European Billionaire Beaus: The Complete Series

by North, Leslie

  “You know, if you can set aside the hurt you feel about all this, I don’t think there’s any reason you can’t start over with Rafael.” Joy looked her straight in the eye. “A fresh relationship. A fresh start with your marriage. He’s obviously willing to do that for you, and it’s a huge risk for him. We all know that.”

  “It is,” Felicity agreed softly. She looked down at her hands. They hadn’t bothered with an engagement ring—not when the wedding was so soon. Somehow, though, Felicity missed the feeling of the wedding ring she hadn’t yet put on. “He set me free, Joy.”

  “I know.”

  She lifted her head. “He set me free from my past in more ways than one.” The decision had been made. “I have to set him free, too.”

  Epilogue

  Rafael stood at the altar in the Capital Cathedral, looking out into the crowd. There were six hundred guests seated in the cathedral. He’d never felt so alone in his life.

  There had never been a day longer than today’s endless morning. Rafael had kept his distance from everyone, especially Felicity and Hope. His body had ached to be with them, but he knew it wouldn’t have been fair to Felicity. He’d promised to give her the space to make her decision, and he had to uphold that.

  That didn’t mean it had been easy.

  His brothers, Armin and Artur, had been in and out of his rooms all day, joking and teasing him about getting cold feet, until finally he’d dismissed them both. After the rehearsal dinner, he’d spent as much of the evening as possible working on the statement that was now tucked into the custom-made tuxedo that formed the base of his formalwear. On top of that, there was the royal sash that identified him as king.

  He didn’t feel much like a king in this moment. He felt, in fact, entirely human, with a gut-churning nervousness.

  Nobody knew what was going to happen, least of all Rafael.

  The statement he had prepared was both heartfelt and truthful. He would not deny that he loved Felicity. The days of denying that emotion were over. But he also wouldn’t mislead the country. Not even at the expense of the referendum. The voting was happening now, and would close in a few hours. Then the counting would begin, and then…

  Rafael could hardly think of it. Not when everything in his life, and in his heart, seemed to hinge on this moment.

  It was all clear now what he needed in life, and that was Felicity. Yes, he was the king. And yes, he would do all he could for the people of Stolvenia. But monarchy or not, he still had a life to live.

  So did she.

  The guests had been seated, and his processional had advanced up the aisle. First Armin, then Artur, then Rafael himself. The priest stood off to the side, waiting.

  Just stay standing, he told himself.

  The seconds ticked away. There was a low murmur of chatter among the guests, their voices floating up toward the ceiling, and Rafael felt their anticipation growing. They’d long since lost interest in the intricate decorations of the cathedral, the blush pink flowers that spilled everywhere, the meticulous arrangements. No one was paying attention to the cameramen and the media representatives who had dressed all in black, hovering close to the walls. They were waiting for Felicity’s grand entrance.

  No—Joy would come first, with Hope.

  Rafael’s blood rushed in his ears. Even if Joy did come down the aisle, there was no guarantee Felicity would follow.

  Artur leaned in. “Feeling all right?”

  “Yes,” he said through clenched teeth. There was no way to force out another word. His attention was glued to the back of the cathedral, where shadows moved in front of the double doors, which were already thrown open wide.

  Was she out there? Or was she already running from this life?

  The string quintet struck up the processional song, the music swelled, and Rafael’s heart stopped.

  The shadows at the door moved…

  And Joy rolled into sight, with Hope perched on her lap. Both of them were dressed in the same pink shade. His heart rocketed against his chest at the sight of his daughter with the sunlight in her hair, so happy with her aunt…

  And then it stopped.

  The music changed.

  This was the moment Rafael’s entire life hinged on, and he hadn’t even known it. All along, he had been so blind…

  There was one long beat. It was a wait that had him reaching for the speech in his pocket, bracing himself, preparing…

  Felicity stepped into the doorway, centered there, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life.

  Everything else in the cathedral faded away.

  It was a long nave, an enormous center aisle, but it didn’t matter—Rafael could see Felicity’s face as clearly as if she were standing right in front of him. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but there was a determined smile on her face. A real smile that shone from her eyes and brightened everything around her.

  I love you, she mouthed.

  “I love you.” He answered her aloud, and his voice must have carried farther than he thought, because there was a sigh from the crowd as if it were the most romantic moment they’d ever witnessed.

  Rafael’s heart started beating again, harder and faster than ever, as he watched Felicity come up toward the aisle toward him. She came unaccompanied, looking every inch a queen…and every inch a woman who was confident in her path. More than confident. Delighted.

  After what seemed like a century, she reached him at the front of the cathedral. He offered her his hand and helped her up the steps, and finally they stood there together, waiting for the priest to make his way behind them.

  “I didn’t know if you were going to come,” he said, his voice low and choked.

  She shrugged one shoulder, just a fraction of an inch. “I decided that loving you is the most important thing. If we’re committed to that, and respecting each other for who we are and what we need, then everything else is just details.” Felicity tilted her head and threw a wink at someone behind him. “Joy had some words of wisdom for me after the rehearsal dinner. You might want to thank her for those someday.”

