Lorenzo (Members From Money Book 12)
Page 1
Lorenzo
An Italian Holiday, An Italian Stallion…
A sexy billionaire marriage of convenience romance by Katie Dowe of BWWM Club. Features another free bonus book.
High school teacher Monique finally has the chance to take her ideal trip to Italy.
But never did she think that while she was there, she’d meet someone like Lorenzo, a sexy Italian native.
Her dream holiday soon turns even dreamier with a whirlwind romance and a man she hardly knows, and when it’s over they each go their separate ways...
But not before Monique falls in love with him!
When Monique returns home, she’s shocked to discover who the man really is: Lorenzo Romero, the billionaire owner of a high-end clothing brand.
Flames are rekindled when they meet again, and soon the press hears of their fling.
To save face for his family, Lorenzo decides a marriage of convenience between the two would be best.
Monique would’ve been happy at the idea of marrying this man before, but instead, the marriage is causing a bunch of problems.
Lorenzo is acting cold towards her, bringing her confusion and heartache.
And because of her ties to the prestigious Romano family, she’s found herself in a dangerous and tragic situation that threatens her life.
As Lorenzo seeks revenge against those who would hurt his wife, will he now realize that he can’t live without her?
Or will he continue to remain distant to protect his own heart?
Find out in this emotional yet sexy romance by Katie Dowe of BWWM Club.
Suitable for over 18s only due to sex scenes so hot, you'll want to go on your own sexy holiday romp!
Tip: Search BWWM Club on Amazon to see more of our great books.
Free: Get Jason from the Members From Money series where YOU'RE the star!!
Hi there. As a special thank you for buying this ebook, for a limited time I want to send a copy of Jason free of charge directly to your email! It's a personalized story, meaning you'll add a few details about yourself (these won't be shared with anyone else) and you'll become the star of the story!! :D
You'll be emailed a new chapter once a day for 7 days. You can get it by clicking the cover below or going here:
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Copyright © 2017 to Katie Dowe and AfroRomanceBooks.com. No part of this book can be copied or distributed without written permission from the above copyright holders.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Bonus Book - Marrying Her Rich Asian Widower
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
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Chapter 1
Monique Johnson felt positively decadent as she scribbled the notes in her diary. This trip to Italy had been an absolutely marvelous idea even if her twin brother Marcus had said that she should be careful of going off to a foreign country all by herself. She had been saving up for a year in order to spend the summer here. The Hotel Antico was a redone farmhouse with lovely rooms. With a loud laugh, she drifted around the room and then flung herself onto the bed and ran her hands over the cool sheets. It was a bed designed to make love in. She giggled at the thought of it and sprang up immediately. She had come here to get away from the doldrums of her own life and the fact that Lester had told her that he did not see their relationship going anywhere. She wandered over to the mini bar and selected a bottle of wine at random. She had been traveling forever and intended to just crash and get some sleep. Then it was off to explore the quaint countryside as soon as it was daylight.
She poured a glass of wine and went to sit on the side of the bed. There was the choice of watching something on television but she had no intention of doing so. She sipped the surprisingly fruity wine and kicking off her sensible shoes; she curled her feet beneath her and stared around the room with a pleased look on her face. Both she and Marcus had lost their parents when they were two years old and had been brought up by a hard-faced spinster aunt who thought that giving children the freedom to express themselves was like giving them the freedom to have sex wherever they pleased! They had grown up without love and affection and had clung to each other due to it. They had left the loveless house as soon as they turned eighteen with Marcus going to work so she could have the freedom to go to college. She had gone and had gotten her degree in English Literature because she had been so crazy about reading. Now she was going two years at the local high school where she teaches. She had gotten her own apartment as soon as possible because she needed the privacy to grow and live her own life. She did not live far from her brother and they saw each other every weekend. Marcus had gone back to night school where he had gotten a degree in engineering and worked for the city.
She had met Lester while she was in college and after careful consideration, she had given her prized virginity to him with much regret. She had thought at the time that he would eventually be her husband. She finished the wine and headed to the bathroom. She had brought her own bath gels and she poured them into the water and waited until the suds appeared before taking off her clothes and stepping inside, sinking into the water with a sigh. She was going to be broke for the rest of the year but it would be totally worth it!
*****
Lorenzo Romano felt the weight of his family name bearing down on him as he listened to his mother over the phone. Adele Romano had been trying to get her only child to settle down and play a more active part in the running of the empire. “Your father is getting impatient cara,” she reminded him reproachfully. “How long are you planning to stay in Italy?”
