Found: His Royal Baby

Found: His Royal Baby
Raye Morgan

Could this baby be his royal heir? Crown Prince Dane of Montenevada has just heard the rumours of a secret baby of royal birth. With the kingdom in uproar, his only choice is to confront the sister of his sworn enemy – the woman who still haunts his dreams. Alexandra Acredonna has feared her precious son will be taken from her. And then Dane shows up, furious that she’s kept from him the result of their lost week of passion.He offers her an ultimatum, one that will keep her identity secret. But Alexandra wants more – a place at his side and a husband who will recognise her…as his beloved bride.The Royals of Montenevada Three gorgeous princes… and how they meet their brides-to-be!

“Don’t you have something youneed to tell me?” Dane asked.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Don’t you?” He stared into Alex’s eyes. “Where is the child?” he asked firmly.

Even though she’d known what he was there for all along, that sent a shock through her system.

“What child?” she said breathlessly, fighting for equilibrium.

He pulled her close.

“The baby you had five months ago in Paris. Where are you keeping him?

She closed her eyes, feeling faint. Her head was reeling. He knew more than she’d thought. There wasn’t much she could do but bluster her way through this.

Opening her eyes, she glared at him. His blue eyes were searching her face, as though he would find answers in her gaze.

“Alex, we were together at exactly the right time to make this my business.”

She shook her head firmly. “You don’t know that.”

He captured her chin in his hand, tilting her face to receive him. “I do know,” he said softly, then lowered his lips to hers.

She tried to find the wherewithal to resist, but it was no use. His mouth felt so warm, so good, and she opened to his kiss as though she’d been starving for him.

Dear Reader

This is an exciting year for romance writers and fans. Mills & Boon is celebrating a very special birthday—one hundred years of publishing great fiction. If you go to the websites for Mills & Boon and Harlequin, you’ll find out more about the festivities, as well as lots of fun facts about romance through the years.

In the meantime, those of you who have been following the story of the restored Montenevada monarchy will be happy to know Crown Prince Dane has found his missing baby. Luckily, the mother of this royal baby is the woman Dane loves. Sometimes life does work out the way it should.

But wait! Not so fast! Things can’t be that easy. Alexandra may be the woman he’s loved for years, but she’s also an Acredonna, and the daughter of the man who originally wrested the little European country of Carnethia away from Dane’s people. The bad blood between these families is poisoned with bitterness, old and new. Even if the two lovers can get beyond personal animosities, will the people ever accept a match between them? Will Crown Prince Dane have to give up the country he was meant to rule in order to marry Alexandra? Or will he do his duty and live without love?

Hope you enjoy finding out the answer. Happy reading!

Raye Morgan

FOUND: HIS ROYAL BABY

BY

RAYE MORGAN

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

THE ROYALS OFMONTENEVADA

Three gorgeous princes… and how they meet their brides-to-be!

The whole kingdom is in an uproar. As the princes fulfil their duties, a rumour starts that one special woman is carrying a royal heir. A massive search reveals three single mothers…who might be perfect for the three Montenevada sons. Could love be part of the royal baby bargain?

Find out in August-October 2008, with this exciting new mini-series by Raye Morgan:

THE PRINCE’S SECRET BRIDE: Meet Nico, who never expects to encounter a pregnant woman with amnesia…much less marry her!

ABBY AND THE PLAYBOY PRINCE: Mychale discovers a tempting woman living in his house, then finds out she’s hiding a secret baby…

FOUND: HIS ROYAL BABY: Dane never forgot her, then learned they had a child together. Can they finally become the family he’s always wanted?

To Repaircat Jack, for all the Fix-its!

CHAPTER ONE

CROWN Prince Dane of the Royal House of Montenevada, newly reinstalled monarchy of the sovereign nation of Carnethia, walked reluctantly into the trendy dance club. Chic’s was located in a neighboring country to his own, in the nightlife district of the city of Darnam. The pulsing music seemed to slam against his brain like a bad headache. The swirling colors and flashing lights brought back painful memories of nights on the battlefield—nights not so far removed but best left unremembered.

