LITMIR.BIZ

       Crazy About the Boss

      Teresa Southwick

      THE BRIDES OF BELLA LUCIA

      A family torn apart by secrets, reunited by marriage

      First there was double the excitement as we met twins Rebecca and Rachel Valentine

      Having the Frenchman’s Baby—Rebecca Winters

      Coming Home to the Cowboy—Patricia Thayer

      Then we joined Emma Valentine as she got a royal welcome in September

      The Rebel Prince—Raye Morgan

      There was a trip to the Outback to meet Louise Valentine’s long-lost sister, Jodie

      Wanted: Outback Wife—Ally Blake

      On cold November nights, we caught up with newcomer Daniel Valentine

      Married Under the Mistletoe—Linda Goodnight

      Now, snuggle up with sexy Jack Valentine this Christmas

      Crazy About the Boss—Teresa Southwick

      In the New Year join Melissa as she heads off to a desert kingdom

      The Nanny and the Sheikh—Barbara McMahon

      And don’t miss the thrilling end to the Valentine saga in February

      The Valentine Bride—Liz Fielding

      For the Romance readers—without you

      there would be no happy endings!

      Contents

      PROLOGUE

      CHAPTER ONE

      CHAPTER TWO

      CHAPTER THREE

      CHAPTER FOUR

      CHAPTER FIVE

      CHAPTER SIX

      CHAPTER SEVEN

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      CHAPTER NINE

      CHAPTER TEN

      CHAPTER ELEVEN

      CHAPTER TWELVE

      PROLOGUE

      New York—December 23

      HEARING his sister’s voice always made Jack feel like that eighteen-year-old who’d left home in disgrace.

      How bloody stupid was that? He was Jack Valentine of Valentine Ventures, the reckless genius who had challenged conventional wisdom and made a fortune. And she was asking him to come home again.

      Jack squeezed the phone until his fingers ached. “It’s been twelve years, Emma. That’s a lot of Christmases. Why should I come home for this one?”

      “Do you have something better to do?” she said, her soft, cultured voice dripping with irritation.

      A muscle jumped in his jaw. It was almost as if she knew he had no plans at all. “Anything’s better than that.”

      “It’s time, Jack.”

      He heard London in her voice. Americans loved the accent. But he heard silk and steel in the soft, firm tone that tapped into an accumulation of loneliness he hadn’t realized was there.

      Swiveling his chair around, he stared out his office window and concentrated on the New York skyline instead. It was dark, but across the city lights dotted the windows in the tall buildings. Out there someone was staring at his window and coveting this office with its expensive art, plush carpet, fine furniture and the latest electronics. Standing on the street they were cold and scared and staring, wondering what it felt like to have everything you ever wanted.

      He knew because twelve years ago this city was where he’d run and he’d once been down there with nothing. He’d looked up and vowed that one day he’d own the whole damn building. Screw-ups didn’t grow up to be millionaires, but he had.

      “It has been twelve years, after all. Are you listening, Jack?”

      “Yes. And what I hear is that something’s wrong. What is it, Em?”

      There was a big sigh from the other end of the line. “All right. There is a problem here. The business is in trouble. We need your help.”

      The precious business Robert Valentine prized above everything? Good. It was about time the womanizing bastard paid for his sins where it hurt him most. “I’m not sure why I should care.”

      “Because no matter how stubborn you insist on being, you’re still part of this family.” This time censure mixed with the steel in her voice.

      “Did he put you up to this?”

      “No.” Another big sigh. “Jack, what happened between the two of you?”

      Jack had protected his mother. And it had cost him.

      “It doesn’t matter any more, Em.”

      The unladylike snort on the other end of the line told him his sister was probably rolling her pale blue eyes in disgust as she fiddled with a strand of curly light brown hair. The vivid image made him miss her.

      “I hear in your voice that it still does matter,” she said quietly.

      “You’re wrong. Now, if that’s all—” He turned away from the window and leaned back in his chair.

      “It’s not,” she snapped. “We need you, Jack. Your job is investing in companies. The family business needs money and quite literally you’re our only hope to keep it going.”

      “Lots of investors would love to get their hands on a piece of the action.”

      “But they wouldn’t be family. And none of us want to give a non-Valentine a piece of the action because you don’t turn your back on family. It simply isn’t right.”

      Even if family turned their backs on him? he wondered. “They’ll survive, Em.”

      “I wish I could be as sure.” Sadness shaded her voice. “As you said—it’s been a dozen years. Twelve seems like a good round number to make peace. Tis the season. Peace on earth. Charity begins at home and all that.”

      “I’m

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