Judy Christenberry - Newborn Daddy

Emma was going to be a wonderful mother.

The baby suddenly opened her eyes, and Ryan would swear she was staring at him. It was the first time she’d been awake in his presence. It was all he could do to hold back an exclamation. The nurse pushed Emma and the baby to the car as he followed.

Almost like a family.

He gently placed the baby in the seat and belted her in. Without saying anything, he lifted Emma as easily as he had the baby and settled her in the front seat. Her gasp told him he’d surprised her.

“You did that well for a new daddy,” the nurse said cheerfully.

But he heard Emma gasp. She knew he’d once had a child….

Dear Reader,

The year is off to a wonderful start in Silhouette Romance, and we’ve got some of our best stories yet for you right here.

Our tremendously successful ROYALLY WED series continues with The Blacksheep Prince’s Bride by Martha Shields. Our intrepid heroine—a lady-in-waiting for Princess Isabel—will do anything to help rescue the king. Even marry the single dad turned prince! And Judy Christenberry returns to Romance with Newborn Daddy. Poor Ryan didn’t know what he was missing, until he looked through the nursery window….

Also this month, Teresa Southwick concludes her much-loved series about the Marchetti family in The Last Marchetti Bachelor. And popular author Elizabeth August gives us Slade’s Secret Son. Lisa hadn’t planned to tell Slade about their child. But with her life in danger, there’s only one man to turn to….

Carla Cassidy’s tale of love and adventure is Lost in His Arms, while new-to-the-Romance-line Vivienne Wallington proves she’s anything but a beginning writer in this powerful story of a man Claiming His Bride.

Be sure to come back next month for Valerie Parv’s ROYALLY WED title as well as new stories by Sandra Steffen and Myrna Mackenzie. And Patricia Thayer will begin a brand-new series, THE TEXAS BROTHERHOOD.

Happy reading!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Silhouette Romance

The Nine-Month Bride #1324

*Marry Me, Kate #1344

*Baby in Her Arms #1350

*A Ring for Cinderella #1356

†Never Let You Go #1453

†The Borrowed Groom #1457

†Cherish the Boss #1463

†Snowbound Sweetheart #1476

Newborn Daddy #1511

has been writing romances for over fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers do. She’s a bestselling writer for Harlequin American Romance, but she has a long love of traditional romances and is delighted to tell a story that brings those elements to the reader. A former high school French teacher, Judy now devotes her time to writing. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two adult daughters.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Ryan Nix stared at the newborn babies in the local hospital. He wouldn’t be here if his sister, Beth, hadn’t just given birth. Normally he avoided babies since his own child, Ryan, Jr., as well as his wife, Merilee, had died three years ago.

But he had to admit, his nephew was a fine-looking boy.

A nurse entered the nursery carrying a pink bundle. A girl. He was about to turn back to his nephew when the nurse put the baby girl in the bed next to Beth’s baby. Then she slid the birth card into place. As she moved away, after smiling at him, he let his gaze drift to the birth card, not really reading it until he saw familiar words.

His name. Listed as the father.

Ryan got a sick feeling in his stomach. His gaze immediately shifted to the corresponding blank. Mother: Emma Davenport.

He slapped his hands on the glass wall for support and stared at the card, sure he’d misread it. What it said couldn’t be true. There had to be another Ryan Nix.

Another Ryan Nix who’d had an affair with another Emma Davenport that had ended seven months ago.

Yeah, right.

Damn her, he’d told her he’d never have another child, never marry again. Hadn’t she listened? In fact, he’d been downright rude, his anger raw and painful. She’d thought she could replace Merilee? Give him a child as perfect as Ryan Junior? Replace his lost family?

He’d sent her away, ended their affair, had nothing to do with her since.

Without thinking, he hurried back to the nurses’ desk. “What room is Emma Davenport in?” he demanded.

“Two-twelve, sir,” the nurse said. She appeared ready to add something else, but Ryan didn’t wait. Her room was on the opposite side of the small hospital from Beth’s.

His cowboy boots weren’t quiet as he raced down the hall, but he was beyond consideration for anyone. He felt betrayed, and he was going to let the betrayer know about it.

He entered the room, his roar already in full force. “Emma Davenport!”

A pale face, smaller than he remembered, lay on the pillow. Alarm registered in her eyes by the time he paused.

“How dare you?” he ripped. “I told you I never wanted children! Did you think I was lying? Did you think you’d force me into marriage this way?”

He frowned when she didn’t say a word. In fact, she’d closed her eyes.

“Emma! Did you hear me?”

The door opened. “I suspect everyone heard you, Mr. Nix,” an older nurse, one who’d been a friend of his mother’s, said. “Would you please step outside?”

“No! I want some answers!” he insisted, glaring at Emma. Then he frowned. If anything, Emma’s pale face had whitened even more. Before he could express concern, however, the nurse had taken him by the arm.

“I think you’d better leave. Our patient needs her rest.”

“Emma!” Ryan demanded.

“Please go.” Her voice was barely a whisper, not the low, musical tones that had first attracted him.

Before he could protest or question Emma again, the nurse dragged him out into the hallway.

“Ryan, whatever issues you have with Miss Davenport, save them. She’s having a difficult time and needs all her energy to get better.”

“What do you mean?” Ryan asked, staring at the nurse. He remembered how pale Emma was. How she didn’t respond. How her voice sounded sad and lifeless. “What’s wrong with her?”