Forbidden Count (Princes of Avce Book 8)

by Victoria Pinder

  The crew opened the door. “I never asked your father officially for your hand before we married.”

  “He said yes at the wedding.”

  “Not the same thing.”

  “Relax. He’s happy for us.” They walked side by side onto the stairs that led down to the waiting limo to bring them home. She looped her arm with Matteo’s as she said, “Papa’s always busy in his restaurant though I know he loves me.”

  Matteo waved for her to go first into the air conditioned limo. “Most men love my wife it seems.”

  Her tanned skin retained the warmth of Fiji. As he slipped in beside her she asked, “What are you talking about?”

  Matteo pinned her with his gaze. “Charles was fighting to get you back.”

  For weeks neither one of them had said his name. She pressed her lips together and wondered if something was in the air here? She sucked in her bottom lip. “I thought we were never discussing him again.”

  He kissed her hand. “We aren’t. I’m nervous about your father, I suppose.”

  Her father was super nice and loved by everyone. “Why?”

  He massaged her arm and goosebumps grew again as he said, “Because I… I love you.”

  She laughed. This was awesome. Of course. She nodded and patted her belly. “Then we can tell him together about the baby in person.”

  Truthfully though being pregnant still felt like she was in some dream and it wasn’t real.

  As soon as Simone opened the door of the Villa for them, they stepped inside and she could smell the savory lamb shank stew that her father always made for her. Her nose would never forget that smell.

  Matteo walked with her as they headed into the dining room. Her mouth watered, recalling that certain taste of spice and meat. As she glanced at the buffet offerings, she knew her father was close by. She stepped back and called out, “Papa, what’s all this?”

  He came in from the servant’s entrance wearing his chef’s gear and walking next to Fiona, who had an uncharacteristic redness to her face as her father said, “I’ve been showing your chef how to properly make my daughter’s favorite foods.”

  Matteo lifted a ceramic dish of creme brûlée. “This looks amazing, sir.”

  Hmm. Her father and Fiona were still next to each other. He’d not shown interest in any woman in years from what she remembered.

  “Call me Nicoli, please.” He patted Matteo on the shoulder like they were close friends. Sheena took another whiff of burnt sugar and winced, turning away. She breathed through her nose and thankfully the nausea passed.

  Her father’s eyes rounded with concern. “What’s wrong with my daughter?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing, Papa. Just pregnant.”

  Her father’s eyes welled with tears that poured down his cheeks. He hugged her and glanced over her head as he rocked her. “Pregnant…I’m glad I came to give you this.”

  He let her go and pulled a letter out of his back pocket, handing her an envelope of faded ivory. She read the dainty handwriting of her name. “What is it?”

  He kissed her forehead. “It’s from your mother. She wanted you to have this letter after you married and planned on having children. She wrote it in the hospital bed, knowing she didn’t have much time and would never know you.”

  Tears rolled down her face.

  And then in his usual fashion, he left to stir the stew at the buffet and check on his creations.

  Sheena swallowed and carefully opened the envelope to not tear it as she said, “Let me sit and read this.”

  She cried as she read her mother’s words. She’d been just a tiny infant when her mom had written this, and she probably knew she’d die. She wiped her tears as she finished, fearful of ruining the old paper. Then she stood and walked over to her father as she said, “Papa, this is wonderful. Thank you.”

  Matteo had his hands in his pockets and asked, “What does your mother say?”

  She read aloud:

  My darling Sheena,

  Not getting to know you is my biggest regret in dying. Your father will take care of you and I will watch over you from the next world. I will make sure you are blessed with love like I had with your father and hope one day you get to have a family. I will love you forever.

  P.S. Tell your father to move on and marry again. He deserves to be loved.

  She sniffled and tucked the paper back in the envelope as she said, “I wish I’d have known her.”

  “That’s a beautiful letter,” Matteo said with a glassy-eyed expression.

  She hugged her father and said, “Thank you, Papa.”

  “Now let’s eat.” Papa held out a chair for her. She waved for Matteo and once again her father decided to serve instead of join. He stalked off with the head chef.

  Matteo picked up his fork. “Sheena?”

  “Yes, Matteo?” She smiled at her husband. All this good in her life was because they had gotten married.

  He glared into his soup. “You’re lucky to have a great father.”

  And he hadn’t, but that didn’t matter. She squeezed his hand. “I know, and you will be one too.”

  He met her gaze and nodded. “As long as I don’t take after my father, we’re good.”

  She picked up her spoon and sighed. “No chance of that, my love.”

  “Why do you say that?” His spoon hovered midway from his bowl to his mouth.

  She imitated his cute wink and said, “Because you took a chance on love.”

  He kissed her cheek, but that wasn’t enough. She turned in her chair and kissed him full on the lips. Today they were home, together, where their lives truly began.

  THE END. I hope you enjoyed Matteo and Sheena’s romance where two old friends truly fall in love. The next book in the series, Forbidden King, which takes place 30 years ago where the king and queen fall in love though dealing with Francesca. Get your copy Now!

