The Italian’s Ruthless Marriage Command

HELEN BIANCHIN

At the Italian billionaire’s bidding… and he’s just about to raise the stakes! Taylor Adamson has just come face to face with the man with whom she must share custody of her orphaned nephew – the infamously arrogant Dante d’Alessandri! And he won’t let Taylor out of his sight! At first Dante sees Taylor as just a nanny. But soon he realises this ripe young beauty could fill another, more pleasurable role – in the bedroom…The ruthless Italian wants to see how far Taylor will go to keep caring for her little nephew… Dante is going to raise the stakes!

‘You love it here.’ A statement, not aquery.

‘It’s where I come to relax.’

‘Do you?’ Taylor asked with a degree of cynicism. ‘Relax? Ever?’

‘The company of a good woman, family, provides a persuasive element.’

The mere thought conjured up an image she didn’t want to contemplate. ‘Marriage? All you’ll need to do is crook a finger to whoever takes your fancy from a long line of willing women.’

‘Indeed?’

Dante watched the fleeting emotions chase across her expressive features for the few seconds it took for her to control them.

There was no artifice or pretence apparent, but a strength of mind he could only admire. It was her determination to fight to the bitter end for what was right for Ben… something he counted on.

She intrigued him…cool, laid-back on the surface, and in control. Except she became a chameleon in his arms, sensually alive in a way that made him want more, so much more than she wanted to give.

Was prepared to give, he amended…and recognised the difference.

‘Make no mistake,’ Dante began with dangerous quietness. ‘It’s you I want as my wife.’

Helen Bianchin was born in New Zealand and travelled to Australia before marrying her Italian-born husband. After three years they moved, returned to New Zealand with their daughter, had two sons, then resettled in Australia. Encouraged by friends to recount anecdotes of her years as a tobacco sharefarmer’s wife living in an Italian community, Helen began setting words on paper, and her first novel was published in 1975. An animal lover, she says her terrier and Persian cat regard her study as as much theirs as hers.

THE ITALIAN’S RUTHLESS MARRIAGE COMMAND

BY

HELEN BIANCHIN

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

THE ITALIAN’S RUTHLESS MARRIAGE COMMAND

CHAPTER ONE

DO I have to go to kindergarten today?’

Taylor drew the dark-haired little boy close in a loving hug, felt his small arms curve round her neck in a gesture that tugged at her heart…and fiercely vowed to protect him at any cost.

Just three and a half years old, he’d had his world recently shattered beyond belief with the loss of both his parents in a car crash.

Ben d’Alessandri had become part of her life from the moment her sister, Casey, had announced her pregnancy.

Together, they’d shared setting up a nursery, choosing motifs, soft toys and baby clothes…indulgently sanctioned by Casey’s husband, Leon.

It had been Taylor who’d gowned up and added her encouragement to that of Leon as they supported Casey during the birthing process…and afterwards, witnessing Casey and Leon’s shared joy in the miracle of their baby son.

Two sisters, tragically orphaned in their teens, they’d shared a close bond, championing each other in their chosen pursuits…and celebrating the other’s successes. Casey had graduated in law and Taylor, a talented writer, had had her first book accepted for publication a year before Ben’s birth.

‘Why can’t I come with you and see Zio Dante?’

The mere mention of Leon’s brother’s name caused Taylor’s stomach to do a slow backward flip before settling into a state of unease.

‘You’ll see your uncle soon,’ she said gently, meeting his solemn gaze.

‘Promise?’

‘Yes.’ It was a given.

‘Today?’

‘I think so,’ she allowed cautiously. ‘Except we must remember he’s had a long flight from Italy, and he’s going straight to a business meeting.’

Ben nodded his head. ‘With you.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘About me.’

Oh, Lord, honesty to his level of understanding seemed the bes