Tara Pammi - The Surprise Conti Child

“Her name is Isabella. She’s six years old and she’s beautiful and precious and she’s … she’s yours. “

“No.” The word fell from Leandro’s lips—a snarling whisper in the quiet room. “That can’t be.”

Lips quivering, Alexis felt her chest rise and fall, but she held his gaze over the distance. “A DNA test will prove I’m right,” she said, as if she’d prepared the response.

It was the absolute purpose in her voice that held him mute. A daughter … His skin felt chilly, as if all warmth had been leached away from the world around him.

And yet the crystal chandeliers in the room glowed bright, the fire crackled in the marble-wrought fireplace and the moon hung jewel-bright in the sky outside.

The world continued spinning, whereas all the control he prided himself on had deserted him, leaving him shaken to the core.

He shook his head, gasping for breath.

Alexis stood composed amidst the curious and accusing glares aimed at her, her shoulders ramrod-straight. Alexis—whose eyes gleamed with pride and love as she claimed that he was a father. To her little girl.

Now this woman, whom he’d tried to forget, claimed her daughter was his … that his one moment of weakness had led to such a consequence …

The Legendary Conti Brothers The Legendary Conti Brothers Title Page About the Author PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN EPILOGUE Endpage Extract Copyright

The Sinner and the Saint meet their match!

Known throughout the world as the Conti Sinner and the Conti Saint, these legendary Italian brothers have been the focused goal of many a gold-digger.

But hands off, ladies—that’s now finally at an end!

For rumours are that Leandro, the Conti Saint, has a seven-year-old secret … and Luca, the Conti Sinner, is engaged!

Don’t miss the chance to get your hands on this fabulous new duet by Tara Pammi!

The Surprise Conti Child June 2016

The Unwanted Conti Bride July 2016

The Surprise Conti Child

Tara Pammi

www.millsandboon.co.uk

TARA PAMMIcan’t remember a moment when she wasn’t lost in a book—especially a romance, which was much more exciting than a mathematics textbook. Years later, Tara’s wild imagination and love for the written word revealed what she really wanted to do. Now she pairs Alpha males who think they know everything with strong women who knock that theory and them off their feet!

Contents

Cover

Introduction “Her name is Isabella. She’s six years old and she’s beautiful and precious and she’s … she’s yours. “ “No.” The word fell from Leandro’s lips—a snarling whisper in the quiet room. “That can’t be.” Lips quivering, Alexis felt her chest rise and fall, but she held his gaze over the distance. “A DNA test will prove I’m right,” she said, as if she’d prepared the response. It was the absolute purpose in her voice that held him mute. A daughter … His skin felt chilly, as if all warmth had been leached away from the world around him. And yet the crystal chandeliers in the room glowed bright, the fire crackled in the marble-wrought fireplace and the moon hung jewel-bright in the sky outside. The world continued spinning, whereas all the control he prided himself on had deserted him, leaving him shaken to the core. He shook his head, gasping for breath. Alexis stood composed amidst the curious and accusing glares aimed at her, her shoulders ramrod-straight. Alexis—whose eyes gleamed with pride and love as she claimed that he was a father. To her little girl. Now this woman, whom he’d tried to forget, claimed her daughter was his … that his one moment of weakness had led to such a consequence …

The Legendary Conti Brothers The Legendary Conti Brothers The Legendary Conti Brothers Title Page About the Author PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN EPILOGUE Endpage Extract Copyright The Sinner and the Saint meet their match! Known throughout the world as the Conti Sinner and the Conti Saint, these legendary Italian brothers have been the focused goal of many a gold-digger. But hands off, ladies—that’s now finally at an end! For rumours are that Leandro, the Conti Saint, has a seven-year-old secret … and Luca, the Conti Sinner, is engaged! Don’t miss the chance to get your hands on this fabulous new duet by Tara Pammi! The Surprise Conti Child June 2016 The Unwanted Conti Bride July 2016

Title Page The Surprise Conti Child Tara Pammi www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author TARA PAMMI can’t remember a moment when she wasn’t lost in a book—especially a romance, which was much more exciting than a mathematics textbook. Years later, Tara’s wild imagination and love for the written word revealed what she really wanted to do. Now she pairs Alpha males who think they know everything with strong women who knock that theory and them off their feet!

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EPILOGUE

Endpage

Extract

Copyright

PROLOGUE

LEANDRO CONTI.

The name floated, almost reverently, on the lips of the sweaty, gyrating crowd, bringing Alexis Sharpe to a sudden halt in the middle of the dance floor in an exclusive Milanese nightclub she’d only been allowed into because of her new friend, Valentina Conti.

Their friendship had been instantaneous when Alex, backpacking through Italy, had somehow found herself facing the attentions of an enamored but harmless Italian waiter. Tina had interfered and instantly decided that she liked Alex.

Valentina, vivacious, sophisticated and rich, was as different from Alex as Milan was from Brooklyn, but Alex hadn’t been able to resist Tina’s generous heart. The differences hadn’t bothered her either until she had met Tina’s older brother.

Leandro Conti... CEO of Conti Luxury Goods.

Gorgeous, sophisticated Italian magnate.

Brooding. Forbidding. Almost godlike in the way he surveyed the rest of them. As if he existed on a different sphere.

For a twenty-year-old from Brooklyn, and for one who blended into average and dull on a daily basis, that felt very true.

That he was at the nightclub in Milan was as rare as a UFO sighting. Suddenly, even the most raucous party girls pushed their hair back, adjusting dresses poured over hourglass figures.

They were hoping to catch his attention, Alexis realized, with a dawning sense of defeat.

Still, she chanced a glance.

The central glass dance floor suspended above water and the interplay of light created an illusion of a vast space. Yet the edgy elegance faded against the darkly stunning man.

That same hungry, fluttery feeling uncoiled in the pit of Alex’s stomach.

Clad in a black dress shirt and dark blue jeans, the chiseled angles of his face tightly stark, he came to a standstill at the edge of the dance floor. That slate-gray gaze searched, and dismissed each face in turn.

How she longed to make sure he noticed that she, Alexis Sharpe, was a woman. That she couldn’t be dismissed so easily...a compulsion she’d never felt before.

She faced every day that she lacked any special talent, that she’d been overlooked, even by her parents. This vacation to Milan had been a desperate escape she’d grabbed after being rejected at another high-flying Manhattan firm for a job. When she’d realized she wasn’t equipped for a big career like some of her friends, that a menial job at her dad’s health food store comprised her future.