Bought by the Rich Man. Jane Porter

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      Bought by the Rich Man

       Three hot heroes who are wealthy, autocratic and in charge!

       Three glittering, passionate romances from three bestselling Mills & Boon authors!

       In February 2009 Mills & Boon bring you two classic collections, each featuring three favourite romances by our bestselling authors…

      BOUGHT BY THE RICH MAN Taken by the Highest Bidder by Jane Porter Bought by Her Latin Lover by Julia James Bought by the Billionaire by Myrna Mackenzie

       AT HER LATIN LOVER’S COMMAND

      The Italian Count’s Command by Sara Wood The French Count’s Mistress by Susan Stephens At the Spanish Duke’s Command by Fiona Hood-Stewart

      Jane Porter grew up on a diet of Mills & Boon® romances, reading late at night under the covers so her mother wouldn’t see! She wrote her first book at age eight, and spent many of her school and college years living abroad, immersing herself in other cultures and continuing to read voraciously. Now Jane has settled down in rugged Seattle, Washington, with her gorgeous husband and two sons. Jane loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at PO Box 524, Bellevue, WA 98009, USA. Or visit her website at www.janeporter.com

      Bought by the Rich Man

      TAKEN BY THE HIGHEST BIDDER

      by

      Jane Porter

      BOUGHT BY HER LATIN LOVER

      by

      Julia James

      BOUGHT BY THE BILLIONAIRE

      by

      Myrna Mackenzie

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

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      TAKEN BY THE HIGHEST BIDDER

      by

      Jane Porter

      CHAPTER ONE

      SAMANTHA VAN BERGEN’S husband was missing in action. Again. And unfortunately, Sam knew where he was.

      She knew where to find him when he didn’t return home for days at a time, and she knew what to expect.

      Disaster.

      This was a battle, she thought, drawing her gray velvet cloak closer to her evening gown as she swiftly climbed the stairs to Monte Carlo’s grand Le Casino, a battle she was losing.

      Johann had always been a compulsive gambler but he used to win more. He used to walk away from the table when it turned ugly. But he didn’t do that anymore. He just sat there, losing. Losing. Losing.

      They’d already lost so much. Their savings. The chic penthouse. The Ferrari—not that Sam had ever driven it.

      What was left? She wondered, climbing the casino’s marble steps.

      In Le Casino’s VIP card room, Cristiano Bartolo lounged at his favorite table when the door to their private room opened. Annoyed by the interruption, he glanced up, but his irritation eased as he recognized beautiful, blond Samantha van Bergen, or more commonly known as the baroness van Bergen.

      It was, he thought, mouth curving faintly, such a huge, stately title for such a young blushing English bride.

      He played his card, then looked up to watch her unfasten the top hook on her velvet cloak, letting the dove-gray velvet fabric fall back over one shoulder revealing her white evening gown beneath.

      She fascinated him. He didn’t know why. He’d only seen her once before, but she’d made such an impression that night six months ago he knew he’d never forget her.

      The first time he’d seen her had been here, at Le Casino, as well. Then, as now, he’d been sitting at the exclusive high roller tables, and then, as now, every head at the table had turned. Cristiano turned, too, to see what had caught every man’s attention.

      No wonder every man stared.

      The baroness was small, slim, beautiful. She had a delicate oval face framed by blond ringlets, long loose curls that gave her a decidedly angelic appearance, although her eyes, slightly tilted at the corners, were not completely innocent.

      Beautiful girls were a dime a dozen, but she touched him; with her serious expression, her dark brown brows pulled, the deep furrow between arched brows.

      Cristiano watched now as the young baroness stood just inside the door, not nervous or uncertain, just focused. She wore a look of utter concentration, an expression of grave concern, and Cristiano was certain this is what Joan of Arc must have looked like before battle as she moved to Johann van Bergen’s side.

      Cristiano had never liked Johann, would never like Johann, and had deliberately sat at this table so he could play the baron. Cristiano had discovered months ago that Johann van Bergen didn’t know how to play cards, couldn’t gamble and hadn’t a clue how to walk away from a game even when he was being bled. And he was most definitely bleeding tonight.

      Bleeding out.

      Bleeding dry.

      Cristiano scooped up a handful of chips, moved them forward, upping the ante by two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. It wasn’t a small bet, but neither was it huge. Over five million pounds had already been wagered tonight. Johann’s loss to Cristiano’s gain.

      Eyes narrowing, Cristiano watched as Samantha approached the table, watched one long loose blond tendril slide forward on her shoulder, dangle across her breast. He envied the curl. Longed to take it, twine it around his fingers and then dip it between her full breasts.

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