Love swelled inside him. “It isn’t, you know. You see, your father didn’t love your mother … not like I love you.”
“Matt, listen. I—” Her eyes widened. “Wh … what?”
“I love you, Lana.”
Hope flashed in her eyes, then died. “You’re only saying that. It’s not possible.”
“Believe me, it’s very possible. It happened. It’s true.” He slid his arms around her waist and brought her close. “It took the threat of you leaving me to make me realize it.”
She swallowed hard. “But you don’t want to stay married to me, Matt.”
“I don’t?”
Her eyes searched his. “What about your other women? You were going to return to them after a year, remember?”
“Darling, I didn’t have nearly as many affairs before I married you as you think.”
Her forehead creased. “What about those nights you stayed out late when we were first married? I didn’t want to believe you were with anyone else but—”
“I went to stay at my old apartment each night for a few hours. Alone. I admit it gave me some space. I wasn’t used to being married, but there were never any other women involved.”
“Oh God, that’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely.” His hands tightened on her waist. “I married you for Megan’s sake, Lana, but I want to stay married to you for our sake.”
Moisture glittered in her eyes. “Oh Matt.”
“Stay with me, Lana. Have more children with me to share our love. Be happy and make me happy, too.”
“I never let myself believe in forever, Matt.” She blinked rapidly. “This time I know I can.”
His heart overflowed with love as he lowered his head toward her. “Yes, darling, this time you can. Trust me.”
“I do.”
Epilogue
Fireworks lit up the night sky over the Valente mansion for Cesare’s sixtieth birthday, and family and friends oohed and aahed over the stunning display.
Isabel Valente looked at her husband of thirty-three years, her heart swelling with love and pride. He’d come to Australia from Italy with his parents when he was twelve, made his fortune and turned the Valente name into something he was proud to pass on to his sons.
And his sons were equally as proud of their father, she knew, gazing at those three sons of her heart, despite only giving birth to one of them. They were all now happily married to wonderful, caring women and starting to raise families of their own.
Alex and Olivia had adopted Scott and Renee and would adopt more children as time moved on.
Nick and Sasha had a glow about them that made her think there might be a baby on the way soon.
And Matt and Lana had adorable little Megan, who was the apple of her youngest son’s eye.
“Well, Izzie,” Cesare said, slipping his arm around her waist. “I’m a very happy man now. The Valente name will carry on for a long time to come.”
She smiled. The Valente men could be proud, arrogant and exasperating to the women who loved them, but when it came down to it, none of the Valente women would have it any other way.
Isabel held up her glass to her husband. “Viva Valente, darling!”
And life, glorious as it was, went on.
THE BOSS’S CHRISTMAS
SEDUCTION
Yvonne Lindsay
About the Author
YVONNE LINDSAY
New Zealand born, to Dutch immigrant parents, Yvonne Lindsay became an avid romance reader at the age of thirteen. Now, married to her “blind date” and with two surprisingly amenable teenagers, she remains a firm believer in the power of romance. Yvonne balances her days between a part-time legal management position and crafting the stories of her heart. In her spare time, when not writing, she can be found with her nose firmly in a book, reliving the power of love in all walks of life. She can be contacted via her Web site www.yvonnelindsay.com.
Dear Reader,
I’ve always considered myself extremely fortunate to have the unquestionable support and love of my family and have strived to re-create that sense of belonging with my own children. While growing up, I couldn’t imagine how the holiday season must feel to those who have no one, especially those who don’t even know where they come from.
From that flipside of my life Holly Christmas was born. Trying to imagine her unspeakable losses since babyhood, the steps to adulthood she could never share with family and her struggle to come to terms with who she is combined with her determination to discover her background reduced me to tears at times while writing this story, but I trust you’ll find her path to happiness with Connor Knight as rewarding as she eventually does.