“I don’t know Mother,” he said a little impatiently. He was staying at the Hotel Pontico and had come into his room after sitting at the bar for a little bit. He was not born in Italy but his parents had deep roots here, not to mention the fact that Romano’s had been born right here. “I need a break from everything and I will let you know when I will be home.”
“The playboy image will only last for so long,” his mother warned him.
“I will keep that in mind. Goodbye Mother.” He hung up before she could put his father on the line. He had deliberately stayed away from the well-known hotels that knew his family name. Romano brand was synonymous with high end clothes and expensive perfumes and had been started by his great grandfather almost a hundred years ago. His father was proud of telling the story of how his grandfather had started the business in a tiny shed in Barcelona and how much it had grown since then. Their brands were in every high end stores in the world and Lorenzo had been the face of the company since he was two years old. He had decided recently that he needed a break. He had been groomed to take over the empire from his father as he had done from his father and marry a nice Italian girl who would stand by him while he takes the comp
any to the next level, but the thought of it made him want to tear out his shoulder-length coal black hair!
He had used his classically European good looks and long lean body along with his name to climb into bed with women who drop their panties for him without even a murmur. He had only one rule: he did not mess around with married women, but as long as they were beautiful and willing, so was he. He had celebrated his birthday in May and on turning twenty-seven he had begun to be disillusioned. It had been six months since he had been with a woman and that for him was a record.
He padded to the bathroom totally naked and stepped into the shower turning on the water immediately allowing it to beat down on him. He wanted something meaningful but he had no intention of saying that to his mother!
*****
Monique was pleasantly exhausted! She had packed too many things in one afternoon and now she was feeling the brunt of it on her feet mostly. She had walked the cobbled streets and steep staircases, where she had visited the churches and palaces and now she was not only exhausted but she was also starving. Breakfast had consisted of espresso and Cornetto and she closed her eyes as she remembered the taste of both. She had caught sight of a small cafe looking restaurant and had come armed with her Italian-English dictionary. So far at the hotel, the staff spoke very good English with a delightful accent.
She was sitting at one of the corner tables and trying to understand the waiter and that was when he saw her. He smiled in amusement as he saw her leafing through the dictionary swiftly. “Puoripetere, per cortesia?” She looked up at the young man triumphantly as she had just won the lottery. Her accent was not too bad but she had put the accents on the wrong words throwing the man in confusion. He walked forward intending to help out when she looked up at him. She had dark brown eyes that appeared to be lit from inside. She had a cool cocoa brown complexion and her long black hair was twisted into a chignon at the nape of her neck. She was not exactly beautiful but she had something that drew one’s attention immediately. Maybe it was her lips, he thought as his eyes strayed to the full bottom lip with rose color sheen on it.
“Parla Inglese?” he asked in fluent Italian to the young man.
He shook his head and brightened and they engaged in a string of rapid Italian with Monique trying to follow but could not. The waiter nodded and hurried away with a smile on his darkly handsome face.
“My name is Lorenzo and I just ordered the beer and burger for you,” he smiled at her as he took a seat opposite her.
“Monique,” she told him coolly taking in his darkly handsome face and the coal black hair that waved freely to his shoulders. He reminded her of an Italian sculpture she had seen on her walk earlier. His dark eyes were intense and she felt herself shivering as they touched on her. “I certainly did not need any help. I was managing on my own.”
“I am sure you were,” his tone was slightly insolent as he looked at her.
Monique bristled at his tone. She taught Junior high and was used to dealing with boys thinking that she was their age. “My Italian might be rusty but I was getting there.”
“How long would it have taken you?” he asked her mockingly. For the first time in a long time he found himself relaxing in a woman’s presence and not wondering if she wanted more from him that he was prepared to give. He had deliberately not given her his last name and from the look on her face she had not recognized him.
“As long as it takes,” she was exasperated at the mocking tone. She certainly did not appreciate him making fun of her! “I would have you know that I am double English major and my students are well satisfied with the way I teach. Languages come naturally to me.”
“Your accent left the guy perplexed.” He could sit all day and spar with her. Dark brown eyes lit from within looked like melted chocolate, he thought waxing philosophical. Before she could make a comeback, the waiter hurried over with their order and after passing a cursory glance to Monique he bowed to Lorenzo and reeled of rapid Italian to which he responded.
“You are staying?” Monique asked him as he pulled his burger closer to him.
“Is that the thanks I get for rescuing you?” he lifted thick heavy black brows as he brought the large juicy burger to his mouth.
“I don’t need rescuing,” she fumed at him and then deciding it was not worth it one bit, she bit into her own delicious burger. His eyes narrowed as she closed hers and used the tip of her tongue to lick the juice that had escaped.
