Crown Prince, Pregnant Bride! / Valentine Bride: Crown Prince, Pregnant Bride! / Valentine Bride. Raye Morgan

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СКАЧАТЬ that will work out fine.” He looked at her with real concern, but just a touch of wariness.

      “I hope this won’t affect your ability to go to the ball tonight.”

      “Oh, no, of course not.”

      “Everyone is expecting our announcement to be made there. And you will be wearing the tiara, won’t you?”

      She waved him away. “Leonardo, don’t worry. I’ll be wearing the tiara and all will be as planned. I should be fine by tonight.”

      “Good.” He still seemed wary. “But you should see Dr. Dracken. I’ll send him up.”

      “No!” She shook her head. “I just need to rest. Give me a few hours. I’ll be good as new.”

      He studied her for a moment, then shrugged. “As you wish.” He bent over her hand like a true suitor. “Until we meet again, my beloved betrothed.”

      She nodded, almost pushing him toward the gate. “Likewise, I’m sure,” she said out of the corner of her mouth.

      “Pip pip.” And he was off.

      She waited until she heard the outer gate clang, then turned like a fury and marched back into the dressing room. She ripped open the door and glared at Monte with a look in her eyes that should have frozen the blood in his veins.

      “How dare you? How dare you do this?”

      Her vehemence was actually throwing him off his game a bit. He had expected a little more joy at seeing him again. He was enjoying the sight of her. Why couldn’t she feel the same?

      She really was a feast for the senses. Her eyes were bright—even if that seemed to be anger for the moment—and her cheeks were smudged pink.

      “How dare you do this to me again? “ she demanded.

      “This isn’t like before,” he protested. “This is totally different.”

      “Really? Here you are, sneaking into my country, just like before. Here you are, hiding in my chambers again. Just like before.”

      His smile was meant to be beguiling. “But this time, when I leave, you’re going with me.”

      She stared at him, hating him and loving him at the same time. Going with him! What a dream that was. She could no more go with him than she could swim the channel. If only.

      For just a split second, she allowed herself to give in to her emotions. If only things were different. How she would love to throw herself into his arms and hold him tight, to feel his hard face against hers, to sense his heart pound as his interest quickened.

      But she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t even think about it. She’d spent too many nights dreaming of him, dreaming of his tender touch. She had to forget all that. Too many lives depended on her. She couldn’t let him see the slightest crack in her armor.

      And most of all, she couldn’t let him know about the baby.

      “How did you get in here?” she demanded coldly. “Oh, wait. Don’t even try to tell me. You’ll just lie.”

      The provocative expression in his eyes changed to ice in an instant.

      “Pellea, I’m not a liar,” he said in a low, urgent tone. “I’ll tell you or I won’t, but what I say will be the truth as I know it every time. Count on it.”

      Their gazes locked in mutual indignation. Pellea was truly angry with him for showing up like this, for complicating her life and endangering them both, and yet she knew she was using that anger as a shield. If he touched her, she would surely melt. Just looking at him did enough damage to her determined stance.

      Why did he have to be so beautiful? With his dark hair and shocking blue eyes, he had film-star looks, but that wasn’t all. He was tall, muscular, strong in a way that would make any woman swoon. He looked tough, capable of holding his own in a fight, and yet there was nothing cocky about him. He had a quiet confidence that made any form of showing off unnecessary. You just knew by looking at him that he was ready for any challenge—physical or intellectual.

      But how about emotional? Despite all his strength, there was a certain sensitivity deep in his blue eyes. The sort of hint of vulnerability only a woman might notice. Or was that just hopeful dreaming on her part?

      “Never mind all that,” she said firmly. “We’ve got to get you out of here.”

      His anger drifted away like morning fog and his eyes were smiling again. “After I’ve gone to so much trouble to get in?”

      Oh, please don’t smile at me! she begged silently. This was difficult enough without this charm offensive clouding her mind. She glared back.

      “You are going. This very moment would be a good time to do it.”

      His gaze caressed her cheek. “How can I leave now that I’ve found you again?”

      She gritted her teeth. “You’re not going to mesmerize me like you did last time. You’re not staying here at all.” She pointed toward the gate. “I want you to go.”

      He raised one dark eyebrow and made no move toward the door. “You going to call the guard?”

      Her eyes blazed at him. “If I have to.”

      He looked pained. “Actually, I’d rather you didn’t.”

      “Then you’d better go, hadn’t you?”

      He sighed and managed to look as though he regretted all this. “I can’t leave yet. Not without what I came for.”

      She threw up her hands. “That has nothing to do with me.”

      His smile was back. “That’s where you’re wrong. You see, it’s you that I came for. How do you feel about a good old-fashioned kidnapping?”

      CHAPTER TWO

      PELLEA BLINKED QUICKLY, but that was the only sign she allowed to show his words had shocked her—rocked her, actually, to the point where she almost needed to reach out and hold on to something to keep from falling over.

      Monte had come to kidnap her? Was he joking? Or was he crazy?

      “Really?” With effort, she managed to fill her look with mock disdain. “How do you propose to get me past all the guards and barriers? How do you think you’ll manage that without someone noticing? Especially when I’ll be fighting you every step of the way and creating a scene and doing everything else I can think of to ruin your silly kidnapping scheme?”

      “I’ve got a plan.” He favored her with a knowing grin.

      “Oh, I see.” Eyes wide, she turned with a shrug, as though asking the world to judge him. “He’s got a plan. Say no more.”

      He followed her. “You scoff, Pellea. But you’ll soon see things my way.”

      She whirled to face him and her gaze sharpened as she remembered СКАЧАТЬ