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Christmas With Her Secret Prince
Nina Singh
Her last-minute plus one… Waitress Melina Osmon is dreading attending her work Christmas ball alone for the first time since her ex took everything from her. But a little Christmas magic brings her a saviour in the form of mysterious, gorgeous Ray…who has a secret of his own!
Her last-minute plus-one...
A prince in disguise!
Waitress Melinda Osmon is dreading attending her work Christmas ball alone for the first time since her ex took everything from her. But a little Christmas magic brings her a savior in the form of mysterious, gorgeous Ray. Yet the happy ending of Mel’s festive fairy tale is uncertain—Ray is Crown Prince Rayhan al Saibbi and soon he must choose: Mel, or duty to his kingdom.
NINA SINGH lives just outside of Boston, USA, with her husband, children, and a very rumbunctious Yorkie. After several years in the corporate world she finally followed the advice of family and friends to ‘give the writing a go, already’. She’s oh-so-happy she did. When not at her keyboard she likes to spend time on the tennis court or golf course. Or immersed in a good read.
Also by Nina Singh (#uc0f2ef26-0c5b-54e9-a156-6a3687cb6e1a)
Miss Prim and the Maverick Millionaire
The Marriage of Inconvenience
Snowed in with the Reluctant Tycoon
Reunited with Her Italian Billionaire
Tempted by Her Island Millionaire
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
Christmas with Her Secret Prince
Nina Singh
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-07834-4
CHRISTMAS WITH HER SECRET PRINCE
© 2018 Nilay Nina Singh
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)
To my two very own princes.
And my two princesses.
Contents
Cover (#u9a0e7e86-8d39-5414-aa32-91872c3f2cfe)
Back Cover Text (#u3e3246aa-bd91-5812-8fdc-e0bdbd2cbd52)
About the Author (#ucbe6d06d-7e6f-54a2-9b90-a577dc9baf35)
Booklist (#u2a13358a-781c-5ea4-bfee-5e2d96051ae9)
Title Page (#ue9519a14-002d-5d9b-b8bc-de7cb29638b7)
Copyright (#ubdf5e955-1b51-50c9-b7f6-ff75fb0023cf)
Dedication (#u66b296f2-4942-57aa-9428-f4390201cc2d)
CHAPTER ONE (#u6cde4c8d-892e-5ca6-ad3f-136784e6cd8c)
CHAPTER TWO (#uf3a92f17-167f-5771-b151-4a2b33a77bb3)
CHAPTER THREE (#udb435da9-24da-583c-8a7b-3480807b7599)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
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)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#uc0f2ef26-0c5b-54e9-a156-6a3687cb6e1a)
PRINCE RAYHAN AL SAIBBI was not looking forward to his next meeting. In fact, he was dreading it. After all, it wasn’t often he went against his father—the man who also happened to be king of Verdovia.
But it had to be done. This might very well be his last chance to exert any kind of control over his own life. Even if it was to be only a temporary respite. Fate had made him prince of Verdovia. And his honor-bound duty to that fate would come calling soon enough. He just wanted to try and bat it away one last time.
The sun shone bright and high over the majestic mountain range outside his window. A crisp blue stream meandered along its base. The pleasant sunny day meant his father would most likely be enjoying his breakfast on the patio off the four-seasons room in the east wing.
Rayhan found his father sitting at the far end of the table. Piles of papers and a sleek new laptop were mixed in with various plates of fruits and pastries. A twinge of guilt hit Rayhan as he approached. The king never stopped working. For that matter, neither did the queen, his mother. A fact that needed to be addressed after the events of the past year. Part of the reason Rayhan was in his current predicament.
This conversation wasn’t going to be easy. His father had been king for a long time. He was used to making the rules and expected everyone to follow them. Particularly when it came to his son.
But these days the king wasn’t thinking entirely straight. Motivated by an alarming health scare Rayhan’s mother had experienced a few months back and prompted by the troublesome maneuverings of a disagreeable council member, his father had decided that the royal family needed to strengthen and reaffirm their stability. Unfortunately, he’d also decided that Rayhan would be the primary vehicle to cement that stability.
His father motioned for him to be seated when he saw Rayhan approach.
“Thank you for seeing me, Father. I know how busy you are.”
His father nodded. “It sounded urgent based on your messages. What can I assist you with, son? Dare I hope you’re closer to making a decision?”
“I am. Just not in the way you might assume.”
Rayhan focused his gaze on his father’s face. A face that could very well be an older version of his own. Dark olive skin with high cheekbones and ebony eyes.