“How was your tour?” he asked her wanting to take his mind off the reaction of his body to the tiny movement.
“Very good.” She eyed him for a moment. “Do you live here?”
“I am visiting,” he said evasively. “This is your first time?”
“Yes.” She used the napkin to dab at her mouth delicately. “Do you have a habit of rescuing strange women?’
“I am into rescuing damsels in distress.” He said in amusement.
“Honey, I am never going to be a damsel in distress,” she told him dryly causing him to laugh. Monique stared at him in fascination. He looked vaguely familiar and way too handsome for her peace of mind. His teeth were very white against his dark skin and his intense dark eyes made her feel as if he was seeing into her very soul.
“That remains to be seen.” He moved slightly bringing her attention to the black t-shirt that molded his chest. “Where are you staying?”
Monique hesitated a moment and then told him.
“I have a room there,” he surprised her by saying. “How long have you been here?”
“Since two days ago.”
“How about dinner at the restaurant later?”
“Why?” she asked him bluntly.
“We are two Americans here on holiday, we should stick together.” He told her in amusement.
“I am sure we are not the only two people here from the states.”
“But fate has thrown us together.”
“I would rather think it was your nosiness that did it.”
“You call it nosy and I call it fate,” he shrugged his slim elegant shoulders. “What do you say?”
“Let me check my schedule,” she tilted her head for a moment as if she was thinking and had him smiling in amusement. “I happen to have a cancellation for a full body massage so I can pencil you in.” It was when she noticed his intense dark eyes going towards her generous bosom that she realized what she had just said.
“Good to know.” They had finished eating by then but all of a sudden Lorenzo realized that he was not ready to leave yet. “Where to next?”
“The library.”
He nodded and signaled the waiter over. “My treat. How about using me as a tour guide? I come pretty cheap.”
“Cheap is good,” she told him, a smile coming to her lips and her dimples peeking out.
“Glad to be of service.” His tone was deliberately casual as he forced himself to ignore the pull of attraction he felt for her!
*****
Monique entered her hotel room later that day and dropped to the freshly made bed. She had had more fun than she had ever had in ages! Lorenzo was highly entertaining and she had seen the way the women looked at him when they had walked on the streets leading to the library. He had explained the history of the place to her and she had asked him teasingly if he was sure he did not live here and he had told her that his parents had been born in Italy. She had not asked him what he did for a living. They were both on holiday and maybe he just wanted to forget about work for a little bit. As much as she loved what she did, she was happy she was not explaining the Tale of Two Cities to students who did not appreciate literature or the nuances of a positively uplifting story! She looked over at the clock and realized that they had planned to meet in the restaurant at six and it was now a quarter past four. Time to get a nap and get ready.
*****
She had agonized so much over what to wear that she had ended up getting to their table late. She had decided after discarding the few outfits she had bou
ght with her to wear a basic black dress with a demure neckline and a narrow skirt. She had let down her hair for a change and it swung in gentle waves down to her shoulders. Her makeup was very light; almost nonexistent because she did not want to appear that she was trying too hard. He got to his feet as he saw her coming and pulled the chair out for her. “Good to see that chivalry is not entirely dead,” she had said with a smile as he pushed under her chair.
“When in Italy...” he left the saying unfinished as he took his seat. He had on an expensive looking sports jacket made of the finest wool and a white shirt opened at the neck. His scent was elusive and potent.
“I thought you had bailed on me.”
“Not a chance. I am getting a free meal out of it so I would be a fool to bail.” She looked around at the crowded restaurant. “I like the homey feeling here. It’s like you are back in the states only warmer in terms of atmosphere.”
He looked around briefly and then back at her. He had had a conversation with the wait staff not to treat him any different from the other guests and not to call him by his last name. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you.”
He ordered for them as soon as the waiter came over. The lasagna and eggplant parmigiana and tilapia were delicious and had her sighing in pleasure.
“Enjoying the meal?” his tone was mild as he looked at her. He was so used to women picking at their meals that it was refreshing to see a woman really enjoying what was set before her.
“Immensely,” she glanced over at his plate and saw that he had only half eaten his meal. “You are not?”
“I am not a heavy eater,” he shrugged slightly. He almost told her that he had been bred that way by a mother who thought eating a lot was gluttony and a sure fire way to put on the pounds.
“Tell me about yourself,” he leaned forward and she struck again at how handsome he was. What was a man like him doing having dinner with her? He had combed back his hair and it glowed in the overhead light.
“What do you want to know?”