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CONTRACTED FOR THE PETRAKIS HEIR

by Annie West

CLAIMING HIS NINE-MONTH CONSEQUENCE

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by Jennie Lucas

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Keep reading for an excerpt froie Cox

Clainant Innocent

by Maggie Cox

CHAPTER ONE

‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN, the tenant wantsto vacate?’

Bastian Carrera couldn’t believe what he’d just heard It was the last thing he wanted to hear after spending the pastto buyers overseas in a bid to increase his faanic olive oil, and the day after toain

He’d returned ho out to Brazil—not just on business, but to lecture His family business was one of the leaders in its field, and many people were interested in how it had achieved its phenoht have the kind of personal wealth that most people could only dreao taken things more easily if he’d wanted to, but he still took a personal interest in all aspects of the business

However, the troubled expression on his father’s bronzed, lined face now couldn’t help but disturb hiuilt the older ive his son better news

Just before Bastian had left he’d given notice to his tenants to quit the stone-built cottages they rented so they could begin work on the reet the rest of their land certified as organic It generally took around three years to have the land converted, and his intention was to plant anic olive trees

For generations his family had established itself as one of the best olive oil producers in Italy and it hadmoney Their aim was to provide people with the very best produce they could deliver, and to that end Bastian took every chance he could to make improvements

His father sighed ‘No She is not exactly refusing, but—’

‘Did you oes or stays? That we need the land for conversion?’

Reddening a little, Alberto Carrera shifted one shoulder ‘I did But the lady doesn’t want to go She has not so long ago got divorced and is hoping to reignite her career The light in the villeta is perfect for her work, she says, and she has set up her easel under the skylight’

‘And who is she? A student of one of the great masters?’ Unsympathetic, his son scowled

‘She is not that kind of artist Lily is an illustrator of children’s books and she says it is her right to rened a lease for two years and so far has only been renting for six months’

The younger ain and let loose a colourful curse But, whatever e—strong-boned and handsome as sin Alberto proudly told people that his son’s looks came from his mother’s sidethat all her family had been exceptionally beautiful His only son was his last link to Annalisa, the enchanting girl he had fallen head over heels in love with all those years ago and lost far too soon when she’d died giving birth

‘And did you offer this woman the compensation we discussed and tell her ould find her somewhere equally suitable?’

‘Yes, I did, son Butto be so easily persuaded—and I can’t blame her’

Impatient now, Bastian dropped his hands to his hips, his dark eyes flashing, ‘What do you h this woman has put you under some kind of spell, Father! I have just two days before business takes ain and I need to know the land conversion is in hand before I go Never o and speak to her myself’

As he descended the grand stucco steps of the faet sonant fury at this woined she could bend his father’s will to suit her own How dare she try and take advantage of hi an opportunity to wear hiht

On his way to the coe that his ancestors had built, he reflected some more on its stubborn occupant