the loss did not feel as painful as it once had, a dull, nagging ache still remained. Widowed at the age of twenty-six, the tragedy had taken all the effervescence out of Melanie’s naturally bubbly personality like a soda gone flat. Like her mother and her grandmother, Melanie believed in everlasting love and that there was that special someone for everybody. With Steven gone, so was everything that she’d believed in. At least that is what she’d told herself.

So it was her grandmother, who she’d been named after, and her mother, Carolyn, who came to rescue their wounded darling and immersed her in the family business. Melanie was sure it had saved her life or at least saved her from a life of loneliness.