Cat Schield - The Heir Affair

Bound by the Baby

Singer Melody Caldwell has given guarded entrepreneur Kyle Tailor months to take their relationship from casual to serious—and run smack into the wall around his heart. But fate has intervened—because Melody’s pregnant.

Jealousy. Fear. Amazement. Kyle doesn’t know how to feel about Melody’s news. He’s been holding back to protect himself. But when a mysterious someone takes too great an interest in Kyle’s woman and unborn child, it forces Kyle’s hand. If the millionaire hopes to keep what’s his, he has to stake his claim now...with all his heart and soul.

The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series.

“My feelings for you haven’t changed.”

“You can’t seriously believe that’s true,” Melody said.

“I want you in my life. I want to be there for our baby. How do you see your future?”

“Honestly, I sort of go back and forth—wanting us to be a happy family but thinking it might be better if I raise this baby on my own.”

“Because...” If he asked her whether she was in love with someone else and she told him yes, Kyle wasn’t sure what he’d do.

“Because it hurts too much when I think how much I love you and wonder if you’ll ever feel the same about me.”

* * *

The Heir Affairis part of the Las Vegas Nights series: An exclusive club for men who have it all and want more.

The Heir Affair

Cat Schield

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CAT SCHIELD has been reading and writing romance since high school. Although she graduated from college with a BA in business, her idea of a perfect career was writing books for Mills & Boon. And now, after winning the Romance Writers of America 2010 Golden Heart® Award for Best Contemporary Series Romance, that dream has come true. Cat lives in Minnesota with her daughter, Emily, and their Burmese cat. When she’s not writing sexy, romantic stories for Mills & Boon, she can be found sailing with friends on the St. Croix River, or in more exotic locales, like the Caribbean and Europe. She loves to hear from readers. Find her at www.catschield.netand follow her on Twitter, @catschield.

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To Patty and Fred

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Bound by the Baby Singer Melody Caldwell has given guarded entrepreneur Kyle Tailor months to take their relationship from casual to serious—and run smack into the wall around his heart. But fate has intervened—because Melody’s pregnant. Jealousy. Fear. Amazement. Kyle doesn’t know how to feel about Melody’s news. He’s been holding back to protect himself. But when a mysterious someone takes too great an interest in Kyle’s woman and unborn child, it forces Kyle’s hand. If the millionaire hopes to keep what’s his, he has to stake his claim now...with all his heart and soul. The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series.

Introduction “My feelings for you haven’t changed.” “You can’t seriously believe that’s true,” Melody said. “I want you in my life. I want to be there for our baby. How do you see your future?” “Honestly, I sort of go back and forth—wanting us to be a happy family but thinking it might be better if I raise this baby on my own.” “Because...” If he asked her whether she was in love with someone else and she told him yes, Kyle wasn’t sure what he’d do. “Because it hurts too much when I think how much I love you and wonder if you’ll ever feel the same about me.” * * * The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series: An exclusive club for men who have it all and want more.

Title Page The Heir Affair Cat Schield www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CAT SCHIELD has been reading and writing romance since high school. Although she graduated from college with a BA in business, her idea of a perfect career was writing books for Mills & Boon. And now, after winning the Romance Writers of America 2010 Golden Heart® Award for Best Contemporary Series Romance, that dream has come true. Cat lives in Minnesota with her daughter, Emily, and their Burmese cat. When she’s not writing sexy, romantic stories for Mills & Boon, she can be found sailing with friends on the St. Croix River, or in more exotic locales, like the Caribbean and Europe. She loves to hear from readers. Find her at www.catschield.net and follow her on Twitter, @catschield .

Dedication To Patty and Fred

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

One

Kyle Tailor sat on the couch beside his business partner and best friend from high school, Trent Caldwell. It was Thanksgiving. On the great room’s sixty-inch television, an interdivisional grudge match was happening between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. Kyle wasn’t following the action. His gaze was locked on Trent’s sister.

Until she came along, solitude had never bothered him. In most ways it was simpler to live on his own without someone else’s physical or emotional clutter. To find himself needing Melody had been a shock to his system.

Now, he didn’t sleep well without her beside him. Since she’d been gone, he slogged through business meetings and routine activities in a foggy daze, unable to concentrate or care. He missed her hugs. Her way of teasing him. He’d lost weight, had stopped working out and lost an unacceptable amount of money in the casinos in the month since he’d come to Las Vegas to temporarily take over the management of Club T’s.

Trent elbowed him in his ribs.

Kyle ripped his gaze from Melody and arched an eyebrow at his business partner. “What?”

“Go talk to her.”

“I tried earlier.” When he’d first arrived, they’d exchanged a stilted “Happy Thanksgiving” and an awkward half hug. “She’s avoiding me.”

“Did you perfect your world-famous curveball on your first attempt?” Trent countered. “Try again.”

“She’s on the phone.”

Trent grunted and returned his attention to the television. His infant son sat on his lap. His matching blue eyes were on the screen and every time the Lions scored and Trent cheered, Dylan would respond to his father’s enthusiasm with clapping. From the love seat, the child’s mother watched the pair with such fondness Kyle’s gut twisted.

Laughter rose from the kitchen. Nate Tucker, the third partner in their Las Vegas nightclub, was in the process of putting away the leftovers from dinner, helped by Mia Navarro, a fellow songwriter he’d been dating for several months.

Thanksgiving was a day for families. A chance to celebrate what they had. Nate had Mia. Trent had Savannah and Dylan.

Frustration ate at him. Kyle should have had Melody except five months ago the paparazzi had captured her and famous DJ/music producer Hunter Graves coming out of a New York City nightclub hand-in-hand. The way Melody and her former flame had been smiling at each other had eaten at Kyle day and night until he’d accused her of cheating on him. Although she’d denied it, Kyle couldn’t find a way to believe her.