Barbara Dunlop - One Baby, Two Secrets

They’ll do anything for the baby’s sake! Only from New York Times bestselling author Barbara Dunlop!

He came to the United States to find his adversary, not fall for a tempting stranger. Yet millionaire Brody Calder can tell Kate Dunhern needs his help. She’s desperate to know her orphaned niece is in a loving home. But baby Annabelle is actually in the hands of Brody’s enemy.

Though their motives are different, their goal is the same: take down the baby’s nefarious father and get Annabelle safely into Kate’s arms. It means playing a risky game—one where pretend passions could reveal real feelings both unexpected...and dangerous.

“How does lying look?”

What was the matter with her? She sounded like a fool, and she didn’t seem to be able to stop it. “I mean to you. How can you tell?”

“Lack of eye contact.” He moved closer. “A tense, closed expression, halting speech, hesitation.”

He certainly didn’t look tense. He looked powerful, in control and way too sexy.

“Take now,” he said, leaning ever so slightly forward. “Your expression is open. You’re not nervous. It’s like you’re inviting me in. Like you want me to see your innermost thoughts,” he continued.

She definitely didn’t want that.

“Like you’re thinking of physical contact...” He brushed her fingers, gently holding the tips of hers with the tips of his. He drew in a deep breath. “Wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

She felt a warmth rise over her wrist, up the inside of her arm and through to her chest. She didn’t want him to let go.

* * *

One Baby, Two Secretsis part of Mills & Boon Desire’s #1 bestselling series, Billionaires and Babies: Powerful men...wrapped around their babies’ little fingers.

One Baby, Two Secrets

Barbara Dunlop

www.millsandboon.co.uk

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author BARBARA DUNLOPhas written more than forty novels for Mills & Boon, including the acclaimed Chicago Sons series for Mills & Boon. Her sexy, lighthearted stories regularly hit bestseller lists. Barbara is a three-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award.

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To my husband.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text They’ll do anything for the baby’s sake! Only from New York Times bestselling author Barbara Dunlop! He came to the United States to find his adversary, not fall for a tempting stranger. Yet millionaire Brody Calder can tell Kate Dunhern needs his help. She’s desperate to know her orphaned niece is in a loving home. But baby Annabelle is actually in the hands of Brody’s enemy. Though their motives are different, their goal is the same: take down the baby’s nefarious father and get Annabelle safely into Kate’s arms. It means playing a risky game—one where pretend passions could reveal real feelings both unexpected...and dangerous.

Introduction “How does lying look?” What was the matter with her? She sounded like a fool, and she didn’t seem to be able to stop it. “I mean to you. How can you tell?” “Lack of eye contact.” He moved closer. “A tense, closed expression, halting speech, hesitation.” He certainly didn’t look tense. He looked powerful, in control and way too sexy. “Take now,” he said, leaning ever so slightly forward. “Your expression is open. You’re not nervous. It’s like you’re inviting me in. Like you want me to see your innermost thoughts,” he continued. She definitely didn’t want that. “Like you’re thinking of physical contact...” He brushed her fingers, gently holding the tips of hers with the tips of his. He drew in a deep breath. “Wouldn’t be a bad thing.” She felt a warmth rise over her wrist, up the inside of her arm and through to her chest. She didn’t want him to let go. * * * One Baby, Two Secrets is part of Mills & Boon Desire’s #1 bestselling series, Billionaires and Babies: Powerful men...wrapped around their babies’ little fingers.

Title Page One Baby, Two Secrets Barbara Dunlop www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author BARBARA DUNLOP has written more than forty novels for Mills & Boon, including the acclaimed Chicago Sons series for Mills & Boon. Her sexy, lighthearted stories regularly hit bestseller lists. Barbara is a three-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award.

Dedication To my husband.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

One

Stale cigarette smoke warred with sharp memories as Kate Dunhern stood in the doorway of her mother’s tattered third-floor walk-up in south central Los Angeles.

“Darling,” her mother Chloe cried, pulling her into a bony embrace.

Chloe’s hair was cut spiky short, her tank top crisp with colored sequins, and the scent of Vendi Dark Mist wafted in an invisible cloud around her. The floor seemed to shift momentarily, and Kate was transported back to her childhood.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” Chloe singsonged, rocking Kate back and forth in her arms.

“Of course I came,” Kate said, firming her stance and waiting for the embrace to end.

“It’s been terrible on us all,” Chloe said with a sniff, finally pulling back and giving Kate space to breathe.

“I can’t believe she’s gone.” An image of her sister, Francie, formed in Kate’s mind.

She saw Francie as a teenager, grinning as they dug into a bowl of ice cream with colored sprinkles. The memory was good. But it was followed swiftly by the memory of Francie shouting that she hated Chloe before storming out of the apartment and slamming the door.

Not that Kate blamed Francie for bailing. Chloe had never been a candidate for mother of the year.

She had loved her daughters when the mood struck her and ignored them when it didn’t. She’d criticized them when she was in a bad mood, which was most of the time. She claimed they had cramped her style, ruined her figure and kept her home with their snotty-nosed whining when she’d rather be out with an eligible man. In Chloe’s mind, the only thing between her and happily ever after with some handsome, wealthy Prince Charming had been the anchor of Kate and Francie.

Kate had followed Francie’s lead, leaving for Seattle with her best friend, Nadia Ivanova, as soon as they’d graduated high school. She and Nadia had supported each other through teachers’ college, and she’d never looked back, at least not until now. Not until Francie had been killed in a car accident.

“She was drinking, you know,” Chloe said, closing the apartment door and crossing the worn braided rug on high heels.

“I read the news article.” Kate was the last person to defend Francie’s actions, but she bristled at the critical tone in her mother’s voice.