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  Also if you love my royal romances, please check out the House of Morgan where billionaires all find love and adventure. Secret Crush is free.

  And if you’re looking for a series with some danger and mystery where all the Bentleys must marry women they’ve never met to clear their names in this exciting family drama. The prequel Irresistibly Lost is available for FREE as well!

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  Forbidden Princes and Forbidden Lords

  A charming royal romance. Antonio has a month to find a wife, so he listens to his IT department to meet his perfect match.

  Prince Antonio Aussa is almost out of time. If he doesn’t find a wife within the next two weeks, he’ll be forced to forsake his destiny and disappoint his parents.

  Kristin Wells is desperate for money. If she doesn’t find a well-paying job soon, her dream of finishing grad school will die.

  When Kristin walks into Antonio’s Miami office, he sees a way out of his royal dilemma, but first he needs to convince her to go along with his plan. Before either knows what’s happening, their whirlwind pretend romance turns into something more. But soon their seemingly perfect union stirs up more trouble than they could have ever imagined, jeopardizing their agreement.

  With everything on the line for them, can the couple from opposite worlds find a way to make their arrangement work, or will their deeper connection cause them to lose everything in the end…including each other?

  The Foreign Prince genre meets a Hallmark movie in this hot new contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Victoria Pinder! Fans of Melody Anne, and Nora Roberts will adore this series. One Click to get your copy today.

  Forbidden Crown

  One playboy prince is about to get sch
ooled when his one night stand is everything he never wanted.

  Marcus Aussa is bound by duty to find a bride. The task should be easy enough for the handsome prince, but finding the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with is vastly different from what he’s accustomed to. But when his oldest brother welcomes his new bride and her friend to Avce, Marcus thinks he may have found the perfect woman.

  When Renee Brown agrees to escort her best friend on a trip to Avce, she knows it will be the experience of a lifetime. Her theory proves true when she meets Marcus, the crown prince’s handsome younger brother. What begins as innocent flirty turns into a whirlwind summer fling, and she’s okay with that. But their short time together draws them closer than expected – so close that known assassin’s target both. As the danger increases, Marcus’ protective nature takes hold. Now, neither can imagine their lives without the other.

  When their time together comes to an end, will they welcome the distance or will they do whatever it takes to be together forever?

  Fans of Melody Anne, and Nora Roberts will adore this series. It's Notting Hill meets the Prince and Me where the sudden attraction wasn't supposed to lead to happily-ever-after. One Click to get your copy now!

  Forbidden Prince

  The little sister of an ex-girlfriend is supposed to be off limits, even for a royal prince. However when the matchmaker proclaims Amy is his match, Lucio Aussa goes and discovers for himself the girl he completely overlooked.

  Political consultant Amy Fields only experienced jealousy once in her life, and that’s the way she’d like to keep it. Watching her older sister carry-on with the boy she absolutely adored in high school enough to make her never want to feel second-best again.

  Now, successful in her own right. She’s making strides in her career and meeting interesting people, but one client takes a keen interest in her life – so much so, he’s determined to ensure she never finds a happy ending with the boy she loved long ago.

  Prince Lucio Aussa can have any woman he wants, but he’s grown tired of superficial relationships. When his brother convinces him that he can find the perfect bride online, Lucio reluctantly agrees to go along with the plan. The search dredges up old feelings about Amy’s older sister, and prompts him to want to rekindle their broken relationship. But when the internet search points to Amy as his perfect mate, that changes everything. Now, he must reconcile the feelings he had for her sister with the realization that Amy is far more interesting than she ever was. To make matters worse, as his feelings for her grow, an enemy emerges threatening to ruin any hope of love for either of them.

  Can the overcome their preconceived notions about each other and find common ground together or will yet another obstacle stand in their way?

  Fans of Melody Anne, and Nora Roberts will adore this friends to lovers romance. One Click to get your copy now! Forbidden Royal

  Blackwell marriage clock is ticking when he meets Donna whose traveling to check off items on her bucket list. Neither were ready for the chemistry that throws both of their lives in a different direction.

  Donna Smith has always dreamed of seeing how the other half lives. When she finds herself out of a job, she uses her downtime to finally get out and see the world, and her first destination is to witness a royal wedding in Avce.

  With the first item checked off her bucket list, she sets out to check off the remaining items one by one…as soon as she can figure out how to sneak into the reception undetected and find a handsome stranger to lock lips with.

  Blackwell Oberlin, the Duke of Oakley Woods, promised his father he’d one day marry, but on one condition: she has to be someone unlike anyone he’s ever met. When on a whim he plants a kiss on a beautiful stranger, he thinks he’s met the one, but before he knows what’s happened, she’s nowhere to be found and he can’t stop thinking about her.

  Using his money and influence, he hires a security team and a girl with a sophisticated algorithm to find her. But when he does, will it lead to a happily-ever-after?

