Sara Craven - The Innocent's Sinful Craving

‘Be my wife,’ Zac said lightly. ‘And save Mannion from its fate.’

Her hand jerked, spilling coffee on to the coral dress. She said breathlessly, ‘If that’s a joke, I don’t find it amusing.’

‘I am perfectly serious,’ he said. ‘I am asking you to marry me, Dana mia .’

‘In which case you must be mad.’ She swallowed convulsively. ‘And the answer is no.’

Zac sighed elaborately. ‘And only moments ago you were declaring that no sacrifice was too great for the house you love.’

Oh, God , she thought. Why did I let my mouth run away with me?

She took a deep breath. ‘Marriage is totally different. I am not for sale.’

Seven Sexy Sins Seven Sexy Sins 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 Extract Endpage Copyright The true taste of temptation!

From greed to gluttony, lust to envy, these fabulous stories explore what seven sexy sins mean in the twenty-first century!

Whether pride goes before a fall, or wrath leads to a passion that consumes entirely, one thing is certain: the road to true love has never been more enticing!

So you decide:

How can it be a sin when it feels so good?

Sloth—Cathy Williams

Lust—Dani Collins

Pride—Kim Lawrence

Gluttony—Maggie Cox

Greed—Sara Craven

Wrath—Maya Blake

Envy—Annie West

Seven titles by some of

Mills & Boon Modern Romance’s

most treasured and exciting authors!

The Innocent’s Sinful Craving

Sara Craven

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Former journalist SARA CRAVENpublished her first novel, Garden of Dreams , for Mills and Boon in 1975. Apart from writing (naturally!), her passions include reading, bridge, Italian cities, Greek islands, the French language and countryside, and her rescue Jack Russell cross Button. She has appeared on several TV quiz shows and in 1997 became the UK TV Mastermind champion. She lives near her family in Warwickshire—Shakespeare country.

For Leo, stern critic and amazing support.

Contents

Cover

Introduction ‘Be my wife,’ Zac said lightly. ‘And save Mannion from its fate.’ Her hand jerked, spilling coffee on to the coral dress. She said breathlessly, ‘If that’s a joke, I don’t find it amusing.’ ‘I am perfectly serious,’ he said. ‘I am asking you to marry me, Dana mia .’ ‘In which case you must be mad.’ She swallowed convulsively. ‘And the answer is no.’ Zac sighed elaborately. ‘And only moments ago you were declaring that no sacrifice was too great for the house you love.’ Oh, God , she thought. Why did I let my mouth run away with me? She took a deep breath. ‘Marriage is totally different. I am not for sale.’

Seven Sexy Sins Seven Sexy Sins Seven Sexy Sins 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 Extract Endpage Copyright The true taste of temptation! From greed to gluttony, lust to envy, these fabulous stories explore what seven sexy sins mean in the twenty-first century! Whether pride goes before a fall, or wrath leads to a passion that consumes entirely, one thing is certain: the road to true love has never been more enticing! So you decide: How can it be a sin when it feels so good? Sloth —Cathy Williams Lust —Dani Collins Pride —Kim Lawrence Gluttony —Maggie Cox Greed —Sara Craven Wrath —Maya Blake Envy —Annie West Seven titles by some of Mills & Boon Modern Romance’s most treasured and exciting authors!

Title Page The Innocent’s Sinful Craving Sara Craven www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author Former journalist SARA CRAVEN published her first novel, Garden of Dreams , for Mills and Boon in 1975. Apart from writing (naturally!), her passions include reading, bridge, Italian cities, Greek islands, the French language and countryside, and her rescue Jack Russell cross Button. She has appeared on several TV quiz shows and in 1997 became the UK TV Mastermind champion. She lives near her family in Warwickshire—Shakespeare country.

Dedication For Leo, stern critic and amazing support.

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

Extract

Endpage

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

AT THE TOP of the hill, she stopped the car on the verge and got out, stretching gratefully after the drive from London.

The house lay below her in its secluded green valley, a sprawl of stones like some ancient dragon sleeping in the sunlight.

Dana drew a long, satisfied breath, her taut mouth relaxing into a smile of pure pleasure.

‘I’ve come back,’ she whispered. ‘And this time I’m going to stay. Nothing—and no one—is going to drive me away again. You’re going to be mine. Do you hear me?’

And after one final, lingering look, she returned to the car and drove down the hill towards Mannion.

It would not—could not be the same. For one thing, there would be no Serafina Latimer with her kindness and smiling grace that could so suddenly change to severity. She was back in her beloved Italy, and Aunt Joss, of course, had gone with her.

But I’ve changed too, she thought.

She was a long way from the confused seventeen-year-old who’d left here seven years earlier, physically, emotionally and—yes, she supposed, even financially.

No longer the housekeeper’s niece, there on sufferance, for ever on the outside looking in, but a successful and well-paid negotiator with a top London estate agency.

And the past years of fighting her way up the ladder, reinventing herself into a force to be reckoned with, had taught her a lot.

I’ve helped a lot of people make their dream come true, she thought. Now, it’s my turn.

Except that Mannion wasn’t simply a dream. It was her birthright, whatever the law might say. There was such a thing as natural justice, and she would lay hold to it, no matter what means she had to employ. Or what the consequences might be.

She’d decided that a long time ago, and the passage of time had only deepened her resolve.

She drove through the tall wrought-iron gates and up the long drive through the sweeping lawns and formal gardens to the house. There were already cars parked on either side of the main entrance and she slotted her Peugeot into the nearest available space.

Climbing out, she stood for a moment, scanning the other vehicles, steadying the sudden flurry of her breathing, and smoothing any creases from her khaki linen skirt before collecting her weekend case from the boot.

As she turned she saw that the heavily studded front door had opened and a plump woman in a neat dark dress was waiting there.

‘Miss Grantham?’ Her voice was quietly civil. ‘I’m Janet Harris. Let me take your case and show you to your room.’