Book excerpt: Allesandro di Vincenzo is a perfect male specimen. There's no woman he can't have—until Laura Stowe crosses his path. Laura is plain, poor and hides behind her homely appearance to avoid getting close to people. But Allesandro needs her family connections to open the door to ultimate corporate power. So he must woo the ugly duckling into his bed—where she will learn what it is to be a beautiful, desired swan.