Helen Lacey - Married To The Mum-To-Be

She’s late. That kind of late...

Kayla Rickard always planned to marry and start a family—with the right man. Then she met Liam O’Sullivan. Once she sampled passion in his arms, she forgot the feud that separated their families for decades. Now Kayla’s in two times the trouble. She’s secretly married to—and pregnant by—public enemy number one.

After eloping to Vegas, the scion of the O’Sullivan empire wants to come clean. Liam wants his wife—at his side, in his bed. He’ll do whatever it takes, even get to the bottom of the feud. But are he and Kayla prepared for the bombshells they’ll uncover? They have no choice—because in nine months their little secret will be born!

“You’re a fraud, Liam O’Sullivan!”

He looked at her as she spoke. “Tough guy. Calm, cool and collected. Ice in your veins. All the things people say about you? None of it’s true.”

“Sure, it is.”

“Yesterday I thought you were in control and ready to find out we’re having a baby. But today you’re more nervous than I am. Let’s face it. Your family’s going to be as shocked about this as mine. And equally disapproving.”

He reached out for her. “I don’t care about that. I only care about you and the baby you’re carrying.”

“But we can’t disregard their feelings. We knew going into this relationship that it wouldn’t be easy, considering our history.”

“We don’t have a history, Kayla. It’s our parents’ history. We were both raised with hatred for each other’s family. But this child will end that cycle. Or his grandparents won’t be part of his life.”

“You know me. That can never happen.”

He shot her that smoky look that got her in this predicament in the first place. The one she could never resist.

“Oh, I know you,” he said in a throaty voice. “I know every inch of you...intimately. And I can’t wait to know you again.”

* * *

The Cedar River Cowboys:Riding into town with romance on their minds!

Married to the Mom-to-Be

Helen Lacey

www.millsandboon.co.uk

HELEN LACEY grew up reading Black Beauty and Little House on the Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven, a story about a girl and her horse. She loves writing for Mills & Boon Cherish, where she can create strong heroes with a soft heart and heroines with gumption who get their happily-ever-after. For more about Helen, visit her website, www.helenlacey.com.

For Robert

To the moon and back... always.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text She’s late. That kind of late... Kayla Rickard always planned to marry and start a family—with the right man. Then she met Liam O’Sullivan. Once she sampled passion in his arms, she forgot the feud that separated their families for decades. Now Kayla’s in two times the trouble. She’s secretly married to—and pregnant by—public enemy number one. After eloping to Vegas, the scion of the O’Sullivan empire wants to come clean. Liam wants his wife—at his side, in his bed. He’ll do whatever it takes, even get to the bottom of the feud. But are he and Kayla prepared for the bombshells they’ll uncover? They have no choice—because in nine months their little secret will be born!

Introduction “You’re a fraud, Liam O’Sullivan!” He looked at her as she spoke. “Tough guy. Calm, cool and collected. Ice in your veins. All the things people say about you? None of it’s true.” “Sure, it is.” “Yesterday I thought you were in control and ready to find out we’re having a baby. But today you’re more nervous than I am. Let’s face it. Your family’s going to be as shocked about this as mine. And equally disapproving.” He reached out for her. “I don’t care about that. I only care about you and the baby you’re carrying.” “But we can’t disregard their feelings. We knew going into this relationship that it wouldn’t be easy, considering our history.” “We don’t have a history, Kayla. It’s our parents’ history. We were both raised with hatred for each other’s family. But this child will end that cycle. Or his grandparents won’t be part of his life.” “You know me. That can never happen.” He shot her that smoky look that got her in this predicament in the first place. The one she could never resist. “Oh, I know you,” he said in a throaty voice. “I know every inch of you...intimately. And I can’t wait to know you again.” * * * The Cedar River Cowboys: Riding into town with romance on their minds!

Title Page Married to the Mom-to-Be Helen Lacey www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author HELEN LACEY grew up reading Black Beauty and Little House on the Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven, a story about a girl and her horse. She loves writing for Mills & Boon Cherish, where she can create strong heroes with a soft heart and heroines with gumption who get their happily-ever-after. For more about Helen, visit her website, www.helenlacey.com .

Dedication For Robert To the moon and back... always.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“I think I’m pregnant.”

Kayla Rickard hadn’t planned on announcing the news to Liam O’Sullivan that way.

But the unexpected craving for pistachio ice cream at nine that Tuesday morning, followed by a surge of nausea that had her racing to the bathroom to lose the contents of her stomach, and then staring at her pale reflection in the washroom mirror, had her realizing one undeniable and alarming fact.

I’m pregnant.

She didn’t really need an over-the-counter test or a doctor to tell her what was now seeping through to her bones with Technicolor clarity, even though she would certainly get confirmation as soon as she could. Because it all made perfect sense. She was late. And she was never late. She was nauseous, notably in the mornings. And she’d been uncharacteristically weary for weeks. Her breasts were tender. Her senses were heightened. And now these random cravings? The more she’d considered it, the more obvious it became.

“What?”

Liam’s hollow voice broke through her thoughts. Kayla took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and looked him over...every perfectly proportioned inch of his six-foot-two frame. His short, dark brown hair was cut neatly and his features were flawlessly put together. He was turn-your-head handsome. And successful and confident and sexy as sin. His midnight-blue gaze met hers and Kayla was drawn deep into him. It was always like that between them. There was tension and heat and raw, undeniable attraction...

And now, God help them, there would be a baby, too.

“I’m...you know. Late,” she whispered, the words curdling deep in her throat.

The moment he realized what she meant his expression turned to a kind of wary bewilderment. He stared at her, searching her face with his eyes. “Are you sure?”

“No,” she replied quickly, dropping her voice again. “I mean, I’m sure that I’m late, but I’m not sure about anything else. But I...I feel like I am. Which probably doesn’t make any sense because I wouldn’t be too far along. But I feel...I don’t know...different.”

He was silent, looking at her with hot, blistering intensity. There were questions in his eyes and tension in his jaw. “We obviously need to talk about this.”