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The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy
CAROL MARINELLI
She gave him her innocence…Now she’ll be his convenient bride!Wherever ruthless billionaire Ethan Devereux goes, the press follow. So when he discovers the astonishing night he shared with talented actress Merida ended in pregnancy, he moves fast to contain the scandal. Suddenly Merida lands the biggest role of her career—playing the part of the loving Mrs. Devereux. But she knows the real challenge is pretending she can walk away from their electric chemistry…Feel the chemistry in this pregnancy romance!
She gave him her innocence...
Now she’ll be his convenient bride!
Wherever ruthless billionaire Ethan Devereux goes, the press follow. So when he discovers the astonishing night he shared with talented actress Merida ended in pregnancy, he moves fast to contain the scandal. Suddenly Merida lands the biggest role of her career—playing the part of the loving Mrs. Devereux. But she knows the real challenge is pretending she can walk away from their electric chemistry...
Feel the chemistry in this pregnancy romance!
CAROL MARINELLI recently filled in a form asking for her job title. Thrilled to be able to put down her answer, she put ‘writer’. Then it asked what Carol did for relaxation, and she put down the truth—‘writing’. The third question asked for her hobbies. Well, not wanting to look obsessed, she crossed her fingers and answered ‘swimming’—but, given that the chlorine in the pool does terrible things to her highlights, I’m sure you can guess the real answer!
Also by Carol Marinelli (#uf7033259-0a1a-5a8e-9f9b-2a541cab7f40)
Their Secret Royal Baby
Their One Night Baby
Claiming His Hidden Heir
Billionaires & One-Night Heirs miniseries
The Innocent’s Secret Baby
Bound by the Sultan’s Baby
Sicilian’s Baby of Shame
Ruthless Royal Sheikhs miniseries
Captive for the Sheikh’s Pleasure
Christmas Bride for the Sheikh
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
The Innocent’s Shock Pregnancy
Carol Marinelli
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-07269-4
THE INNOCENT’S SHOCK PREGNANCY
© 2018 Carol Marinelli
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Contents
Cover (#u571c6aa6-06dc-5574-8553-0472c9e830d2)
Back Cover Text (#ud6af4b96-28a7-52ce-9d63-ab3bf9c39c72)
About the Author (#u4cbd79ee-da70-522f-957f-a33482bc34d7)
Booklist (#u3b7a2276-461a-588c-8347-6c2308c78fc9)
Title Page (#u82ca8aa0-7785-5cb8-820f-c65e752abbc1)
Copyright (#u75bda73b-eee1-5849-a134-ed2cb73bcfb0)
CHAPTER ONE (#ub14b6e25-6240-517e-b318-04a03a16735f)
CHAPTER TWO (#ud4bd6720-d6c1-5fd1-84e0-209f0936fa71)
CHAPTER THREE (#u203d187b-9374-5426-bac7-ae49c1c5ae31)
CHAPTER FOUR (#u9ac0ed5f-3f5f-55b0-a937-4187e292815e)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#uf7033259-0a1a-5a8e-9f9b-2a541cab7f40)
‘MERIDA! THANK GOODNESS you’re here!’
Reece was clearly relieved as Merida stepped into the smart Fifth Avenue gallery.
A spring shower had chased her from the subway and, having dashed out of her apartment at short notice to get there, Merida hadn’t brought an umbrella. Her long red curls were looking particularly wild, but there should be time to sort them before he arrived, she thought.
Merida Cartwright’s smile was so bright and engaging no one would guess that stepping in at the last moment to give some VIP a private tour of the gallery was the very last thing she wanted to be doing this evening.
While she might be a gallery assistant by day, Merida was an actress by night—and also by heart. From England, she had come to New York with Broadway in mind and had given herself a year to make it.
Now, ten months in, her time and her savings were fast running out.
She needed money, and although she had an important audition tomorrow, and would prefer to be in her tiny apartment preparing for it, she smiled. ‘It’s honestly not a problem, Reece.’
‘I had just started to lock up when Helene called.’
‘Helene?’
‘Ethan Devereux’s PA. I can’t believe that he’s coming to visit the gallery and I shan’t be here to show him around.’
‘It will be fine.’ Reece was highly strung and Merida did her best to calm him. ‘What time is your flight?’
‘At nine. If I’m going to make it then I have to leave soon.’
Reece made no move to go, though. Instead he fussed over details.
‘You’ve read through the manual I sent you on the amulets?’
‘Of course I have.’ Merida nodded as she undid the belt of her trench coat. In fact, she had been the one who had set up the amulet display.
‘This has to go well, Merida. I tried to suggest to Helene that he visit the gallery once I’m back from Egypt, but she was adamant that he wanted to see the display tonight. It would be madness to turn down a Devereux. One bad word from him and we’re sunk.’
‘Really?’ Merida frowned. ‘Just who is he?’
Reece let out a disbelieving laugh, but then righted himself. ‘Of course—at times I forget you’re from England and won’t have grown up being fed every detail of the Devereux family’s lives. Basically, the Devereux family are our landlords, darling.’
‘They own the building?’
‘They own half of the East Side and more besides. They’re NYC royalty. There’s the father—Jobe—and his two sons, Ethan and Abe. And all are utter bastards...’
‘That’s not nice.’
‘They’re not nice,’ Reece countered. ‘Oh, poor Elizabeth...’
‘Who?’
‘Elizabeth Devereux—Jobe’s wife. Well, second wife, and mother to his sons. She was an absolute angel, and for a while they were almost a happy family.’ Reece needlessly checked the door to make sure they were alone. ‘Apparently she found out Jobe was having another affair.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Usually Elizabeth turned a blind eye, but rumour has it that this particular time it was with the nanny.’
‘They broke up?’
‘No, she fled to the Caribbean to heal, the poor thing, and died in a water-skiing accident. Since then the Devereux men have reeled from one scandal to the next. Don’t let Ethan’s unquestionable good looks dazzle you—he’d happily crush you in the palm of his hand.’
Merida winced.
‘Now, there’s champagne on ice. Pop the cork as soon as you see his car. I’ve had hors d’oeuvres from Barnaby’s sent over...’
‘How many guests is he bringing?’ Merida checked.
‘I’m not sure. Probably it’s just his latest, so I’ve set up for two. I had a quick look online, to try and find out who she might be, but I got lost in the quagmire so you’ll just have to wing it. Oh, and Gemma’s brought you in one of her dresses to wear. It’s out the back.’
‘Pardon?’ Merida’s green eyes narrowed. She was unsure if she’d heard that right. Reece had never told her what to wear before.
‘It’s just a simple black dress. And Gemma’s also loaned you some pearls.’
‘What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?’
Merida had on a gorgeous Buchanan tartan kilt. It was possibly a little short, but she had on black tights and suede boots and it was topped with a simple black jumper. It went well with her colouring and was her favourite outfit—one that she usually saved for auditions. But, given the important guest, she had made an extra effort this evening.
‘You look fabulous,’ Reece attempted. ‘Merida, you always do. But while for the most part I’m happy to overlook your little eccentricities, with Ethan Devereux descending...’
‘Eccentricities?’ Merida frowned.
But Reece refused to be drawn and quickly changed the subject. ‘Look, I really do appreciate this, Merida,’ he said as he pulled up the handle on his suitcase. ‘I’m sure there is some guy who hates me for calling you in to work tonight.’
Merida gave a non-committal smile. She had decided long ago that she would not be discussing her love-life with Reece. Or rather the absolute lack of it.
‘And once Ethan’s gone,’ Reece said as he went through the door, ‘would you mind updating the website? Clint didn’t get around to it.’
