Anne Mather - An Heir Made In The Marriage Bed

One night back in her husband’s bed...

The inability to have a child left Joanna and Matt Novak’s passionate marriage in tatters. But when Joanna asks her tycoon husband for a divorce, Matt makes it clear he expects them to remain married...in the most intimate of ways!

As tempers flare, the raging desire between them explodes—just once more, Matt and Joanna give in to the thrill of each other’s touch.

In the shattering aftermath of their explosive encounter, they agree to part ways...until Joanna discovers one tiny consequence of their night together—she’s carrying Matt’s baby!

Matt moved forward. ‘Well, let me see,’ he said, and there wasn’t an atom of warmth in his voice. ‘I thought you might have something you wanted to tell me.’ His eyes swept insolently down her body, lingering with undisguised contempt on the bump that swelled her dress. ‘Ah, I see you do—’

Somehow Joanna found the words to defend herself. Which wasn’t easy when Matt was gazing at her with contempt in his eyes. His jaw had hardened, and in spite of everything she couldn’t look away from him. He looked so good, she thought resentfully. His skin was deeply tanned—evidence of his change of occupation—and he’d had his hair cut shorter, exposing the strong column of his neck.

Joanna held up a hand. ‘All right, all right,’ she broke in unsteadily. ‘It’s your baby. I’m not denying it.’

‘So what now?’ Matt asked tersely. ‘After all, it’s not every day your ex-wife finds she’s pregnant with your child after the divorce.’

ANNE MATHERand her husband live in the north of England in a village bordering the county of Yorkshire. It’s a beautiful area, and she can’t imagine living anywhere else. She’s been making up stories since she was in primary school and would say that writing is a huge part of her life. When people ask if writing is a lonely occupation, she usually says that she’s so busy sorting out her characters’ lives, she doesn’t have time to feel lonely. Anne’s written over 160 novels, and her books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists. She loves reading and walking and browsing in bookshops. And now that her son and daughter are grown she takes great delight in her grandchildren. You can email her at mystic-am@msn.com.

Books by Anne Mather

Mills & Boon Modern Romance

A Dangerous Taste of Passion

Morelli’s Mistress

A Forbidden Temptation

Innocent Virgin, Wild Surrender

His Forbidden Passion

The Brazilian Millionaire’s Love-Child

Mendez’s Mistress

Bedded for the Italian’s Pleasure

The Greek Tycoon’s Pregnant Wife

The Pregnancy Affair

Stay Through the Night

Jack Riordan’s Baby

The Virgin’s Seduction

Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.ukfor more titles.

An Heir Made in the Marriage Bed

Anne Mather

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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To my wonderful family, Fred, Kate, Nick,

Lyn, Abi and Ben, and not forgetting Dolly.

What would I do without you?

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text One night back in her husband’s bed... The inability to have a child left Joanna and Matt Novak’s passionate marriage in tatters. But when Joanna asks her tycoon husband for a divorce, Matt makes it clear he expects them to remain married...in the most intimate of ways! As tempers flare, the raging desire between them explodes—just once more, Matt and Joanna give in to the thrill of each other’s touch. In the shattering aftermath of their explosive encounter, they agree to part ways...until Joanna discovers one tiny consequence of their night together—she’s carrying Matt’s baby!

Introduction Matt moved forward. ‘Well, let me see,’ he said, and there wasn’t an atom of warmth in his voice. ‘I thought you might have something you wanted to tell me.’ His eyes swept insolently down her body, lingering with undisguised contempt on the bump that swelled her dress. ‘Ah, I see you do—’ Somehow Joanna found the words to defend herself. Which wasn’t easy when Matt was gazing at her with contempt in his eyes. His jaw had hardened, and in spite of everything she couldn’t look away from him. He looked so good, she thought resentfully. His skin was deeply tanned—evidence of his change of occupation—and he’d had his hair cut shorter, exposing the strong column of his neck. Joanna held up a hand. ‘All right, all right,’ she broke in unsteadily. ‘It’s your baby. I’m not denying it.’ ‘So what now?’ Matt asked tersely. ‘After all, it’s not every day your ex-wife finds she’s pregnant with your child after the divorce.’

About the Author ANNE MATHER and her husband live in the north of England in a village bordering the county of Yorkshire. It’s a beautiful area, and she can’t imagine living anywhere else. She’s been making up stories since she was in primary school and would say that writing is a huge part of her life. When people ask if writing is a lonely occupation, she usually says that she’s so busy sorting out her characters’ lives, she doesn’t have time to feel lonely. Anne’s written over 160 novels, and her books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists. She loves reading and walking and browsing in bookshops. And now that her son and daughter are grown she takes great delight in her grandchildren. You can email her at mystic-am@msn.com. Books by Anne Mather Mills & Boon Modern Romance A Dangerous Taste of Passion Morelli’s Mistress A Forbidden Temptation Innocent Virgin, Wild Surrender His Forbidden Passion The Brazilian Millionaire’s Love-Child Mendez’s Mistress Bedded for the Italian’s Pleasure The Greek Tycoon’s Pregnant Wife The Pregnancy Affair Stay Through the Night Jack Riordan’s Baby The Virgin’s Seduction Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Title Page An Heir Made in the Marriage Bed Anne Mather www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication To my wonderful family, Fred, Kate, Nick, Lyn, Abi and Ben, and not forgetting Dolly. What would I do without you?

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

THE LATE AFTERNOON sun was still too hot.

Matt Novak shifted impatiently on the cushioned recliner his mother had had one of the maids place in the shaded area of the patio. The khaki shorts he was wearing with a black tee shirt were damp with perspiration. But he intended to go to the gym later. He was sick and tired of doing nothing at all.