Karen Booth - Pregnant By The Billionaire

From playboy to papa!

Kendall Ross’s latest PR assignment is the perfect jump start for her career. But her client is hotel magnate Sawyer Locke—the no-holds-barred one-night stand she had six weeks ago. Sawyer knows the feisty redhead is the key to successfully launching his new hotel, but with his meddling father sabotaging his business plans, they have to keep their arrangement strictly professional. As in, no kisses. No fondling. And certainly no mind-blowing sex! Yet when their best-laid plans end with an unexpected pregnancy, the rebel billionaire must choose between his bachelor ways or losing Kendall and his baby for good!

Pregnant by the Billionaire is part of The Locke Legacy.

“Do you think about our night together?” he asked.

Kendall waited to answer, not sure if it was better to lie and protect herself or give in to the truth. “I think you know the answer to that question.”

Sawyer sat next to her on the couch. He took her hand. “I had a similar problem, but I didn’t tell you. I think about everything. Asking you to dance. Having you in my arms on the dance floor. That whole night together. What that first kiss was like.”

He was leaning closer, giving in inch by inch, and she mirrored his every move. Their mutual resolve was evaporating before her eyes. “It was a great one.”

He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb softly. Carefully. “One of the best.”

“The kiss goodbye was pretty amazing, too,” she said. “I tried to send you a message with that kiss.”

“And what message was that?” He moved his head closer and nudged at her hair with his nose before pressing his lips to her cheek.

Her eyelids fluttered. He was sending electricity straight through her. “The message was you’d better call me.”

“Let me send my own message.”

His lips fell on hers, strong and insistent.

* * *

Pregnant by the Billionaireis part of The Locke Legacy— This family’s glamorous Manhattan hotel is a five-star location for love.

Pregnant by the Billionaire

Karen Booth

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KAREN BOOTH is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on ’80s music, Judy Blume and the films of John Hughes. She writes sexy big-city love stories. When she takes a break from the art of romance, she’s teaching her kids about good music, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails. Find out more about Karen at www.karenbooth.net.

For my kids, I love you more than you’ll ever know.

Also, I’m sorry for the many times dinner has been late (or was pizza delivery) because I was writing.

The world needs love and romance, and every time you give me a free pass, you help to make that possible.

That’s yet another reason to love you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text From playboy to papa! Kendall Ross’s latest PR assignment is the perfect jump start for her career. But her client is hotel magnate Sawyer Locke—the no-holds-barred one-night stand she had six weeks ago. Sawyer knows the feisty redhead is the key to successfully launching his new hotel, but with his meddling father sabotaging his business plans, they have to keep their arrangement strictly professional. As in, no kisses. No fondling. And certainly no mind-blowing sex! Yet when their best-laid plans end with an unexpected pregnancy, the rebel billionaire must choose between his bachelor ways or losing Kendall and his baby for good! Pregnant by the Billionaire is part of The Locke Legacy.

Introduction “Do you think about our night together?” he asked. Kendall waited to answer, not sure if it was better to lie and protect herself or give in to the truth. “I think you know the answer to that question.” Sawyer sat next to her on the couch. He took her hand. “I had a similar problem, but I didn’t tell you. I think about everything. Asking you to dance. Having you in my arms on the dance floor. That whole night together. What that first kiss was like.” He was leaning closer, giving in inch by inch, and she mirrored his every move. Their mutual resolve was evaporating before her eyes. “It was a great one.” He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb softly. Carefully. “One of the best.” “The kiss goodbye was pretty amazing, too,” she said. “I tried to send you a message with that kiss.” “And what message was that?” He moved his head closer and nudged at her hair with his nose before pressing his lips to her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered. He was sending electricity straight through her. “The message was you’d better call me.” “Let me send my own message.” His lips fell on hers, strong and insistent. * * * Pregnant by the Billionaire is part of The Locke Legacy— This family’s glamorous Manhattan hotel is a five-star location for love.

Title Page Pregnant by the Billionaire Karen Booth www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author KAREN BOOTH is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on ’80s music, Judy Blume and the films of John Hughes. She writes sexy big-city love stories. When she takes a break from the art of romance, she’s teaching her kids about good music, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails. Find out more about Karen at www.karenbooth.net .

Dedication For my kids, I love you more than you’ll ever know. Also, I’m sorry for the many times dinner has been late (or was pizza delivery) because I was writing. The world needs love and romance, and every time you give me a free pass, you help to make that possible. That’s yet another reason to love you.

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Thirteen

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Fifteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

One

Sawyer Locke marched into his Manhattan office, phone pinned between his ear and shoulder. “That’s your answer? You don’t know how the story ended up in the paper?” He slammed the newspaper down on his desk. Grand Legacy Hotel Rebuild in Shambles. “You’re my PR company. Am I not paying you to be on top of this? The reporter didn’t come to you for a comment? Because she sure didn’t call me.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Mr. Locke. It came out of nowhere.”

Nowhere. Sawyer suspected the likely origin of this story, and it didn’t sit well with him at all. It never did. He left his laptop bag on his desk and wandered to his office window atop the four-story building he’d renovated when he started his real estate development firm five years ago. No high-rise for him. Too much like his dad. Down below, the trees lining the street were turning a rich shade of red impossible to ignore. He’d been staring at the trees off and on for three days now—a near match for the hair of a woman he couldn’t seem to forget. He’d had his share of one-night stands, but Kendall...well, he was having a terrible time getting her out of his head.

The changing leaves also meant December would be here soon, and that meant there could be no more disruptions on the hotel renovations. A gala New Year’s Eve grand reopening cannot be late or rescheduled. “I need to know what you’re going to do about this. We have to fight back.”

“In your case, I think it’s best if we ignore it and let the story take its natural course.”