He stood at the entry, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light, scanning the crowd. He was alone. He’d ditched his security detail at his hotel and headed out on his own without company. There was nothing about him to signal royalty, but people turned and looked at him, anyway. Standing at the top of the stairs, his thick dark hair slightly tousled, his legs apart, his hands lightly clenched, his tough, muscular body balanced, he would have looked like a fighter if his face hadn’t been so flawlessly handsome. Few in this crowd seemed to recognize who he was, but they knew he was someone—someone of consequence. And they stared at him, wondering.

He began to walk through the crowd, his startling silver-blue eyes searching. Men stepped back out of his way, suddenly wary, as though they sensed danger. Women followed him with their gazes, unconsciously flirting with their eyes, their lips, the way they thrust out their breasts as he passed. But he didn’t make contact. He was looking for someone, like a hunter stalking prey.

A champagne cork popped, the explosion sending golden bubbles through the air. Someone at the far end of the room was calling out a toast, and confetti began to fall from the ceiling. He turned slowly, staring at the boisterous group. Two people stepped back, parting the crowd, and there she was in the center of everything.

He froze, still as a statue. She was just as he’d remembered her: thick, mahogany-red hair swirled riotously around her beautiful face in deep, extravagant curls; eyes as green as precious emeralds glittered beneath long dark lashes, all set against skin as white and pure as alabaster. Her dress was cut low enough to reveal a lot of smooth, luscious skin. Made of something slinky, it was shaped trim and tight in the bodice and around her full, lavish hips, only to whirl out around her knees, giving a generous view of her perfect, athletically muscular legs. She was still the most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen.

But seeing her again drove a knife into his heart. Real, physical pain sliced through his body. For just a moment, this man who had stood up to armies and assassins without a qualm was flooded with the instinct to turn and run. Facing her like this was hard. If it hadn’t been for his suspicions about her, he would have stayed away. But he was pretty sure she had something that belonged to him. This was a stand he had to take.

He watched as she laughed up at the sophisticated-looking man with silver hair at his temples who was standing next to her. The man smiled down at her as though he had a claim. Dane raised an eyebrow. Another dragon to slay?

No matter. He’d come on a mission and he wasn’t going to be deterred. But as the man reached out and put his hand on the woman’s naked upper arm, a feeling like cold anger twisted inside Dane. His heart, which had been thudding harder than usual, but at a steady pace, began to bang against his chest wall. Adrenaline. He always felt like this before a fight.

The people around her had fallen silent, watching his approach, and finally she turned and saw him. Her gaze met his and caught, held by the intensity in his eyes. It was one of those crystal moments that would be seared into his soul for a lifetime. For just a few seconds, time stood still. Everything else faded away—all the people, the music, the noise, even breathing itself. There was only the two of them and the deep, tangled connection that sizzled between them.

And then her green eyes widened and her mouth opened as though she might almost cry out. And that was when he saw the fear.

She covered it up quickly. Her chin rose and her eyes flashed defiant fire. But he’d seen the truth. She didn’t fear much, but she was afraid of him. And if she feared him, there could only be one reason. It meant his guess was right.

It was an educated guess. He’d heard rumors and he’d put two and two together. He’d been shown pictures, but pictures could be faked.

Still, he had to admit, hope had come into play. But he didn’t think he’d let it carry him away. He knew a reliance on hope brought only heartbreak. He’d spent a lifetime learning to control his emotions. Hell, some might even say he’d learned to snuff out any communication with his heart. It had a basic function, to keep pumping vitality into his body. As for the rest, he’d learned to live without it. Life was simpler that way.

She tossed back thick, silky hair that glowed with deep-red highlights, scattering confetti that had caught in it as she did so. Squaring her shoulders, she faced him boldly.

“So, what do we have here?” she said in a sort of mock greeting. “The pretender to the Carnethian throne, isn’t it?”

He gazed back steadily. “I’m not the pretender, Alexandra. You Acredonnas were the pretenders.” He put his hand over his heart as he added coolly, “I’m the real thing.”