Heiress's Royal Baby Bombshell. Jennifer Faye

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       CHAPTER ONE

      Three months laterMont Coeur ski resort, the Swiss Alps

      WHAT WAS SHE going to do?

      Noemi paced back and forth in her luxurious bedroom in her family’s palatial chalet. A gentle fire flickered in the fireplace, keeping her suite cozy. She couldn’t sit still.

      So much had happened in the last few months that it made her head spin. First, the pregnancy test had turned up positive. As she’d struggled to come to terms with what this meant to her future, she’d stumbled across the fact that she had a long-lost brother. The realization had jarred her entire world. How could her parents have kept Leo a secret all her life?

      An ensuing row between her and her parents had her shouting out hurtful words—words she didn’t mean. And yet now she couldn’t take them back. She couldn’t tell her parents she was sorry and that she loved them.

      They were dead.

      The reading of their will had succeeded in driving home the fact that her parents wouldn’t be here at the chalet as was their Christmas tradition. But the three siblings intended to spend the holiday together.

      It had been strange to meet her brother Leo for the first time, even stranger to hear the contents of her parents’ will. She never would have imagined that the terms of the will would be the way they were. Clearly Sebastian hadn’t either, because when he’d discovered that his parents had given Leo controlling shares in Cattaneo Jewels for six months, he’d been furious. And although Leo had been clearly reluctant, the terms stated that should Leo refuse, Cattaneo Jewels would cease trading and be liquidated. And none of them had wanted that.

      But tempers and emotions had risen, and it was all Noemi had been able to do to convince her brothers to think on it and to return here to the chalet in Mont Coeur just before Christmas for the final decision.

      Even now, she could only guess at what her parents had been thinking when they’d written the will and its unusual terms. She missed them dearly—most especially her mother. She needed her now more than ever.

      Noemi swiped at her eyes as she thought of her mother. And though their last conversation had been heated and hurtful, Noemi didn’t doubt her parents had loved her—even if she had made mistakes along the way. But all the wishing in the world wasn’t going to erase the last angry words that they’d exchanged, nor would it bring them back to her.

      Noemi moved to the French doors in her room and stared out at the cloudy afternoon sky as big lazy snowflakes drifted ever so slowly to the ground. It was a light snow. The kind that melted as soon as it touched the roads. And any other time she’d be caught up in the peaceful relaxing view. But not today.

      She was running out of time to keep her secret to herself. Her hand pressed to her slightly rounded abdomen. No amount of baggy clothes was going to hide her pregnancy much longer.

      And what was she supposed to say to people when they asked who the father was? His name is Max? He has the dreamiest eyes that appear to change colors to suit his mood? And his body is like a sculpture of defined muscles? Or when he laughs it is deep and rich? Even now, his memory brought a smile to her face.

      After the most magical night, he’d insisted that it would be best not to exchange full names or phone numbers. She’d hesitantly agreed. Neither of them had been looking for a lasting relationship. And now that she really needed to speak to him, she didn’t know how to reach him. She’d even asked Stephania about him, but she didn’t know him—

      Noemi’s cell phone buzzed. She moved to the bed and picked it up. She wasn’t in the mood to speak to anyone, but when she saw that it was Maria, her sister-in-law and close friend, she answered.

      “How are you doing?” Maria asked.

      “Okay. I guess.” Noemi sighed.

      “Really? I’d hate to hear you if something was wrong.”

      “What’s that supposed to mean?”

      “You’re usually bubbly but lately you’ve been really down. Is it your parents?”

      “No. I mean, I miss them a lot.”

      “So something else is bothering you?”

      Maria had always been good at reading her. And she was the closest thing Noemi had to a big sister. If she didn’t talk to someone soon, she was going to burst.

      Noemi worried her bottom lip. “Can I tell you something?”

      “Sure. You know you can always talk to me. СКАЧАТЬ