Modern Romance July 2016 Books 1-4. Miranda Lee

      It was never coming off!

      And now, the celebrant told them, they were husband and wife.

      ‘We should call the family...’ Giovanni said to Alma as the bride and groom kissed. He wanted dinner, celebrations, but though Matteo loved his grandfather tonight was theirs.

      ‘We’re going to go,’ Matteo said, holding Abby’s hand. ‘We just wanted to share the special day with you.’

      He gave Alma a kiss and thanked her for helping in the arrangements and then he embraced his frail grandfather.

      ‘What had happened to the other Lost Mistresses?’ Abby asked as she said her goodbyes.

      ‘Another time,’ Matteo hastily broke in. They’d be here for hours if Giovanni started and Matteo had other plans for tonight! ‘We’ve got our honeymoon to get to.’

      They left his grandfather smiling, holding on to the necklace and sitting looking out across the lake and, yes, they had a honeymoon to get to, but Matteo went back for one more goodbye.

      ‘I love you.’

      He did.

      It didn’t roll off his tongue easily as it did when he said it to Abby, but Matteo meant it.

      ‘I love you,’ Giovanni said.

      That was all.

      They had come full circle and there were no more sorrys to be had.

      Matteo drove them to the airport and in his complicated, somehow seamless world, there a driver was waiting to return the car to his home.

      Their home.

      Abby’s head was still spinning; she hadn’t come back to earth since the day that they had met and she somehow doubted she ever would.

      At least not to the same one he had swept her away from.

      ‘Where are we going?’ Abby asked as they took their seats and, because it was a private jet, in a matter of moments they were heading off. As they hit cruise level the flight attendants moved into the sleeping area and then the captain’s voice came on.

      ‘Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Di Sione, on your marriage. With a tailwind our flight will take approximately seven hours.’

      Matteo took her hand and led her to the sleeping area and the crew had done them proud.

      There were petals strewn on the bed and there was a feast of champagne and so many delicacies that for a moment she took her eye off the groom.

      There were cupcakes that looked like miniature wedding cakes but when Abby bit into one it was filled with a rich chocolate mousse.

      ‘Seven hours’ flying time,’ Matteo said and he took her in his arms. ‘Whatever will we do?’

      ‘Is this a mystery flight?’

      ‘No.’ Matteo shook his head. ‘We’re going to Paris, the city of romance. I think it’s time to make up for some lost time—neither of us have ever really dated. I’m going to put that right.’

      He put her whole world to rights and Abby did the same for him.

      ‘So no mystery,’ Matteo said. ‘It’s just the start of our adventure.’

      * * * * *

A Virgin for Vasquez

       ‘I don’t care what you think!’

      How could Javier be so cool and composed when she was all over the place? Except, of course, she knew how. Sophie was just so much more affected by him than he was by her, and she could see all her pride and self-respect disappearing down the plughole if she didn’t get a grip on the situation right now.

      She cleared her throat and stared at him and through him. ‘I … we have to work alongside one another for a while and … and this was just an unfortunate blip. I would appreciate it if you never mention it again. We can both pretend that it never happened—because it will never happen again.’

      Javier lowered his eyes and tilted his head to one side, as if seriously considering what she had just said.

      So many challenges in that single sentence. Did she really and truly believe that she could close the book now that page one had been turned?

      He’d tasted her, and one small taste wasn’t going to do. Not for him and not for her. Whatever her back story, they both needed to sate themselves in one another. And sooner or later it would happen …

      CATHY WILLIAMS can remember reading Mills & Boon books as a teenager, and now that she is writing them she remains an avid fan. For her, there is nothing like creating romantic stories and engaging plots, and each and every book is a new adventure. Cathy lives in London, and her three daughters—Charlotte, Olivia and Emma—have always been, and continue to be, the greatest inspirations in her life.