by Dani Collins
Her little feet hit the ground and she stopped moving. Pale blue eyes blinked up at him as she said importantly, “I have a dress for when Papà and Mama had a wedding. I am a flower girl.”
God help him, he might fall in love with her. “I came to the right place then.”
They were close enough to the terrace that Kiara came to the rail and looked down at them. She held Locke, and Scarlett appeared beside her.
“Did I hear that we’re going to a wedding?”
“Sì. And you have a decision to make, bella. Are we going overnight or are we bringing your paints and staying the week? He’s paying either way.” Val motioned toward Javiero.
Kiara shook her head in affectionate exasperation. “You’re incorrigible. He’s teasing.”
“I’m not,” Val assured him.
Javiero shrugged it off, not even looking at his brother. He was too entranced by the glow of sheer happiness in Scarlett’s face. He didn’t care what the wedding cost him. No price was too high if it meant he would be with her every day for the rest of his life.
* * *
They landed late in Gibraltar and everyone went straight to bed.
Scarlett didn’t properly absorb what was happening until she woke at dawn, fed Locke and put him back to bed, then stood watching the sunrise off their private balcony. Through the haze across the water, she thought she glimpsed Morocco.
“What are you thinking?” Javiero asked in a rough morning voice. His arms came around her from behind.
“That one day, when Locke is old enough, we should take him on safari.”
He shifted, releasing her so he could turn his back on the view. He leaned his hip on the rail and regarded her with his one eye. He wasn’t wearing a stitch, not even his eye patch, but his mutilated eye socket and scars were something she saw only in the way she noted that he hadn’t shaved or had forgotten his watch. All these battle marks were simply him. The man she loved.
“I’m thinking…” She stroked a caressing hand down the center of his naked chest and grew emotional. Her eyes welled. “That I can see a future for us. It’s beautiful. It’s vast and solid and the memories it might contain are like Christmas gifts. They’re exciting surprises that already make me happy, before I even know what they are. I’m thinking I love you beyond measure and I am awed by how much you love me.” Her hand was shaking now. “I’m sorry I made you prove yourself. I should have taken you at your word.”
He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“My past was still damaging my life. All you did was point that out to me.” He drew her into his front. “I’m grateful, Scarlett. I feel…lighter. When Locke was born, I swore to him that I would be a better father to him than I had. I’m following through on that. It feels good.”
She couldn’t help the tears wetting her lashes. At least they were happy ones. Ecstatic ones. “Can I ask you something?”
“Put on some clothes?” he guessed.
“That seems like a waste of time when we only have a short while before our busy day. No, I was wondering if you, Javiero Rodriguez, would consent to marry me?”
His mouth twitched and the harsh lines in his face softened. His brutish, marred features were handsome and brimming with love, and she grew light-headed.
“Yes, Scarlett Walker,” he said in a voice that sounded deeply moved. “I love you with all my heart. I would be honored to join with you in matrimony. Later.” His smoldering smile widened. “Right now, go back to the part about the time we don’t want to waste…”
EPILOGUE
Two years later…
“WHAT’S WRONG?” ASKED JAVIERO.
Scarlett paused in removing her earring, dragging her gaze from the view of the Eiffel Tower. “Hmm? Nothing.”
“You’ve been quiet all evening. Was it something your mum said?”
“No, things are okay there.” Not fantastic, but not terrible. Ellie had gone to America and Scarlett’s father was ordered by the court to attend addiction classes as part of his release agreement. Her mother went to meetings for families of alcoholics at the same time. At least it gave her a network of people who understood her situation and kept an eye out for early signs of trouble.
“Val, then? Did you fire him?”
She grinned. “No, I said he could take maternity leave.”
“Ruthless.” He smiled, too.
She turned so he could unclasp her necklace. “And I said we’d talk more tomorrow. It was Kiara’s night. I didn’t want to get into it at the gallery.”
“That was quite a crush, wasn’t it? I knew Kiara was talented, but when you see her body of work assembled like that, it’s astonishing. I’m really annoyed I didn’t win more bids. How is she managing with a new baby and all the work that went into preparing, though? Is that why Val wants time off?”
