The Valtieri Marriage Deal. Caroline Anderson

      He saw her through the glass. He didn’t know her—he’d never seen her before in his life—but as their eyes connected, Luca’s heart began to pound.

      She was beautiful. Utterly gorgeous. Her wide lavender eyes had caught his attention first, and below them a generous mouth, slightly parted, was just begging to be kissed. Her sweater clung lovingly to soft, rounded breasts with just a hint of cleavage to taunt him, but it was something else, something he couldn’t define, something fierce and elemental and soul-deep that drew him to her, and he wanted her so much he could taste it.

      If he had any sense, he’d keep on walking. He liked control—and there was something very uncontrolled about his reaction to her.

      But he was in desperate need of a shot of caffeine, this was the best caffé in the area and the only free seat was at her table. So he went in and walked over to her. He’d just get a coffee and go. How hard could it be?

      ‘Signorina?’

      She looked up, and her breath jammed in her lungs. It was the man, standing beside her, a crooked smile on those sexy, unbelievable lips, the dark, intense eyes that had locked with hers through the window glittering with something that if she’d had a shred of sense left would have sent her running, but she couldn’t move. Even her lungs had stopped working.

      ‘Are you expecting anyone to join you, or may I take this seat?’ His voice was soft, gravelly, warmed by a rich Italian accent, and it trailed over her like the hand of a lover, bringing everything screaming back to life.

      Mills & Boon^® Medical^™ Romance introduces you to BILLIONAIRE DOCTORS

      Hot, jet-set docs at the top of their game—professionally…and personally!

      These desirable doctors are international playboys—Gorgeous Greeks, sexy sheikhs, irresistible Italians and Australian tycoons.

      Their playground might be the world of the rich and famous but their professional reputations are world renowned.

      These billionaires dedicate themselves to saving lives by day—and red-hot seduction by night…

      Look out for more Billionaire Doctors in Mills & Boon^® Medical^™ Romance, coming in the next two months:

      HOT-SHOT SURGEON, CINDERELLA BRIDE

      by Alison Roberts—next month

      SECRET SHEIKH, SECRET BABY

      by Carol Marinelli

      CAROLINE ANDERSON has the mind of a butterfly. She’s been a nurse, a secretary, a teacher, run her own soft-furnishing business, and now she’s settled on writing. She says, ‘I was looking for that elusive something. I finally realised it was variety, and now I have it in abundance. Every book brings new horizons and new friends, and in between books I have learned to be a juggler. My teacher husband John and I have two beautiful and talented daughters, Sarah and Hannah, umpteen pets, and several acres of Suffolk that nature tries to reclaim every time we turn our backs!’ Caroline also writes for the Mills & Boon^® Romance series.

      Recent titles by the same author:

      Medical^™ Romance

      A MUMMY FOR CHRISTMAS

      THEIR MIRACLE BABY^*

      CHRISTMAS EVE BABY^*

      HIS VERY OWN WIFE AND CHILD^†

      Mills & Boon^® Romance

      TWO LITTLE MIRACLES

      THE SINGLE MUM AND THE TYCOON

      HIS PREGNANT HOUSEKEEPER

      CARING FOR HIS BABY

      THE VALTIERI MARRIAGE DEAL

      BY

       CAROLINE ANDERSON

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      For Sarah, amazing font of knowledge

       and maker of the best chocolate cake in times of need, and for

       Alastair, Rhea and Eleanor who introduced us to Italy. Grazie!

THE VALTIERI MARRIAGE DEAL

      CHAPTER ONE

      HE SAW HER through the glass.

      He didn’t know her—he’d never seen her before in his life—but as their eyes connected, Luca’s heart began to pound.

      She was beautiful. Utterly gorgeous. Her wide lavender eyes had caught his attention first, and below them a generous mouth, slightly parted, was just begging to be kissed. Her sweater clung lovingly to soft, rounded breasts with just a hint of cleavage to taunt him, but it was something else, something he couldn’t define, something fierce and elemental and soul-deep that drew him to her, and he wanted her so much he could taste it.

      If he had any sense, he’d keep on walking, because a woman like that just wasn’t his style. He liked control—and there was something very uncontrolled about his reaction to her.

      But he was in desperate need of a shot of caffeine, this was the best café in the area and the only free seat was at her table. So he went in and walked over to her. He’d just get a coffee and go. How hard could it be?

      ‘Signorina?’

      She looked up, and her breath jammed in her lungs. It was the man, standing beside her, a crooked smile on those sexy, unbelievable lips, the dark, intense eyes that had locked with hers through the window glittering with something that if she’d had a shred of sense left would have sent her running, but she couldn’t move. Even her lungs had stopped working.

      ‘Are you expecting anyone to join you, or may I take this seat?’ His voice was soft, gravelly, warmed by a rich Italian accent, and it trailed over her like the hand of a lover, bringing everything screaming back to life.

      She sucked in a breath. ‘No—no, I—Please, do.’

      She gathered up the books she’d scattered all over the table—a guide to Florence, a phrase book that didn’t seem to have any of the questions that she wanted to ask, a couple of tourist information leaflets she’d picked up—and made room for him, and as he sat down, his knee brushed against hers and a hint of spicy citrus cologne drifted over her and made her shiver.

      He moved his knee, shocked by the bolt of lightning that had shot through him at the fleeting contact. Hell, this was going to be harder than he’d imagined. He dredged about for something sane and innocuous to say, then his eyes lit on the books. ‘Sightseeing?’ he asked, disgusted at his corny line, and she gave a little chuckle, but an endearing sweep of colour touched her cheeks.

      ‘Wow. Sherlock Holmes,’ she said drily, but there was a teasing little smile playing at the edges of her mouth and he wanted to taste it.

      He dragged his gaze back to her eyes. Although her voice was cool and controlled, something in those gorgeous lavender depths told him that the accidental brush of his leg against hers had affected her as much as him, and he felt a kick of something raw and elemental in his gut. His eyes returned to her mouth, and he felt his mouth curve in response to her smile.

      ‘Well, the English-Italian dictionary and the guide book were a bit of a giveaway,’ he said, and decided it was time to introduce himself. He extended his hand. ‘I’m Luca, by the way.’

      ‘I’m Isabelle.’ After a second’s pause, she took his