Italian Nights to Claim the Virgin by Sharon Kendrick features an alpha billionaire, a scandalous deal, and the fake relationship trope! Read below for an exclusive extract…

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‘Let me reassure you that what I am proposing is perfectly above-board,’ Alessio informed her coolly.

‘You need something and I need something,’ he continued. ‘Namely, a woman to accompany me to my mother’s sixtieth birthday party next weekend.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s a simple financial transaction, Nicola—nothing more complicated than that.’

‘Oh, come on. I’m not completely stupid.’ She had relaxed her frozen position but her gaze was still narrowed with suspicion. ‘Are you trying to tell me there’s nobody else you can ask? Surely you must have a little black book with hundreds of candidates more suitable than me.’

‘Indeed I do,’ he agreed softly. ‘But the trouble with taking a lover on a gig like that is that she’ll start to think it’s significant.’

‘She’ll start to think it’s significant,’ she repeated slowly.

‘Introducing her to the family. You know. Take a woman home to meet your mother and before you know it, she’ll be trying on long white dresses and organising hen nights.’

‘Oh, my goodness. How little you seem to think of my sex,’ she breathed. ‘Do you really imagine they would be so scheming—or so desperate—to want to be married to a man like you?’

‘I hate to disillusion you, Nicola, but yes, they would. But let me be candid with you, and tell you that your fervent words give me a great deal of pleasure.’ His voice lowered. ‘Since they reassure me you won’t be thinking along those lines yourself.’

‘Too right I’m not. I’m not interested in marriage.’ She pulled a face. ‘And even if I were looking for a husband it would be someone who was the polar opposite of you!’

‘Then why don’t you think about my offer instead? You’ll get flown out to Umbria—’

‘Did…?’ There was a brief pause and now she was sitting up very straight in her seat. ‘Did you say Umbria?’

‘Sì, the party is in Italy.’

‘I know where Umbria is,’ she hissed, before taking a big gulp of water. ‘Why take anyone? Why not just go on your own?’

‘I’ve come to the conclusion that wouldn’t be the best option,’ he said, without missing a beat. He certainly wasn’t going to explain that, with a third party present, his poisonous stepfather and two half-siblings might be less inclined to stir up mischief and malcontent. That their company would possibly be more tolerable if it was diluted by another person. He wanted Nicola Bennett to agree to his proposal, not send her screaming in the opposite direction. ‘All you need to do is to be polite and charming for a few days. I’m sure even you could manage that.’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘Surely that would depend on how much time I’m expected to spend with you!’

‘And for undertaking a simple task in one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, you get to write off your outstanding debts and have enough left to provide you with a cushion,’ he continued, his voice dipping as he slipped into the familiar role of negotiation. ‘Think about that, Nicola. No more working having to work past midnight in some questionable night-club. No more worrying that someone is going to rumble you to your boss.’

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Italian Nights To Claim The Virgin by Sharon Kendrick

Billionaire Alessio can think of nothing worse than attending another fraught family event alone. So, upon finding Nicola moonlighting as a waitress to make ends meet, he strikes a bargain with her. He’ll pay this innocent to accompany him to Italy…as his girlfriend!

Read now in eBook or in paperback which also features Cinderella And The Outback Billionaire by Kelly Hunter.

By Lauren Gardiner