The Prince's Royal Dilemma

The Prince's Royal Dilemma
Brenda Harlen

The prince and the nanny Crown Prince Rowan Santiago has just been informed that he will lose his throne unless he marries within six months! Nothing is more important to Rowan than his duty to his people. Royal nanny Lara Brennan is as loving to the children as she is exasperating – and unforgettable – to the prince.But gorgeous or not, innocent Lara can’t be Rowan’s bride, since she wasn’t born in the beautiful Mediterranean principality. The prince faces a tough choice between the country he loves and the woman who has captured his heart…

“While I have no doubt that seducing you would be a great pleasure, I need to focus my attention on other things right now.”

Though the softly spoken words made everything inside her quiver, Lara refused to give Rowan the satisfaction of knowing it. “Do you think I would fall into your bed just because you wanted me there, Your Highness?”

“I think,” he said confidently, “that you would fall into my bed because you wanted to be there.”

Her chin lifted just a fraction. “Then you think wrong. I won’t be any man’s temporary amusement.”

“If I believed otherwise, we’d be having this conversation in bed.” He grinned. “Or maybe we wouldn’t be talking at all.”

Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest, but she managed to keep her voice steady. “Save the seduction routine for your bride. I’m not interested.”

Available in July 2009

from Mills & Boon

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BRENDA HARLEN

grew up in a small town surrounded by books and imaginary friends. Although she always dreamed of being a writer, she chose to follow a more traditional career path first. After two years of practising as an attorney, including an appearance in front of the Supreme Court of Canada, she gave up her “real” job to be a mum and to try her hand at writing books. Three years, five manuscripts and another baby later, she sold her first book.

Brenda lives in southern Ontario with her real-life husband/hero, two heroes-in-training and two neurotic dogs. She is still surrounded by books (“too many books,” according to her children) and imaginary friends, but she also enjoys communicating with “real” people. Readers can contact Brenda by e-mail at brendaharlen@yahoo.com.

The Prince’s Royal Dilemma

BRENDA HARLEN

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For Neill

–my real-life prince–

with much appreciation

and all my love.

Prologue

With its pristine sand beaches and crystal-blue waters, Tesoro del Mar is truly a treasure of the Mediterranean Sea. Though small in size, it has a huge appeal to visitors from all over the world.

Lara Brennan eagerly absorbed the details from her guidebook, anxious to learn everything about the island before the plane’s wheels touched down at the Port Augustine airport.

Tanis Rowlands, her best friend and traveling companion, waved a hand in front of her face to get her attention. “This is supposed to be a vacation—why are you studying that book as if there’s going to be a quiz at the end of our trip?”

“I’m just amazed—by the history, the culture, even the name. Did you know that it means treasure of the sea?”

“Tesoro del Mar.” Tanis practically sighed the words. “I know that it even sounds like a fairy-tale kingdom.”

“It’s not a kingdom, it’s a principality.” Lara pointed to a line in the book.

“What’s the difference?” Tanis asked.

“It’s not ruled by a king, but a prince.”

Tanis’s blue eyes sparkled. “The country does have some hunky princes.”

Lara laughed. Though she’d only ever met Prince Julian—who was happily married to Princess Catherine—she’d seen enough tabloid photos of the other three princes to know that they were all tall, dark and almost sinfully handsome.

“We probably won’t even see any of Julian’s brothers,” she told her friend. “Rowan is an investment banker in London, Eric is an officer in the navy, and Marcus is at school in Switzerland.”

Tanis pouted. “Well, at least we get to stay in the royal palace. How old did you say it was?”

Lara consulted the book again. “It was built more than four hundred years ago.”

“That is old.” Tan’s brow furrowed. “Did they have flush toilets back then?”

“No, but I imagine there have been some renovations done and improvements made over the years.”

“And the people speak English?”