Kate Hardy - The Runaway Bride And The Billionaire

A Mediterranean escape!

Heartbroken jilted bride Immi Marlowe flees to Isola dei Fiore, desperate to get away. But just around the corner from Villa Rosa, a gorgeous billionaire is waiting to sweep her off her feet...

Matt Stark shares Immi’s sense of adventure, and on the island’s golden beaches they form a connection that neither wants to end. Immi’s stay is supposed to be temporary—but with her secret past revealed, how far will Matt go to prove they can go the distance?

Immi noticed that Matt was still holding her hand; she really ought to find a tactful way of removing her hand from his…

Yet for the life of her she couldn’t pull away, because she liked the feeling of his fingers tangled with hers.

They lay there in a strangely companionable silence, just watching the stars, and Matt pointed out a couple more constellations. ‘That one’s Lupus—the wolf.’ They lay until the air started to get chilly, and then Matt sighed. ‘I guess we’d better get back.’

He saw her back to the house—and they still seemed to be holding hands.

This time he kissed her on the cheek. ‘Goodnight, Immi.’

Her skin tingled where his lips had touched her, and it was the easiest thing in the world to kiss his cheek back. Except somehow he’d moved, and she ended up brushing her mouth against his. It felt as if she’d been galvanised. She felt him go very still, too. And then he dropped the blankets and cushions he’d been holding in his free hand, slid his arms round her and kissed her properly.

It felt as if she were floating among the stars they’d just been watching.

Summer at Villa Rosa Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Summer at Villa Rosa Title Page About the Author Dedication PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN EPILOGUE Extract Copyright

Four sisters escape to the Mediterranean...

Only to find reunions, romance...and royalty!

Villa Rosa holds a very special place in the hearts of Posy Marlowe and her three sisters. It’s filled with memories of idyllic summer holidays on L’Isola dei Fiori. And her recent inheritance of the beautiful but fading palazzo from her godmother, Sofia, couldn’t have come at a better time for them all!

Now, this summer, they all escape to L’Isola dei Fiori and discover Villa Rosa again.

Don’t miss all four books in this fabulous quartet:

On sale June: Her Pregnancy Bombshell

by Liz Fielding (Miranda’s story)

On sale July: The Mysterious Italian Houseguest

by Scarlet Wilson (Portia’s story)

On sale August: The Runaway Bride and the Billionaire

by Kate Hardy (Imogen’s story)

On sale September: A Proposal from the Crown Prince

by Jessica Gilmore (Posy’s story)

Only in Mills & Boon Romance.

And on August 7 thJessica Gilmore brings you an exciting online read—a prequel to Summer at Villa Rosa.

Available at millsandboon.co.uk.

The Runaway Bride and the Billionaire

Kate Hardy

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KATE HARDYhas always loved books, and could read before she went to school. She discovered Mills & Boon books when she was twelve and decided this was what she wanted to do. When she isn’t writing Kate enjoys reading, cinema, ballroom dancing and the gym. You can contact her via her website: www.katehardy.com.

To Liz Fielding, Scarlet Wilson and Jessica Gilmore—

I thoroughly enjoyed our time creating

the Marlowe girls and Villa Rosa!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A Mediterranean escape! Heartbroken jilted bride Immi Marlowe flees to Isola dei Fiore, desperate to get away. But just around the corner from Villa Rosa, a gorgeous billionaire is waiting to sweep her off her feet... Matt Stark shares Immi’s sense of adventure, and on the island’s golden beaches they form a connection that neither wants to end. Immi’s stay is supposed to be temporary—but with her secret past revealed, how far will Matt go to prove they can go the distance?

Introduction Immi noticed that Matt was still holding her hand; she really ought to find a tactful way of removing her hand from his… Yet for the life of her she couldn’t pull away, because she liked the feeling of his fingers tangled with hers. They lay there in a strangely companionable silence, just watching the stars, and Matt pointed out a couple more constellations. ‘That one’s Lupus—the wolf.’ They lay until the air started to get chilly, and then Matt sighed. ‘I guess we’d better get back.’ He saw her back to the house—and they still seemed to be holding hands. This time he kissed her on the cheek. ‘Goodnight, Immi.’ Her skin tingled where his lips had touched her, and it was the easiest thing in the world to kiss his cheek back. Except somehow he’d moved, and she ended up brushing her mouth against his. It felt as if she’d been galvanised. She felt him go very still, too. And then he dropped the blankets and cushions he’d been holding in his free hand, slid his arms round her and kissed her properly. It felt as if she were floating among the stars they’d just been watching.

Summer at Villa Rosa Summer at Villa Rosa Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Summer at Villa Rosa Title Page About the Author Dedication PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN EPILOGUE Extract Copyright Four sisters escape to the Mediterranean... Only to find reunions, romance...and royalty! Villa Rosa holds a very special place in the hearts of Posy Marlowe and her three sisters. It’s filled with memories of idyllic summer holidays on L’Isola dei Fiori. And her recent inheritance of the beautiful but fading palazzo from her godmother, Sofia, couldn’t have come at a better time for them all! Now, this summer, they all escape to L’Isola dei Fiori and discover Villa Rosa again. Don’t miss all four books in this fabulous quartet: On sale June: Her Pregnancy Bombshell by Liz Fielding (Miranda’s story) On sale July: The Mysterious Italian Houseguest by Scarlet Wilson (Portia’s story) On sale August: The Runaway Bride and the Billionaire by Kate Hardy (Imogen’s story) On sale September: A Proposal from the Crown Prince by Jessica Gilmore (Posy’s story) Only in Mills & Boon Romance. And on August 7 th Jessica Gilmore brings you an exciting online read—a prequel to Summer at Villa Rosa . Available at millsandboon.co.uk .

Title Page The Runaway Bride and the Billionaire Kate Hardy www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author KATE HARDY has always loved books, and could read before she went to school. She discovered Mills & Boon books when she was twelve and decided this was what she wanted to do. When she isn’t writing Kate enjoys reading, cinema, ballroom dancing and the gym. You can contact her via her website: www.katehardy.com .

Dedication To Liz Fielding, Scarlet Wilson and Jessica Gilmore— I thoroughly enjoyed our time creating the Marlowe girls and Villa Rosa!

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

PROLOGUE

YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED to be jealous of your twin.

Especially when you knew she’d just been through a rough time and she deserved every bit of happiness. And especially when it was her wedding day.