And Babies Make Four

And Babies Make Four
Marie Ferrarella

Accepting the secretary position at prestigious Mallory and Dixon had been step one in Mindy Richards's makeover. After all, she was newly single in the city…with twin babies-on-the-way to support. But her new life took a turn down memory lane when she discovered that high school crush Jason Mallory was her firm's powerful namesake…and her new boss!At first, Jason seemed uncomfortable with their working relationship. Until Mindy realized that this business titan was unsettled by her, and always had been. Suddenly, despite a painful divorce, despite her pregnancy, she felt desirable again. But dare she believe that jaded-by-love Jason could want the fairy tale–babies and all…?

“It’s late.”

“It must be early somewhere in the world,” Mindy said.

“Must be,” Jason echoed.

But it was late here, and he had to keep that in mind. Just as he had to keep in mind that what he was feeling had no place in either of their lives right now. She was pregnant, he was her boss and they had both been badly burned by the people they’d chosen to spend their lives with. Not exactly great odds for starting a new relationship.

Still, a man was only so strong, had only so much within him to draw on to keep him noble. After that, it was every emotion for itself.

Just as it was now.

Gently threading his fingers through her hair, Jason tilted her face up toward his.

And kissed her.

The way they both wanted him to.

And Babies Make Four

Marie Ferrarella

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

To

Terry and Joe Unger,

for being the perfect hosts.

MARIE FERRARELLA

earned a master’s degree in Shakespearean comedy, and, perhaps as a result, her writing is distinguished by humor and natural dialogue. This RITA

Award-winning author’s goal is to entertain and to make people laugh and feel good. She has written over one hundred books for Silhouette, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide and have been translated into Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Polish, Japanese and Korean.

MANHATTAN MULTIPLES

So much excitement happening at once!

The doors of Manhattan Multiples might close. The mayor and Eloise Vale once had a thing. Someone on the staff is pregnant and is keeping it a secret. Romance and drama—and so many babies in the big city!

Jason Mallory—Ruthless businessman with city savvy. Not even a dancing clown could make him smile, but his iron facade vanishes when he sees his old flame sitting at his administrative assistant’s desk. For once, he’s tongue-tied!

Mindy Richards—She’s pregnant with twins, but no one has to know just yet, except for her good friends at Manhattan Multiples. If only Jason didn’t still make her heart fly out of her chest—after all these years.

Eloise Vale—This director of Manhattan Multiples, the city’s leading multiple-birth clinic, is stewing over recent threats to cut funding. And she blames Mayor Harper—Bill—who seems hell-bent on revenge against her. Lucky for her, she has a card or two left to play.

Bill Harper—As Manhattan’s mayor, he wants nothing more than to make everyone happy—especially Eloise, the only one who’s ever meant anything to him.

Medical Mystery—Why are Nurse Lara Mancini and Dr. Derek Cross making eyes at each other across the examining table? Find out in next month’s The Fertility Factor, by Jennifer Mikels (SE #1559).

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Prologue

“Why that no-good so-and-so.”

Grabbing up the newspaper from her desk, Eloise Vale narrowly avoided tipping over her coffee cup and sending a creamy, off-brown river pooling over the exact article she wanted to read. The one that announced that the ever-dapper, much-sought-after mayor of New York, Bill Harper, once her Bill Harper until she’d come to her senses, was debating overwhelming budget cuts in order to balance the city’s budget. Budget cuts that would, in addition to other things, cripple a great many much-needed charitable programs. Her program was on the list of possibilities.

Ignoring her newly rescued coffee, Eloise sat staring at the article, the words bouncing off her eyes like so many misfired photon torpedoes, her stomach cramping up as it wound itself into one huge knot.