  Fans of Melody Anne and Nora Roberts will adore this series. The story is like Under the Tuscan Sun goes to Cinderella's Royal Ball. One click to get your copy now! Forbidden Duke

  Remy must find a bride and hires the Royal matchmaker, only to get denied. Cassidy’s former childhood best friend will never be the one. However his grandmother’s dying wish puts them on a collision course.

  Cassidy Bright is infamous in Avce for her ability to help others find love. Her algorithm has never failed. Behind the scenes, though, no one knows who she based her program on, and she’d like to keep it that way. But when her muse requests her services, she’s not so inclined to oblige.

  Remington Burke IV, the Earl of Sky, has everything he wants, except a wife. At the urging of his ailing grandmother, he seeks out help from the only person he knows can help him – Cassidy. Marriage is almost guaranteed, but she’s reluctant to let him see his match. The longer they squabble about it, the more attracted to her he becomes.

  Could the woman of his dreams be the geeky girl with the magical algorithm or has desperation clouded his judgment?

  Fans of Melody Anne and Nora Roberts will adore this series. If you love best friends to lovers and modern day arranged marriages then One click to get your copy now! Forbidden Earl

  One spoiled lady who gets what she wants lands in muddy waters and in the backyard of a French, vineyard owner who doesn’t put up with any of her usual behaviors.

  Lady Chelsea Bright is many things, but a romantic is not one of them. With her family in dire straits, she must marry a wealthy suitor to ensure their security, but that means she’ll have to sacrifice her art and travel to Paris to meet Duc Astorre Manfredi, and never submit her art for a showing that was set up for her.

  Alexandre Travers has one goal in mind – to rebuild his family’s vineyard in the South of France. That means he must concentrate his efforts on producing the best grapes possible and completely rebranding the organization because there’s no room for error. The last thing he needs is distractions, but that’s exactly what he gets when a distracted driver crashes her car on his property and destroys all his hard work.

  Chelsea needs a ride to Paris but volunteers to stay and help repair the property and despite the trouble she’s caused, but these two opposites soon find themselves growing closer. Soon, that budding friendship begins to look and feel like love, but is it enough to make Chelsea abandon her plans and begin anew?

  An unexpected romance set in both wine country and Paris between two opposites with almost nothing in common except undeniable chemistry. Find out what happens in this modern day opposites attracts meets second chances romance!

  One Click Now to get your copy now!

  Forbidden Monsieur

  He’s a bad boy noble with two weeks left to either marry…or lose his fortune.

  Stefano Durnova, the Marchese of Normanni, has less than two weeks left to find a bride or be forced to sacrifice his title, inheritance, and lands. With the clock ticking, he’ll be pushed to resort to desperate measures, but he never expected to ask a total stranger to marry him.

  Jilted bride Rossie Diaz heads to Paris with her best friend instead of her cheating groom. Following a serendipitous encounter on the Eiffel Tower, her impulsive nature results in her agreeing to a noble wedding 24 hours after her last wedding disaster.

  Rossie and Stefano try to navigate their new-found roles, but fate, temptation, and the lure of everlasting love has other plans that will either bring them closer together…or send them running back to the lives they can’t return to.

  Find out what happens in this modern day Jilted at the Altar meets Cinderella's Ever After romance!

  One Click Now to get your copy now!

  Forbidden Marquis

  He’s a charming bad boy count about to lose his fortune if he doesn’t marry and the bride takes off on the wedding day…

  Matteo Korbel, the Count of Golchin, proposed a business marriage to save his
fortune to his girlfriend figuring she was good enough as the clock is ticking. But on the wedding day she takes off and he asks the chef’s daughter to step in as a replacement bride.

  Sheena Marceau just broke up with her boyfriend and was planning her own dream wedding if she had unlimited funds for Matteo and his bride. She never once she was to be a replacement bride. But when Matteo asked, she can’t say no. It’s her turn to save him, even if it’s a lifelong commitment. Marrying a man she thinks of as a friend means no more heartache or tears.

  However neither of them expected passion or growing attraction, especially when neither really each other. Now as they are learning to trust each other, they need to navigate rough waters, ex-boyfriends, old desires, habits and assumptions must all change if they ever hope to live happily ever after.

  Find out what happens in this modern day Pride and Prejudice meets Cinderella's Ever After romance!

  One Click Now to get your copy now!

  Forbidden Count

  Also by Victoria Pinder

  Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)

  The House of Morgan

  Secret Crush

  Secret Baby

  Secret Bet

  Secret Wish

  Secret Dad

  Secret Heir

  Secret Tryst

  Secret Date

  Secret Romeo

  Secret Match

  Secret Bridesmaid

  Secret Admirer

  The House of Morgan Boxed Set 1-3

  The House of Morgan Boxed Set 4-6

  Princes of Avce

  Forbidden Crown

  Forbidden Prince

  Forbidden Royal