Pregnant with the De Rossi Heir

At last he was to become a father.

‘But I was determined to keep the baby…even if I had to raise him on my own!’ Kate touched her hand to her chest, as if to calm her racing heart. ‘I wasn’t expecting you to support me even if I did manage to contact you. I was wary of seeing you again when we had only known each other for just a night.’

Raising the child on her own… The thought absolutely affronted his profound sense of honour and his duty to do what was right—not to mention the fact that this child would be the sole heir to his family fortune and all that Luca possessed! There was no way—no way on God’s earth—that Kate was going to raise the baby alone!

The day Maggie Cox saw the film version of WutheringHeights, with a beautiful Merle Oberon and a very handsome Laurence Olivier, was the day she became hooked on romance. From that day onwards she spent a lot of time dreaming up her own romances, secretly hoping that one day she might become published and get paid for doing what she loved most! Now that her dream is being realised, she wakes up every morning and counts her blessings. She is married to a gorgeous man, and is the mother of two wonderful sons. Her two other great passions in life—besides her family and reading/writing—are music and films.

Recent titles by the same author:

THE SPANISH BILLIONAIRE’S CHRISTMAS BRIDE

THE RICH MAN’S LOVE CHILD SECRETARY MISTRESS, CONVENIENT WIFE

BY

MAGGIE COX

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Tony with all my love

CHAPTER ONE

‘WELL, well, well… Look who it is!’

As the honeyed sea of that mesmerising voice reached her, washing around her ankles, threatening to pull her under, Kate Richardson stared in mute shock at the man facing her across the room. Her memory of his electric blue eyes having the power to dazzle like the most flawless glinting gemstones had not failed her, but she did not recall them having the ability to almost slice her in two even as he smiled. Uncurling her fingers from their death lock on the door handle, she knew her surprised expression must easily mirror his. But as she had barely any sensation of her facial muscles functioning at all Kate couldn’t have sworn to it.

‘Luca…’ All she could do right then was stare in wonder, because her mental faculties seemed frighteningly slow in catching up with her speech.

‘At least you remember my name.’

Did he really think she would ever forget it? ‘The agency sent me.’ Kate could barely find the words to explain her presence. ‘You—you need a secretary for the next few days…apparently.’ Her shoulders lifted in a nervous shrug.

His jaw hardened. No spare flesh spoilt its perfect symmetry—it was just jutting, formidable bone. ‘Dio! I know perfectly well what I need! Come in and close the door!’

Kate obeyed, unable to disregard his harsh-voiced command even if she’d wanted to. Inhabiting the same electrically charged space as this man was like being swept along by a powerful current she couldn’t fight, and for a moment the sensation of vulnerability this instigated was too real to combat. She’d had no idea he worked in London…none. But then what she did know about the provoking specimen of masculinity glaring at her from across the room she could probably commit to just a single sentence. In the breathtaking few hours they had spent together in Milan three months ago, they hadn’t exactly immersed themselves in personal biographies. They had been held in thrall by other, far more distracting discoveries about each other instead.

‘Sit down.’

His authoritative command ricocheted through the tensely strung atmosphere like a velvet gunshot. Swallowing hard, Kate pulled out the chair on the opposite side of the huge modern desk and sat. She was glad to. Her legs were suddenly about as substantial as flimsy threads of cotton.

The huge plate-glass window behind her interrogator reflected a stunning vista that included Big Ben and the London Eye, but the imposing landmarks didn’t distract her. How could they when they were in unfair competition with the artfully sculpted male visage before her? Kate’s heart soared and her insides fluttered as she recalled that she knew intimately that his incredible body was equally as artfully designed. And there had beenan altogether shocking and unexpected price topay for that intimate knowledge, she reflected soberly, and her stomach executed an unsettling cartwheel at the fact.

‘Why did you leave without saying goodbye in Milan? Do you usually treat your lovers so casually? Leaving them in the morning without so much as the good manners to at least wait until they are awake? Do you get some kind of strange satisfaction out of such behaviour?’

Dumbstruck, Kate stared, feeling her cheeks burn in indignation and shock. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Last time we met your hearing was not impaired in any way, as far as I can recall.’ His disdain was clearly intended to sting.

‘I’m just a little taken aback that you would believe I do that sort of thing regularly. Let me assure you that I don’t!’