Jennifer Hayward - The Italian's Deal for I Do

Rocco Mondelli and Olivia Fitzgerald

invite you to celebrate their union as they become husband and wife.

7 o’clock in the evening

April 2015

The Mondelli Estate, Lake Como

dinner & dancing to follow

… but only if Rocco can win back his runaway bride!

Contents Cover Invitation Society Weddings Title Page About the Author Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN New York Fashion Confidential Society Weddings Exclusive Extract Copyright

Dedicated bachelors Rocco Mondelli, Christian Markos, Stefan Bianco and Zayed Al Afzal met and bonded at university, wreaking havoc amongst the female population. In the decade since graduating they’ve made their mark on the worlds of business and pleasure, becoming wealthy and powerful.

Marriage has never been something Rocco, Christian, Stefan or Zayed were ever after… But things change, and now they’ll have to do whatever it takes to get themselves to the church on time!

Yet nothing is as easy as it seems… and the women these four have set their sights on have plans of their own!

Your embossed invitation is in the mail and you are cordially invited to:

The marriage of

Rocco Mondelli and Olivia Fitzgerald

April 2015

The marriage of

Christian Markos and Alessandra Mondelli

May 2015

The marriage of

Stefan Bianco and Clio Norwood

June 2015

The marriage of

Sheikh Zayed Al Afzal and Princess Nadia Amani

July 2015

So RSVP and get ready to enjoy the pinnacle of luxury and opulence as the world’s sexiest billionaires finally say ‘I do’…

The Italian’s Deal for I Do

Jennifer Hayward

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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.

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To my editor Laura McCallen and fellow authors Michelle Smart, Andie Brock and Tara Pammi, who made the Columbia Four such a joy to write! Memento vivere!

And for Valentina and your invaluable help with the beautiful Italian language! Grazie!

Contents

Cover

Invitation Rocco Mondelli and Olivia Fitzgerald invite you to celebrate their union as they become husband and wife. 7 o’clock in the evening April 2015 The Mondelli Estate, Lake Como dinner & dancing to follow … but only if Rocco can win back his runaway bride!

Society Weddings

Title Page The Italian’s Deal for I Do Jennifer Hayward www.millsandboon.co.uk

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.

Dedication To my editor Laura McCallen and fellow authors Michelle Smart, Andie Brock and Tara Pammi, who made the Columbia Four such a joy to write! Memento vivere! And for Valentina and your invaluable help with the beautiful Italian language! Grazie!

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

New York Fashion Confidential

Society Weddings Exclusive

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE Contents Cover Invitation Rocco Mondelli and Olivia Fitzgerald invite you to celebrate their union as they become husband and wife. 7 o’clock in the evening April 2015 The Mondelli Estate, Lake Como dinner & dancing to follow … but only if Rocco can win back his runaway bride! Society Weddings Title Page The Italian’s Deal for I Do Jennifer Hayward www.millsandboon.co.uk 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. Dedication To my editor Laura McCallen and fellow authors Michelle Smart, Andie Brock and Tara Pammi, who made the Columbia Four such a joy to write! Memento vivere! And for Valentina and your invaluable help with the beautiful Italian language! Grazie! CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN New York Fashion Confidential Society Weddings Exclusive Extract Copyright

“HE WILL NOT make it through the night.”

The grizzled old priest had served almost a century of Mondellis in the lakeside village of Varenna. He rested his gnarled, weathered hand on the ornately carved knob of the inches-thick, dark-stained door of Giovanni Mondelli’s bedroom and nodded toward the patriarch’s two grandchildren. “You must say your goodbyes. Leave nothing unsaid.”

His gravelly tone was somber, weighted with the grief of an entire village. It cut through Rocco Mondelli like a knife, severing a lifeline, rendering him incapable of speech. Italian fashion icon Giovanni Mondelli, son of the Italian people, had been the father he’d never had. He’d been Rocco’s guiding influence when he’d taken his grandfather’s place as CEO of House of Mondelli and brought it kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century. Transformed it into a revered global couture powerhouse.

He could not be losing him.

Rocco’s heart sputtered to a stop, then came back to life in a brutal staccato that pounded against the walls of his chest. Giovanni was everything to him. Father, mentor, friend... He wasn’t ready to let him go. Not yet.

His sister, Alessandra, grasped his arm, her knuckles white against the dark material of his suit. “I—I don’t think I can do this,” she stumbled huskily, her glossy brown hair tangled around her face, eyes wide. “It’s too sudden. I have too much to say.”