Scarlett turned to take the necklace and saw he was genuinely concerned. She nearly melted into a puddle of liquid sugar at his feet, he was so sweet. She set aside the necklace.
“She’s good. Really good. Val admitted he’s motivated by pure selfishness, wanting to spend more time with Rafael, which is understandable.” Val had missed his daughter’s first two years. “But I didn’t want to let him go permanently.”
“No? I told him I didn’t think you’d have a problem with firing both of us.” He snapped off his cuff links.
“He ran it by you first?”
“Of course. He didn’t want to leave you in the lurch if you weren’t ready.”
“Men,” she tsked, secretly thrilled at the working relationship they’d developed, one that had spilled into a social one. A familial one.
“We weren’t conspiring. He brought it up because you’re sticking your nose in more than usual, checking up on us.” He tilted his head in what would have been a stern look, but held a little too much indulgence to be taken seriously. “We would both rather pull back and let you take the wheel than be micromanaged.”
“But I like bossing you two around.” She tugged at his bow tie to unravel it. “It’s delicious payback after all those years when you obstructed me at every turn.”
“The heady drug of a power trip has hit her veins, ladies and gentlemen. We’re not above mutiny, you know.”
“You’re going to take Val’s side against me?” She splayed an appalled hand on her chest.
“You’ve got me there. I couldn’t do it.” He sighed in mock despair.
She grinned as she worked her way down his buttons, revealing a strip of tawny skin sprinkled lightly with hair.
“Really,” he said with hands coming to rest heavily on her hips. “Before we get distracted, are you sure you’re not ready to fire both of us? I thought you only wanted to wean off the pills and see if you still had symptoms.”
That had been three months ago and she had been feeling really good ever since.
“I thought I was ready, too.” She tugged his tuxedo shirt from his waistband and exposed more of his wide, powerful chest, then smoothed her hands over his sides, loving the warm silk of his skin against her palms. “The five-year plan we’ve made has me very excited for all the new challenges. I was ready to go full steam ahead at work, but earlier today…”
He tilted up her chin so he could see her expression.
“A setback?” His real eye was troubled, the matching false one pretty to look at, though not the place she sent her attention when they were having a serious discussion. “What happened?”
She clasped her hands around the open edges of his shirt and sheepishly admitted, “I held Rafael.”
His frown held for a second longer before comprehension dawned. He grew infinitely more tender. His heavy hands drew her closer.
“You were bitten by the baby bug.”
As her head came to rest on his chest, she heard the hard, uneven thump of his heart.
“I think our son is the most amazing little person I could have imagined.” His arms cradled her as though she was precious. “I would make a dozen more children with you if you were up for it. But it has to be your decision, my love, given what you might go through again.”
“I was thinking just one more. For Locke. To keep him company.” She looked up at him, letting him see the yearning in her eyes.
“For Locke.” His mouth twitched.
“And me. And you,” she allowed, giving a little tug on his collar to entice him to come down for a kiss. “We know the signs to look for. You wouldn’t let me lose myself again.”
“I would not. I refuse to lose you to anyone or anything. I love you far too much.”
“So maybe that’s a yes?”
“That’s definitely a passionate yes.”
She smiled as they got started.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781488059551
Beauty and Her One-Night Baby
Copyright © 2020 by Dani Collins
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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She didn’t see her own beauty…
Then he unmasked it!
Royal assistant Hester knows playboy Prince Alek is totally out of her league. Shockingly, out of the blue, he proposes a marriage of convenience! In return, she’ll have millions to help disadvantaged women. Warily, Hester agrees…
To retain the throne he’s sacrificed everything for, Alek must choose a bride. It’s Hester’s quiet discretion that catches his attention…until their unstoppable chemistry reveals her startling beauty and inner fire. Alek sees the queen that Hester could truly become—but the real question is, can she?
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
Dear Reader,
The inimitable Audrey Hepburn famously said she liked fairy tales best of all and, finally, I have something in common with her!
I, too, love fairy tales. I think they’ve endured and entertained for a very particular reason—wrapped up in the magical creatures and crowns are emotional experiences and truths that resonate within everyone.
