Seducing His Enemy's Daughter

Donato’s smile transformed his face, banishing lingering shadows. He was the most breathtaking man she’d ever known and he held her heart in his hand.

‘Don’t worry, Ella. I have plans to make you happy for the rest of your life.’ He hesitated. ‘If you’re sure...’

‘I’m absolutely sure.’ What she felt for Donato was unique. They were meant to be. ‘I intend to work at making you happy too.’

‘You already make me the happiest man alive.’ His smile was the best thing she’d seen in her life. Yet his eyes were serious. ‘You make me want to be a better man, Ella. To be someone you can be proud of.’

‘You already are, Donato. I respect you more than any man I know.’

His eyes glowed. ‘I’ve never known a woman of such honesty and integrity, Ella. Or such passion. I never want to let you go.’ He gathered her in and she sank against him, her soul soaring.

She sighed as the sound of music reached them. ‘The others are expecting us. I promised I’d be there for their special night.’

‘Our special night too.’ Slowly he stepped back, lacing his fingers through hers. ‘Come on, let’s go and help your family celebrate. I have to thank them for trusting me enough to invite me here.’

‘You want to spend the evening at a party?’ Ella pouted and instantly Donato swooped down and claimed her lips in a kiss as brief and powerful as lightning. It left her quivering.

‘I’ve booked the honeymoon suite,’ he said in that rumbly deep voice that always turned her internal organs to mush. ‘I thought we could make an appearance at the party then go back there. I still have those apologies to make. And after that I can begin.’

‘Begin?’ Ella was having trouble getting her brain to function after that devastating kiss.

‘Courting you, Ms Sanderson. I want you to know my intentions are completely honourable.’

‘Completely?’ Her mouth turned down in mock disappointment, even as her blood fizzed with excitement.

Donato leaned closer. A smile lurked at the corner of his mouth but it was the love in his eyes that stole her breath. ‘Almost completely.’

Then he kissed her again and she forgot all about talking.

* * * * *

Keep reading for a bonus novella by Amanda Cinelli, CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTELLO!

‘THERE’S STILL SOMETHING MISSING.’

Dara stood poised at the top of the staircase, looking over the Winter Wonderland theme that had transformed the opulent grand ballroom below her. Her assistant, Mia, waited patiently by her side. The younger woman had long ago got used to her boss’s obsessive eye for detail. Devlin Events was about creating perfect Sicilian weddings for their high-profile clients. Over the past three years Dara had gained an army of the industry’s most talented people and put them onto her payroll, but she still liked to oversee the final run-throughs at their most prominent venues. There was no one in the industry who could spot the little things better than she. And right now something was off.

Sweeping yet another glance around the room, she mentally checked off twenty-five tables, each adorned with a glittering crystal tree centrepiece. The overall effect was like a winter forest, with white and blue lighting completing the wintry theme. Her bride, a famous opera singer, had expressly forbidden any real flower arrangements on the tables. She had instead ordered hundreds of spherical arrangements of fresh white and pink roses, to be suspended from the ceiling in intricately symmetrical clusters.

Dara counted across the floating flower bombs—as she had so lovingly named them. She got as far as the third row before she noticed the problem.

She sighed. ‘They’ve doubled up on the colours.’

Mia’s head snapped up. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Right over here.’

She walked down the marble staircase, the click of her heels echoing on the hard surface. She came to a stop underneath the offending decoration. It wasn’t a major issue, but it was damned irritating now she’d noticed it. Mia’s quiet voice came from behind her.

‘Should I fetch one of the guys from the ceremony room?’

Dara shook her head. ‘The wedding is due to start in two hours—the ceremony room is priority.’ She smoothed down the front of her sleek red pencil skirt, trying to focus on everything but the mismatched flowers above her. Her eyes drifted upwards again.

Mia laughed. ‘I’ll go and get somebody.’

She disappeared out through the door, leaving Dara alone in the glittering winter ballroom.