Sex, Lies and the CEO Page 20
“Oh, Darci.”
“I’m in love with you, Shane. And I very much want to marry you.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I can’t believe it. You are the most amazing, gorgeous, tenacious, perfect woman in the world. I love you so much. I thought I’d lost you. I’m so glad I haven’t.”
She sighed, leaning up against him in complete contentment. “I bet our fathers could never have imagined this.”
“I hope they’re up there watching. And I hope they keep watching in amazement. Because we’re going to do things with Colborn Aerospace that they never dreamed.” He rubbed his hands along her back. “That is, unless you want to rename the company? Do you want to get your name in there, too?”
“I think that would be a bad business decision. You know, from a branding perspective.”
“It probably is.”
“Besides, I’ll be a Colborn soon.”
“Yes, you will. Just as soon as I can make it happen. You like Vegas?”
“You’re not getting married in Vegas.” Justin’s voice unexpectedly joined the conversation from the doorway.
“Who let you in?” asked Shane.
Justin ignored the question. “I’m thinking a big, splashy wedding, where we invite hundreds of potential clients.”
“Forget it,” said Shane.
“Hi, Justin,” said Darci, peeking from behind Shane’s shoulder.
“You’re not ticked at me?” Justin asked.
“I’m over it.”
“Good.” Justin moved into the room. “Because we’re going to need to work together. We’re not out of the woods yet, but this is a fantastic human-interest story. It’ll reestablish Shane’s good reputation and give us a launching pad for the new line of business. You can’t buy this kind of publicity.”
“Ignore him,” Shane said to Darci.
“I don’t think it’s the worst idea in the world,” said Darci.
“Very funny,” said Shane.
“She’s brilliant,” said Justin.
“It almost seems fitting,” said Darci.
Shane pulled back. “Tell me you’re not serious.”
“If it wasn’t for Colborn Aerospace, we never would have met,” said Darci. “You love the company. I love your plans for it. We both want nothing but the best for the employees. If getting married with a splash will help, I say we do it.”
“You should listen to your fiancée,” said Justin.
“She can have whatever wedding she wants,” said Shane.
She patted his cheek with her palm. “As long as you’re the groom, I really don’t care about the details.”
His gaze softened, and so did his voice. “You don’t have to decide right now.”
Darci turned to grin at Justin. “I’ve already decided. Go ahead and start planning.”
Justin was out the door before Shane could disagree.
“Is this partnership going to be lopsided?” Shane asked her.
“This partnership is going to be perfect.”
“Half the company, half the mansion, half of my bed.”
“You wear the tiger-striped boxers.”
“And you wear the diamond ring.” He twined their hands together, stroking her left middle finger. “Right now. Let’s go. We’re sealing this deal today.”
* * * * *
If you loved this novel by USA TODAY bestseller Barbara Dunlop, pick up Riley’s story, the second book in the CHICAGO SONS series: Men who work hard, love harder
and live with their fathers’ legacies...
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A SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM
Will Rafe Montoro have to choose between the throne and newfound fatherhood?
Read on for a sneak preview of
CARRYING A KING’S CHILD,
a Dynasties: The Montoros novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Katherine Garbera.
Pregnant!
He knew Emily wouldn’t be standing in his penthouse apartment telling him this if he wasn’t the father. His first reaction was joy.
A child.
It wasn’t something he ever thought he wanted but the idea that Emily was carrying his baby seemed right to him.
Maybe that was just because it gave him something other than his royal duties to think about. He’d been dreading his trip to Alma. He was flattered that the country that had once driven his family out had come back to them, asked them—him, as it turned out—to be the next king. But he had grown up here in Miami. He didn’t want to be a stuffy royal.
He didn’t want European paparazzi following him around and trying to catch him doing anything that would bring shame to his family. Including having a child out of wedlock.
“Rafe, did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah, I did. Are you sure?” he asked at last.
She gave him a fiery look from those aqua blue eyes of hers. He’d seen the passionate side of her nature and he guessed he was about to witness her temper. Hurricane Em was about to unleash all of her fury on him and he didn’t blame her one bit.
He held his hand up. “Slow down, Red. I didn’t mean are you sure it’s mine. I meant…are you sure you’re pregnant.”
“Damned straight. And I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t sure it was yours. Listen, I don’t want anything from you. I know you can’t turn your back on your family and marry me and frankly, we only had one weekend together so I’d have to say no to a proposal anyway. But…I don’t want this kid to grow up without knowing you.”
“Me neither.”
She glanced up surprised.
He’d sort of surprised himself. But it didn’t seem right for a kid of his to grow up without him. He wanted that. He wanted a chance to impart the Montoro legacy…not the one newly sprung on him involving a throne but the one he’d carved for himself in business. “Don’t look shocked.”
“You’ve kind of got a lot going on right now. And having a kid with me isn’t going to go over well.”
“Tough,” he said. “I still make my own decisions.”
Don’t miss
CARRYING A KING’S CHILD
by USA TODAY bestselling author Katherine Garbera, available June 2015, only from Harlequin Desire
www.Harlequin.com
Copyright © 2015 by Katherine Garbera
ISBN-13: 9781460381007
Sex, Lies and the CEO
Copyright © 2015 by Barbara Dunlop
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