For me The Ugly Duckling is particularly relatable. Who hasn’t ever felt awkward or as if they don’t belong? And many of us have experienced loneliness or bullying.
So it’s wonderfully moving to journey with a character who’s survived hardships and see them grow into the person they’re meant to be. And it’s the hurt on the inside that is far harder to overcome than an external makeover—fun as that is!
Hester is my “ugly duckling.” I loved gifting her Alek, who holds up the mirror, enabling her to see her beauty—both internal and external—and believe in who she really is. It’s that self-belief that then allows her to accept love.
I hope you enjoy Hester’s transformation and her impact on Alek in turn…in his discovery of the magic of love.
Sincerely,
Natalie
Once Upon a Temptation
Will they live passionately ever after?
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a billionaire—or eight! Each billionaire had riches beyond your wildest imagination. Still, they were each missing something: love. But the path to true love is never easy…even if you’re one of the world’s richest men!
Inspired by fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood, the Once Upon a Temptation collection will take you on a passion-filled journey of ultimate escapism.
Fall in love with…
Cinderella’s Royal Secret by Lynne Graham
Beauty and Her One-Night Baby by Dani Collins
Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight by Natalie Anderson
Claimed in the Italian’s Castle by Caitlin Crews
Expecting His Billion-Dollar Scandal by Cathy Williams
Taming the Big Bad Billionaire by Pippa Roscoe
The Flaw in His Marriage Plan by Tara Pammi
His Innocent’s Passionate Awakening by Melanie Milburne
Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight
Natalie Anderson
USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson writes emotional contemporary romance full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find Natalie wrangling her four children, three cats, two goldfish and one dog…and snuggled in a heap on the sofa with her husband at the end of the day. Follow her at natalie-anderson.com.
Books by Natalie Anderson
Harlequin Presents
The Forgotten Gallo Bride
Claiming His Convenient Fiancée
The King’s Captive Virgin
Awakening His Innocent Cinderella
Pregnant by the Commanding Greek
The Greek’s One-Night Heir
Conveniently Wed!
The Innocent’s Emergency Wedding
One Night With Consequences
Princess’s Pregnancy Secret
The Throne of San Felipe
The Secret That Shocked De Santis
The Mistress That Tamed De Santis
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
For my own Prince Charming and the four delightful sprites we’ve been blessed with.
I love you.
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
&
nbsp; Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
CHAPTER ONE
‘FI?’
Hester Moss heard the front door slam and froze.
‘Fifi? Damn it, where the hell are you?’
Fifi?
Hester gaped as it dawned on her just who the owner of that voice was. As Princess Fiorella’s assistant while she was studying in Boston, Hester had met a few of the important people the Princess consorted with, but she’d been in the Princess’s brother’s presence only once. That one time there’d been many present and she certainly hadn’t spoken to him. But, like everyone, she knew he was outrageous, arrogant and entitled. Not surprising given he ruled the stunning Mediterranean island kingdom that was the world’s favourite playground.
She’d had no idea he was coming to visit his sister. It wasn’t in the immaculate schedule she kept for the Princess, nor in any correspondence. Surely it would have been all in caps, bold, underlined and highlighted if it had been planned? Perhaps he was trying to fly beneath the radar—after all, he attracted huge publicity wherever he went. But if that were the case, why was he shouting?
‘Fifi?’
No one spoke with such familiarity to the Princess, or with such audible impatience. For a split second Hester considered staying silent and hiding, but she suspected it was only a matter of seconds before he stormed into her bedroom. With a cautious glance at the corner Hester sped to the door and quickly stepped out into their living room.
And there he was. Prince Alek Salustri of Triscari, currently turning the lounge she and the Princess shared into a Lilliputian-sized container—one that was far too small to hold a man like him. Not just a prince. Not just powerful. He was lithe, honed perfection and for a moment all Hester could do was stare—inhaling the way his jet-black suit covered his lean muscled frame. The black shirt beneath the superbly tailored jacket was teamed with a sleek, matte-black tie and he held his dark-lensed aviator sunglasses in his hand, totally exuding impatience and danger. It was more than the bespoke clothing and luxurious style. He was so at ease in his place in the world—monstrously self-assured and confident because he just owned it. Everything. Except right now?