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‘Are you asking me to pose as your date?’
‘What other reason would we have for being in Palermo together? I think it’s the most believable scenario, don’t you?’
Maybe it was the fatigue of the past twenty-four hours catching up with her, but Dara felt a wave of hysterical laughter threatening to bubble up to the surface. The thought that anyone would believe a man like Leo Valente was dating a plain Irish nobody like her was absolutely ludicrous.
He continued, oblivious to her stunned reaction. ‘You would leave the business talk to me. All I need is for you to act as a buffer of sorts—play on your history with Lucchesi’s family. Someone with a personal connection to smooth the way.”
‘A buffer? That sounds so flattering …’ she muttered.
‘You would get all the benefits of being my companion and being a guest at an exclusive event. It would be enjoyable, I believe.’
‘Umberto Lucchesi is a powerful man. He must have good reason not to trust you,’ she mused. ‘I’m not quite sure I can risk my reputation.’
‘I’m a powerful man, Dara. You climbed a building to get a meeting with me. I’m offering you an opportunity to get exactly what you want. It’s up to you if you take it or not.’
This story began as a flicker of an idea—as most stories do. I was newly engaged, and exploring a wedding fair in Dublin, when I spotted a kiosk that advertised dream Italian weddings. The idea that someone could have such a glamorous job—planning events in such spectacular locations—was fascinating. The character of Dara was born instantly: a super-organised wedding planner on a mission to take her career to the next level.
It was while researching possible locations that I stumbled across the breathtaking Castello di Donnafugata in Ragusa. Leo’s family estate is inspired by this ancient Sicilian landmark. I fell in love with the dramatic façade and wondered what it would have been like to grow up in such a place … to wake up in the morning and look out of the arched windows to see waves crashing on the cliffs below …
And so it came about that I entered the 2014 So You Think You Can Write competition—with the aim of finally typing ‘The End’ on Leo and Dara’s story. I had no idea that it would be the beginning of a wonderful adventure of my own. The support I received was overwhelming, and being named winner of the competition is a moment I will never, ever forget.
Writing, to me, is like dreaming on paper, and I am honoured to be able to share my dreams with you.
Amanda
Resisting
the Sicilian
Playboy
Amanda Cinelli
AMANDA CINELLI was raised in a large Irish/Italian family in the suburbs of Dublin, Ireland. Her love of romance was inspired after ‘borrowing’ one of her mother’s beloved Mills & Boon® novels at the age of twelve. Writing soon became a necessary outlet for her wildly over-active imagination.
Now married, with a daughter of her own, she splits her time between changing nappies, studying psychology and writing love stories.
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For my dear friend Kirsty. This story would never have been finished without you.
For my mother, Audrey. For your unwavering belief in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.
And for my father, Paolo. For showing me that with hard work and determination you can achieve anything.
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