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      For my wonderful readers who have shown such enthusiasm for my wild polo men. This is for you. Happy Holidays!

      Dear Reader,

      When my daughter chose to hold her prewedding celebrations watching polo at Smith’s Lawn, Windsor, I had no idea until the teams galloped onto the field that I was about to be bewitched by men with arms like steel girders and thighs powerful enough to control the most willful horse. Nor could I have imagined that six passionate books later I would still be receiving letters from readers asking what my polo players were up to now that they had all found love.… And were there any more polo guys in the pipeline?

      The answer is, of course, yes! I could never tire of writing about dark-eyed, dangerous men, so please allow me to introduce Gabe Ortoya, captain of the Brazilian polo team. Gabe made a guest appearance in The Shameless Life of Ruiz Acosta, and even as I wrote that particular scene set in Gabe’s glamorous London nightclub, I was thinking to myself, This man needs a story.

      In my September newsletter I promised I would revisit the Acosta family so we could all find out how they were getting on, and this gave me the chance I had been longing for to write about Gabe. I hope you love him as much I do. Gabe was so much fun to write. And Lucy, his veterinary student heroine, is a girl after my own heart—no pushover, and full of surprises—so I hope you love Lucy, too.

      Please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected], www.facebook.com/SusanStephensAuthor, www.twitter.com/Susan_Stephens, or sign up for my newsletter at www.susanstephens.com.

      And now it only remains for me to wish you the happiest of holidays. In fact, I wish you the happiest of days all year round.

      With my warmest wishes to you, my friends and readers,

      Susan

      Susan Stephens was a professional singer before meeting her husband on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. In true Mills & Boon Modern style they met on Monday, became engaged on Friday and were married three months after that. Almost thirty years and three children later, they are still in love. (Susan does not advise her children to return home one day with a similar story, as she may not take the news with the same fortitude as her own mother!)

      Susan had written several nonfiction books when fate took a hand. At a charity costume ball there was an after-dinner auction. One of the lots, “Spend a Day with an Author,” had been donated by Mills & Boon author Penny Jordan. Susan’s husband bought this lot, and Penny was to become not just a great friend but a wonderful mentor, who encouraged Susan to write romance.

      Susan loves her family, her pets, her friends and her writing. She enjoys entertaining, travel and going to the theater. She reads, cooks and plays the piano to relax, and can occasionally be found throwing herself off mountains on a pair of skis or galloping through the countryside. Visit Susan’s website, www.susanstephens.net. She loves to hear from her readers all around the world!

      Recent titles by the same author:

      DIAMOND IN THE DESERT*

      TAMING THE LAST ACOSTA**

      THE MAN FROM HER WAYWARD PAST**

      A TASTE OF THE UNTAMED**

      *linked to the Skavanga family. Visit their website at www.susanstephens.com/skavanga/index.html

      **linked to the Acosta family.Visit their website at www.susanstephens.com/acostas/index.html

      Did you know these are also available as ebooks?

      Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk.

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Epilogue