  “I’ll thank her every day, if it means you’re staying with me.”

  “I couldn’t leave you again.” Now it was Felicity whose voice was tight with tears, though she was still smiling up at him. “There are stressful moments and obstacles to overcome no matter where I go. If I face them here, I can do it with you. By your side. And I can help other people while I do it, too. It’s the best of all worlds.”

  “The best of all worlds is you,” Rafael said. “I love you.”

  “I love you. And I think the whole cathedral knows it.”

  The ceremony passed in a blur of vows and readings, and Rafael cleared his throat and repeated everything the priest told him to repeat. The words themselves didn’t seem to matter. That is, they mattered, in the sense that he voiced his commitment to Felicity in front of all of his guests and the rest of the country and millions of people across the world, but what mattered more was the look in her eyes, and the feel of her hands in his, and the way his own hands didn’t shake at all as he slipped the ring on her fingers.

  “You may now kiss the bride,” the priest said, his voice ringing out over the congregation, and that was the first thing that Rafael heard clearly over the beat of his heart and the sound of his bride’s voice.

  He dipped her back and kissed her, deep and long and hard, not caring about who was watching. Thunderous applause brought him back to reality.

  That, and Hope, who had scrambled down from Joy’s lap and clambered up the stairs to grab her mother’s white dress with both of her little hands. “Mama! Daddy!” Her eyes were wide with delight. “They’re clapping!” she shouted, and all three of them turned to face the crowd together. Felicity lifted Hope into her arms, balancing her on one hip, and Rafael took her other hand in his.

  He had accomplished many things in his time as king, but this topped them all. Rafael was certain that not much else could eclipse a moment li
ke this.

  The quintet began playing the recessional music, and Rafael walked his new family back down the nave, followed closely by his brothers and Joy. The wedding party walked straight out of the church and into a caravan of waiting limousines, which whisked them all back to the palace for the reception. There was time to kiss Felicity once more, and then he was plunged into the blur of the receiving line. Person after person stepped forward to congratulate them, and the moments flew by. They reached the end of the receiving line in time to sit down for a lavish dinner that Rafael hardly tasted. He was too busy watching Felicity enjoy it.

  Then came the music and dancing. His brothers and their wives formed a little circle with Rafael and Felicity, and he couldn’t remember another time they’d all been so joyful and playful. One minute, Felicity tugged him through the steps of a ballroom dance they’d learned in one spare hour before the wedding, and the next she was taking his face in her hands, pulling him down for a kiss that was wildly against protocol. Rafael didn’t care at all.

  He didn’t know what time it was when the tug came on his elbow.

  Rafael blinked down at Salem, the head of his intelligence agency. His face didn’t make sense in the context of his wedding reception.

  Something must’ve been wrong.

  “What is it?” He turned away from where Felicity was still dancing, Hope in her arms, and put a hand on Salem’s shoulder. “Tell me.”

  “I’m the messenger,” said Salem, looking bewildered. “I don’t know why, but—”

  “The message, man,” Rafael urged.

  “The referendum—it went in our favor, by a landslide.” The words took a moment to sink in. “They voted for the monarchy. They want you to stay king. They want a queen—”

  By the cheers going up around them, the news was already spreading through the crowd. Rafael let out a whoop and leaned over to Felicity, telling her the news.

  “I’m going to be a queen,” she said, awe spreading over her face. “You did it, Rafael.”

  “You’re my queen,” he said, kissing her temple, drawing her close. “And that’s what matters.”

  End of The Billionaire King’s Heir

  European Billionaire Beaus Book Three

  Do you want to be swept off your feet? Then keep reading for exclusive extract from The Billionaire’s Accidental Baby.

  Thank you!

  Thank you so much for purchasing my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review. Reviews are crucial for an author’s success and I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to review the book. I love hearing from you!

  You can leave a review at:

  About Leslie

  Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres. (no alignment block)

  To find your next Leslie North book, visit LeslieNorthBooks.com or choose

  PS: Want sneak peeks, giveaways, ARC offers, fun extras and plenty of pictures of bad boys? Join my Facebook group, Leslie’s Lovelies!

  BLURB

  Connie Bonner has spent her life working hard and following her passion, never too worried about how things will work out or where her life is headed. But after one unforgettable, passionate night with Brian O’Leary, her gorgeous former boss, her life has ground to a halt. Now, she’s pregnant. Facing the biggest responsibility of her life. Worse, Brian’s new girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancée is demanding Brian not be named the father and that Connie sign a non-disclosure agreement. But when Brian begins to help Connie prepare for the baby, she finds herself dreaming about not just their child but a family with the billionaire as well.

  Brian is convinced that Connie’s pregnancy is just a small hiccup on his way to the perfect life he’s dreamed of since he was a poor kid on the wrong side of the tracks. He’s already amassed fortune, and has found the perfect, practical fiancée who comes with a major tech deal, putting his goal almost in reach. He has no room in his life for the always-cheerful Connie, but he finds himself more and more drawn to her despite his looming goal. She’s the opposite of everything he needs in life. But if that’s true, why is it so hard to resist her?

