Excerpt from:  The Bride's Proposition

"I have a very simple business proposition for you, Mr. Salvatore." Penelope Wentworth made herself comfortable in the chair across from her chosen target and adjusted a pair of practical wire-rimmed glasses before fixing Stefano with her most determined gaze. It could be quite determined, too, considering she’d been using it to great effect since the tender age of ten. "I want you to marry me."

If she’d startled him, he didn’t show it by so much as a flicker of expression. Instead he kept his dark brown eyes trained on her as though she were a unique specimen he’d never seen before. She was used to that, too, often finding herself on the receiving end of that type of look—also since the tender age of ten. The looks didn’t bother her. At least they hadn’t since she’d turned twelve and learned that the adults in her world were far more intimidated by her than she was by them.

"Since when did marriage become a business proposition?" he asked.

She almost smiled at the casual way he asked the question, as though he were indulging idle curiosity. She might have believed him if it weren’t for the deadly stillness that had seized him the instant she’d popped her question. "Marriage is always a business proposition. Most people cover up that fact by hiding behind an excess of emotion. A foolish indulgence, if you ask me."

He surprised her with a quick, flashing smile and she forced herself to conceal her reaction, though it was difficult. She should have given more credence to Kim’s claim about the man, instead of dismissing it as the sort of feminine exaggeration women indulged in when attracted to a man. Kim hadn’t exaggerated. Not even a little. It annoyed Penelope to discover that all the research and computations she’d run on Stefano Salvatore had failed to take into consideration the sheer presence of the man. It was quite a presence. "Fallen angel" struck her as all too apt.

He was extraordinarily good looking, his features arranged in a way guaranteed to turn most women into total idiots. And yet, he still managed to retain an air of undeniable masculinity. His arching cheekbones tempted a woman’s touch, while an aggressive nose kept him from appearing too pretty. A bold, kissable mouth sat at odds with his square, authoritative—and no doubt, stubborn—jawline. Thick black hair tumbled across his brow above the most enticing earthy brown eyes she’d ever seen. Calm. Knowing. Focused. And sharply intelligent.

"I see. Thank you, Ms...?"

"Wentworth. Penelope Wentworth."

A hint of amusement drifted through his gaze—a gaze almost as disconcerting as her own. "Thank you, Ms. Wentworth. But I’m not interested in marriage, whether it’s a business proposition, a romantic entanglement or at the end of a shotgun."

"I see," she said with a brisk nod. "I assume that’s a direct result of your failed engagement and that unfortunate incident that preceded it."

He surged to his feet and Penelope pressed her spine tight against the back of her chair. Oh, dear. Maybe she should have chosen a different angle. This had clearly been the wrong one with which to initiate negotiations. He circled his desk with slow, deliberate strides, coming to halt directly beside her chair. When he reached for her, it took every ounce of self-possession not to flinch. Not that her well-practiced self-possession helped. Grasping her arms, he yanked her from the chair and towed her toward the door to his office, her glasses bouncing on the tip of her nose with every step.

"What are you doing?" she demanded. My goodness! She sounded downright breathless. That had never happened before.

"I’m throwing you out of my office, Ms. Wentworth."

"Would you mind telling me why?"

"I don’t mind in the least." He wrapped a large hand around the knob and yanked open the door. "I don’t marry nutcases. Hell, Nellie. I don’t even talk to them." With that, he propelled her from his office and slammed the door in her face.

Well! Penelope frowned at the solid oak door as she straightened her glasses. How rude. He hadn’t even listened to what she had to say. Not giving herself time to reconsider, she turned the knob and reentered the room. He must not have been accustomed to having people cross him. He’d returned to his desk and buried himself in his work. It wasn’t until she slammed the door that he looked up.

She caught her breath at the expression in his eyes. Why had she thought they were calm? They were the most volatile and impassioned she’d ever seen. Slowly he regained his feet, thrusting back his chair with such force, it crashed against the wall behind him, making the windows shimmer.

"What part of being thrown out don’t you understand?"

Related Salvatore Books:

 

Who's Holding the Baby?   (Luc and Pietro's story)

Bridegroom on Approval   (Marco's story)

The Bride's Proposition    (Stefano's story)

The Baby Gift    (Alessandro's story)

 

This book was a:

 

Finalist for 2001 RITA Award, Traditional Category.

 

From the book:

 

THE BRIDE’S PROPOSITION

by Day Leclaire

Harlequin Romance #3611–July ’00

ISBN:  0-373-03611-6

 

Another 4 1/2 GOLD for Day Leclaire's latest book!

Praise for Day Leclaire’s books: "Once again, fans of Day Leclaire will be absolutely delighted as she creates her trademark full-of-life characters, a compelling premise, an intense conflict and gripping dialogue, all sprinkled with her humorous touch. A gorgeous businessman is shocked when a stranger puts forth THE BRIDE’S PROPOSITION (4 1/2GOLD)—a marriage of convenience in exchange for selling him a business his family has been trying to acquire. What shocks him even more is that he’s considering this offer and trying to figure out how to convince this woman that it could be a real marriage." Shannon Short, Romantic Times Magazine

Copyright © 2000 by Day Leclaire.  ® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher.  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.  For more romance information surf to: http://www.eharlequin.com