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THE BRIDES OF BELLA LUCIA
A family torn apart by secrets,
reunited by marriage
When William Valentine returned from the war, as a testament to his love for his beautiful Italian wife, Lucia, he opened the first Bella Lucia restaurant in London. The future looked bright, and William had, he thought, the perfect family.
Now William is nearly ninety, and not long for this world, but he has three top London restaurants with prime spots throughout Knightsbridge and the West End. He has two sons, John and Robert, and grownup grandchildren on both sides of the Atlantic who are poised to take this small gastronomic success story into the twenty-first century.
But when William dies, and the family fight to control the destiny of the Bella Lucia business, they discover a multitude of long-buried secrets, scandals, the threat of financial ruin, and ultimately two great loves they hadn’t even dreamed of: the love of a lifelong partner, and the love of a family reunited….
This month Jack Valentine’s back—
and he’s as gorgeous as ever.
Crazy About the Boss
by Teresa Southwick
Crazy About the Boss
Teresa Southwick
THE BRIDES OF BELLA LUCIA
A family torn apart by secrets, reunited by marriage
First there was double the excitement as we met twins Rebecca and Rachel Valentine
Having the Frenchman’s Baby—Rebecca Winters
Coming Home to the Cowboy—Patricia Thayer
Then we joined Emma Valentine as she got a royal welcome in September
The Rebel Prince—Raye Morgan
There was a trip to the Outback to meet Louise Valentine’s long-lost sister, Jodie
Wanted: Outback Wife—Ally Blake
On cold November nights, we caught up with newcomer Daniel Valentine
Married Under the Mistletoe—Linda Goodnight
Now, snuggle up with sexy Jack Valentine this Christmas
Crazy About the Boss—Teresa Southwick
In the New Year join Melissa as she heads off to a desert kingdom
The Nanny and the Sheikh—Barbara McMahon
And don’t miss the thrilling end to the Valentine saga in February
The Valentine Bride—Liz Fielding
For the Romance readers—without you
there would be no happy endings!
Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
PROLOGUE
New York—December 23
HEARING his sister’s voice always made Jack feel like that eighteen-year-old who’d left home in disgrace.
How bloody stupid was that? He was Jack Valentine of Valentine Ventures, the reckless genius who had challenged conventional wisdom and made a fortune. And she was asking him to come home again.
Jack squeezed the phone until his fingers ached. “It’s been twelve years, Emma. That’s a lot of Christmases. Why should I come home for this one?”
“Do you have something better to do?” she said, her soft, cultured voice dripping with irritation.
A muscle jumped in his jaw. It was almost as if she knew he had no plans at all. “Anything’s better than that.”
“It’s time, Jack.”
He heard London in her voice. Americans loved the accent. But he heard silk and steel in the soft, firm tone that tapped into an accumulation of loneliness he hadn’t realized was there.
Swiveling his chair around, he stared out his office window and concentrated on the New York skyline instead. It was dark, but across the city lights dotted the windows in the tall buildings. Out there someone was staring at his window and coveting this office with its expensive art, plush carpet, fine furniture and the latest electronics. Standing on the street they were cold and scared and staring, wondering what it felt like to have everything you ever wanted.
He knew because twelve years ago this city was where he’d run and he’d once been down there with nothing. He’d looked up and vowed that one day he’d own the whole damn building. Screw-ups didn’t grow up to be millionaires, but he had.
“It has been twelve years, after all. Are you listening, Jack?”
“Yes. And what I hear is that something’s wrong. What is it, Em?”
There was a big sigh from the other end of the line. “All right. There is a problem here. The business is in trouble. We need your help.”
The precious business Robert Valentine prized above everything? Good. It was about time the womanizing bastard paid for his sins where it hurt him most. “I’m not sure why I should care.”
“Because no matter how stubborn you insist on being, you’re still part of this family.” This time censure mixed with the steel in her voice.
“Did he put you up to this?”
“No.” Another big sigh. “Jack, what happened between the two of you?”
Jack had protected his mother. And it had cost him.
“It doesn’t matter any more, Em.”
The unladylike snort on the other end of the line told him his sister was probably rolling her pale blue eyes in disgust as she fiddled with a strand of curly light brown hair. The vivid image made him miss her.
“I hear in your voice that it still does matter,” she said quietly.
“You’re wrong. Now, if that’s all—” He turned away from the window and leaned back in his chair.
“It’s not,” she snapped. “We need you, Jack. Your job is investing in companies. The family business needs money and quite literally you’re our only hope to keep it going.”
“Lots of investors would love to get their hands on a piece of the action.”
“But they wouldn’t be family. And none of us want to give a non-Valentine a piece of the action because you don’t turn your back on family. It simply isn’t right.”
Even if family turned their backs on him? he wondered. “They’ll survive, Em.”
“I wish I could be as sure.” Sadness shaded her voice. “As you said—it’s been a dozen years. Twelve seems like a good round number to make peace. Tis the season. Peace on earth. Charity begins at home and all that.”
“I’m