Her First-Date Honeymoon. Katrina Cudmore

      

      Honeymoon...with her new boss!

      Emma Fox always dreamed of a honeymoon in Venice...she just never expected to experience it alone! After discovering her fiancé was a scoundrel, runaway bride Emma vows to be independent, starting by securing a job with billionaire Matteo Vieri for the week.

      As they work together in his palazzo, Emma’s warmth and natural beauty capture Matteo’s guarded heart. They’ve already shared a honeymoon, but what will it take for Matteo to persuade Emma to go back down the aisle?

      Romantic Getaways

      Escape to Paradise!

      This Valentine’s Day, escape to four of the world’s most romantic destinations with these sparkling books from Mills & Boon Romance!

      From the awe-inspiring desert to vibrant Barcelona, and from the stunning coral reefs of Australia to heart-stoppingly romantic Venice—get swept away by these wonderful romances!

      The Sheikh’s Convenient Princess

      by Liz Fielding

      The Unforgettable Spanish Tycoon

      by Christy McKellen

      The Billionaire of Coral Bay

      by Nikki Logan

      Her First-Date Honeymoon

      by Katrina Cudmore

      Her First-Date Honeymoon

      Katrina Cudmore

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      A city-loving book addict, peony obsessive KATRINA CUDMORE lives in Cork, Ireland, with her husband, four active children and a very daft dog. A psychology graduate, with a MSc in Human Resources, Katrina spent many years working in multinational companies and can’t believe she is lucky enough now to have a job that involves daydreaming about love and handsome men! You can visit Katrina at katrinacudmore.com.

      For Ben

      See, the middle child isn’t always forgotten!

      Love, Mum

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       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

       EPILOGUE

       Extract

       Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

      ‘I ADMIRE YOUR TENACITY, cara, but I meant it when I said no.’

      Matteo Vieri lay down and spread his body behind the woman already warming his bed. His hand curled around her slim waist. The only light in the room came from the corridor, and in the dark shadows, with her head tucked low into the pillow, he struggled to see her in detail. But beneath his fingers he felt her body edge towards him.

      Irritation bit into his stomach and refused to let go, but he forced his voice to remain a low playful tease. ‘The last woman who crept into my bed wasn’t seen for days. Leave now, or I swear you won’t see daylight for a very long time.’

      He wanted nothing but to sleep. Alone.

      Earlier, when she had phoned him while he was en route to Venice, she had told him she was leaving tomorrow for her home city of New York, but she had promised him a night to remember. They had dated intermittently in the past, when their paths had crossed. It had been fun. But recently he had realised that beneath her cool sass lay fantasies of a future together, so he had good-humouredly turned down her offer. Again. But she obviously hadn’t listened and now she lay in his bed.

      He stifled a curse.

      It was past midnight. His bones ached for a shower and the oblivion of sleep.

      ‘Cara, it’s time for you to leave.’

      Beneath the silk of her nightgown her ribcage jerked.

      His hand stilled.

      Something was wrong. Her scent was wrong. The dip of her waist was wrong. The endless curls in her hair, brushing his hand, making him itch with the desire to thread it through his fingers and pull her towards him, were wrong.

      His breathing, his heart, his thoughts went on hold. The red traffic lights of confusion waited to switch to the green of clarity.

      Her head inched upwards until wide eyes met his: perplexed, scared, startled.

      His own disbelief left him speechless.

      Caspita! Who was this stranger lying in his bed?

      And then he wanted to laugh. Could this week get any worse?

      His starved lungs sucked in air. He could barely make out her features, but still a lick of attraction barrelled through him. Her scent—the clean low notes of rose—the enticing warmth of her body, the mass of hair tumbling on the bed sheets made him want to draw her into him. To take solace in her softness, her femininity, from the craziness of his life.

      Her mouth opened. And closed. She swallowed a cartoon gulp. Her mouth opened