Mary Lyons - The Playboy's Baby

“You must be joking!” “You must be joking!” “The results plainly show....” “Stuff and nonsense!” Samantha exclaimed. “The whole idea is so ludicrous.” “Nevertheless, you are pregnant,” the doctor continued in a firm but gentle voice. “You are expecting a baby... a January baby. That’s nice.” “Nice...?” Samantha gasped. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a baby. It was just... well, she hadn’t even gotten around to thinking about marriage, children and all that stuff. That was part of life which, up to now, she’d always thought of as being an experience that lay ahead of her. Something to look foward to, in the future. Not when she’d just achieved the first, great success of her career. And most definitely not when her brief love affair with the baby’s father had proved so disastrously short. But whatever happened, she definitely was going to keep her baby. Now for the One Million Dollar Question: what was she going to do about Matt? She’s sexy, successful... and PREGNANT! She’s sexy, successful... and PREGNANT! Relax and enjoy our new series of stories about spirited women and gorgeous men, whose passion results in pregnancies... sometimes unexpected! Of course, the birth of a baby is always a joyful event, and we can guarantee that our characters will become besotted moms and dads—but what happened in those nine months before? Share the surprises, emotions, dramas and suspense as our parents-to-be come to terms with the prospect of bringing a new little life into the world.... All will discover that the business of making babies brings with it the most special love of all.... Look out next month for: Accidental Baby by Kim Lawrence Harlequin Presents ® #2034 Title Page The Playboy’s Baby Mary Lyons www.millsandboon.co.uk CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN Copyright

“You must be joking!”

“The results plainly show....”

“Stuff and nonsense!” Samantha exclaimed. “The whole idea is so ludicrous.”

“Nevertheless, you are pregnant,” the doctor continued in a firm but gentle voice. “You are expecting a baby... a January baby. That’s nice.”

“Nice...?” Samantha gasped. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a baby. It was just... well, she hadn’t even gotten around to thinking about marriage, children and all that stuff. That was part of life which, up to now, she’d always thought of as being an experience that lay ahead of her. Something to look foward to, in the future. Not when she’d just achieved the first, great success of her career. And most definitely not when her brief love affair with the baby’s father had proved so disastrously short.

But whatever happened, she definitely was going to keep her baby. Now for the One Million Dollar Question: what was she going to do about Matt?

She’s sexy, successful... and PREGNANT!

Relax and enjoy our new series of stories about spirited women and gorgeous men, whose passion results in pregnancies... sometimes unexpected! Of course, the birth of a baby is always a joyful event, and we can guarantee that our characters will become besotted moms and dads—but what happened in those nine months before?

Share the surprises, emotions, dramas and suspense as our parents-to-be come to terms with the prospect of bringing a new little life into the world.... All will discover that the business of making babies brings with it the most special love of all....

Look out next month for:

Accidental Baby by Kim Lawrence

Harlequin Presents ®#2034

The Playboy’s Baby

Mary Lyons

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHAPTER ONE

‘WELL, young lady, we’re certainly all looking forward to hearing your presentation this afternoon.’

The grey-haired chairman of one of the largest corporate businesses in America smiled down at the slim blonde girl standing beside him. ‘I understand that you are intending to tell us all about the European Bond Market,’ he added with a distinct twinkle in his eye.

‘Well... er...’ Samantha Thomas cleared her throat nervously, desperately trying to think of what to say to this well-known and highly distinguished man, who quite obviously knew far more about the subject than she did.

What on earth was she doing here, in New York? she asked herself, feeling sick with nerves as she tried to control the small coffee cup and saucer from rattling in her trembling hands.

How could she have been such an idiot as to even think of agreeing to give a keynote speech at this financial seminar? Especially when she ought to have known that it would be attended by so many high-powered bankers and economists—all of whom were obviously far more intelligent and successful than she could ever hope to be.

However, as if able to read her mind, the elderly businessman gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

‘When you’ve been in the job as long as I have,’ he said, ‘you’ll realise that no one is so smart—or so clever—that he or she can’t learn something new, every day. So, don’t worry. I’m sure that you’ll do just fine,’ he added with an encouraging smile, before his attention was claimed by a group of corporate tax lawyers on the other side of the small ante-room.

Allowing a passing waiter to pour her another cup of strong coffee, Samantha made a determined effort to pull herself together. After all, she would never have been asked to speak at this prestigious conference if the organisers had felt she was likely to make a fool of herself. And besides, she was now in charge of her own team, in the UK pension fund department at Minerva Utilities Management, in London. Right? All the same...

Her gloomy, nervous thoughts were interrupted as she heard her name being called out by Candy, one of the assistants to the conference organiser, as she quickly wove her way towards Samantha through the crowd of people.

‘I’m so sorry that I had to rush off halfway through lunch!’ Candy exclaimed hurriedly. ‘Unfortunately, there’s been a bit of a problem with this afternoon’s seminar. The person who was supposed to be introducing your talk was taken ill late last night. So, my boss has been on the phone all morning, trying to find a replacement. However... it’s been sorted out now. And it’s all thanks to you,’ Candy added with a laugh. ‘You certainly seem to have some friends in high places!’

Feeling slightly bewildered by the rapid, breathless flow of words, Samantha struggled to make sense of what the other girl had been saying.

‘I don’t understand... What “friends in high places”? I hardly know anyone in New York.’

‘Oh, yeah? That’s not what I hear!’ Candy grinned. ‘So, what is it with you and the glamorous Mr Matthew Warner?’

‘Mr Matthew Warner?’ Sam echoed blankly, her brain in a complete daze for a moment as she stared open-mouthed at the dark-haired girl standing beside her. ‘Well... yes, I did once know someone of that name. But... but that was in England. And a very, very long time ago. I’m sorry, but I think... well, I really think you must be mistaken.’

‘Oh, really?’ Candy grinned again. ‘Well, it seems that Mr Warner certainly remembers you. In fact, he was categorically refusing to help us out until my boss faxed over your CV to his office. And then, what do you know? Hey Presto! His personal assistant phones to say that he’d be delighted to chair the meeting—and to renew his acquaintance with an old friend.’

Samantha’s head was still spinning as the other girl gave her a quick dig in the ribs.