  As the pregnancy progresses, Connie wants Brian to see that there’s more to life than making money, and that they’re meant to be a family. But with everything working against them and a baby on the way, time is running out for them to find their happily ever after.

  Grab your copy of The Billionaire’s Accidental Baby (Billionaires & Babies, Book 1) from www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  * * *

  EXCERPT

  Brian O’Leary didn’t do patience very well.

  Which is why the Saudi prince currently lollygagging around Brian’s San Diego headquarters made him clench his fists behind his back.

  He was steps away from closing the deal. Steps that he could count on one hand. Hell, he could practically feel the signature already scratching over paper. The deal that he’d worked tirelessly to organize, to orchestrate, like the delicate masterpiece it was—the deal that would push him over the threshold of billionaire.

  He’d been working his entire life for this moment.

  And Prince Yariz was intent on inspecting every square inch of the office, as if he might find a deal breaker by the water cooler.

  “Sir, if I could accompany you back to my office, we can—” Brian began.

  “What about the development offices?” The prince arched an eyebrow. Brian understood that signing today’s contract meant five years of dealing with this guy and his software company. But sacrifices had to be made in the name of financial security and goal achievement. At this point, Brian would offer one of his own limbs to get this guy’s signature on the paperwork.

  Brian had been crafting triumphant emails and celebratory phone calls in his head for weeks now. He could already imagine the pride in his mother’s voice when he called her up in South Bay to tell her about the deal. She hadn’t been struggling for a good number of years—not since Brian made his first million, at least—so it wasn’t so much about taking care of her. She was proud of him, no matter what; at least that’s what she always told him and he almost always believed her. Getting Prince Yariz’ signature on the contract would be the icing on the cake and he’d achieve his goal of reaching billionaire status five years earlier than planned.

  Growing up destitute and desperate, after his dad had skipped town leaving his mother, him and his younger siblings struggling for survival, his ten-year-old self promised his tearful mother that he would always take care of her and he had.

  Brian straightened his back, trying not to let his irritation seep out and stain the whole deal. He gestured toward a nearby hallway, which led to the development area. The two walked down the neatly carpeted hall, decorated in beige and brown tones. Brian’s favorite. It was calming. Neutral. Distantly woodsy. He pushed open the glass door at the end of the hallway. The open-plan work space of the development team greeted them, lined with wall-to-wall windows overlooking downtown San Diego.

  At first glance, it was a pristine image of industriousness and productivity. A snapshot of the modern American workplace. Brian smiled. Yes, let Prince Yariz take it all in.

  The distinctive sound of feminine laughter sent a ripple of interest through him. From across the room, Constance Bonner sat at her desk surrounded by several of the male developers as they watched something on her computer. The laughter from the other developers dried up as one by one, they noticed our arrival and quickly slunk back to their desks. All except for Connie who had yet to notice us. Realizing that she was now alone, she looked up, her thick, black ponytail swishing over her shoulder. Pushing her glasses back up to the bridge of her nose, she leapt up, tugging at her black button-down shirt and too short plaid skirt. He
could just make out the print on her socks, which stuck out above her black boots. Unicorns? Of course, it would be unicorns.

  Brian pressed his thumbs against his temples as Prince Yariz began moving toward her like a moth to a flame. Connie was one of the top developers at the company. She was gorgeous, too, not that it mattered. But she was chronically, relentlessly, friendly.

  It was a nice trait for an employee to have.

  Except for right now.

  Connie’s eyes seemed to grow bigger as she saw us walking toward her. Audio from her computer caught her attention and she quickly tried to close out of whatever had everyone engaged prior to them coming in the room. Her mutterings of, “Oh, no, no, no” almost had him feeling sorry for her but he also knew that everyone had been apprised of today’s VIP visit.

  “Ms. Bonner,” Brian began, but Connie was too busy unsuccessfully trying to close out of whatever she had running. Realizing it wasn’t going to happen, she quickly turned off the monitor before fumbling for the audio on the speakers. In her rush, she ended up tipping over the speaker, which continued to torment her. With a loud sigh of defeat, Connie flashed one of those show-stopping smiles. Privately, he considered her a model who didn’t realize her potential. While his office didn’t adhere to a particular dress code, most of his employees chose to wear standard office attire while Connie’s wardrobe tended to fluctuate somewhere between gothic punk and computer nerd. At least she wasn’t wearing one of her more questionable graphic tees today. Brian said a silent thanks for small favors even as the noise from her speakers continued to draw attention.

  “Brian. Hi. I, uh, wasn’t expecting the VIP to visit us.” Connie’s eyes darted back and forth between Brian and the prince, as she bit her lower lip. She seemed to be at a loss as to what to do with her hands and flailed them at her side before setting her hands on her desk and holding them there. Brian could sense Prince Yariz stiffening at his side.