“I don’t understand,” his father began. “You were going to spend some time with the ladies in consideration. Then you were to make a choice.”
Rayhan nodded. “I’ve spent time with all three of them, correct. They’re all lovely ladies, Father. Very accomplished—all of them stunning and impressive in their own unique way. You have chosen well.”
“They come from three of the most notable and prominent families of our land. You marrying a prominent daughter of Verdovia will go far to address our current problems.”
“Like I said, you have chosen well.”
The king studied him. “Then what appears to be the issue?”
Where to start? First of all, he wasn’t ready to be wedded to any of the ladies in question. In fact, he wasn’t ready to be wedded at all.
But he had a responsibility. Both to his family and to the kingdom.
“Perhaps I shall choose for you,” the king suggested, his annoyance clear as the crisp morning air outside. “You know how important this is. And how urgent. Councilman Riza is preparing a resolution as we speak to propose studying the efficacy and necessity of the royal family’s very existence.”
“You know it won’t go anywhere. He’s just stirring chaos.”
“I despise chaos.” His father blew out a deep breath. “All the more reason to put this plan into action, son.”
The plan his father referred to meant the end of Rayhan’s life as he knew it. “It just seems such an archaic and outdated method. A bachelor prince choosing from qualified ladies to serve as his queen when he eventually ascends the throne.”
His father shrugged. “Arranged marriages are quite common around the world. Particularly for a young man of your standing. Global alliances are regularly formed through marriage vows. It’s how your mother and I wedded, as you know. These ladies I have chosen are very well-known and popular in the kingdom.”
Rayhan couldn’t argue the point. There was the talented prima ballerina who had stolen the people’s hearts when she’d first appeared on stage several years ago. Then there was the humanitarian who’d made the recent influx of refugees and their plight her driving cause. And finally, a councilman’s beautiful daughter, who also happened to be an international fashion model.
Amazing ladies. All of whom seemed to be approaching the king’s proposition more as a career opportunity than anything else. Which in blatant terms was technically correct. Of course, the people didn’t know that fact. They just believed their crown prince to be linked to three different ladies, and rumors abounded that he would propose to one of them within weeks. A well-calculated palace publicity stunt.
“As far as being outdated,” the king continued, “have you seen the most popular show in America these days? It involves an eligible bachelor choosing from among several willing ladies. By giving them weekly roses, of all things.” His father barked out a laugh at the idea.
“But this isn’t some reality show,” Rayhan argued. “This is my life.”
“Nevertheless, a royal wedding will distract from this foolishness of Riza’s.”
Rayhan couldn’t very well argue that point either. The whole kingdom was even now in the frenzied midst of preparing for the wedding of the half century, everyone anxious to see which young lady the prince would choose for himself. Combined with the festivities of the holiday season, the level of excitement and celebration throughout the land was almost palpable.
And Rayhan was about to go and douse it all like a wet blanket over a warming fire.
Bah humbug.
Well, so be it. This was his life they were talking about. He wanted to claim one last bit of it. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. Not this time. But this was a new experience for him. Rayhan had never actually willingly gone against the king’s wishes before. Not for something this important anyway.
“Well, I’ve come to a different decision,” he told his father. Rayhan made sure to look him straight in the eye as he continued, “I’ve decided to wait.”
The king blinked. Several times. Rapidly. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’d like to hold off. I’m not ready to choose a fiancée. Not just yet.”
“You can only postpone for so long, son. The kingdom is waiting for a royal wedding... We have announced your intention to marry. And then there’s your mother.”
Rayhan felt a pang of guilt through his chest at the mention of the queen. She’d given them all quite a scare last year. “Mother is fine now.”
“Still, she needs to slow down. I won’t have her health jeopardized again. Someone needs to help take over some of the queen’s regular duties. Your sisters are much too young.”
“All I’m asking for is some time, Father. Perhaps we can come to a compromise.”
The king leaned toward him, his arms resting on the table. At least he was listening. “What sort of compromise did you have in mind?”
Rayhan cleared his throat and began to tell him.
“Honestly, Mel. If you handle that invitation any more, it’s going to turn into ash in your hands.”
Melinda Osmon startled as her elderly, matronly employer walked by the counter where she sat waiting for her shift to begin. The older woman was right. This had to be at least the fifth or sixth time Mel had taken the stationery out simply to stare at it since it had arrived in her mailbox several days ago.
The Honorable Mayor and Mrs. Spellman request the pleasure of your presence...
“You caught me,” Mel replied, swiftly wiping the moisture off her cheeks.
