LUCY MONROE started reading at the age of four. After going through the childrenâs books at home, she was caught by her mother reading adult novels pilfered from the higher shelves on the bookcaseâ¦Alas, it was nine years before she got her hands on a Mills & Boon>® Romance her older sister had brought home. She loves to create the strong alpha males and independent women who people Mills & Boon>® books. When sheâs not immersed in a romance novel (whether reading or writing it), she enjoys travel with her family, having tea with the neighbours, gardening, and visits from her numerous nieces and nephews.
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email [email protected], or visit www.LucyMonroe.com
Recent titles by the same author:
ONE NIGHT HEIR (By His Royal Decree)
NOT JUST THE GREEKâS WIFE
HEART OF A DESERT WARRIOR
FOR DUTYâS SAKE
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âWHAT AM I looking at?â Demyan asked his uncle, the King of Volyarus.
Spread before him on the behemoth antique executive desk, brought over with the first Hetman to be made Volyarussian king, was a series of photos. All were of a rather ordinary woman with untamed, curly, red hair. Her one arresting feature was storm-cloud gray eyes that revealed more emotion in each picture than he would allow himself to show in an entire year.
Fedir frowned at the pictures for several seconds before meeting Demyanâs matching espresso-dark gaze.
Those who mistook Demyan for Fedirâs biological son could be forgivenâthe resemblance was that strong. But Demyan was the kingâs nephew and while heâd been raised in the palace as the âspare heir to the throne,â three years older than his future king, heâd never once gotten it confused in his own mind.
Fedir cleared his throat as if the words he needed to utter were unpalatable to him. âThat is Chanel Tanner.â
âTanner?â Demyan asked, the coincidence not lost on him.
âYes.â
The name was common enough, in the United States, anyway. There was no immediate reason for Demyan to assume she was related to Bartholomew Tanner, one of the original partners in Tanner Yurkovich.
Except the portrait of the Texas wildcatter hanging in the west hall of the palace bore a striking resemblance to the woman in the pictures. They shared the same curly red hair (though Bartholomew had worn it shorter), high forehead and angular jaw (though hers was more pleasingly feminine).
Her lips, unadorned by color or gloss, were a soft pink and bow-shaped. Bartholomewâs were lost beneath the handlebar mustache he sported in the painting. While his eyes sparkled with life, hers were filled with seriousness and unexpected shadows.
Bartholomew Tanner had helped to found the company on which the current wealth of both Volyarus and the Yurkovich family empire had been built. At one time, he had owned a significant share in it as well.
âShe looks like Baron Tanner.â The oilman had been bequeathed a title by King Fedirâs grandfather for his help in locating oil reserves and other mineral deposits on Volyarus.
Fedir nodded. âSheâs his great-great-granddaughter and the last of his bloodline.â
Relaxing back in his chair, Demyan cocked his brow in interest but waited for the king to continue rather than ask any questions.
âHer stepfather, Perry Saltzman, approached our office in Seattle about a job for his son.â Another frown, which was unusual for the king, who was no more prone to emotional displays than Demyan. âApparently, the boy is close to graduating university with honors in business.â
âWhy tell me? Maks is the glad-hander on stuff like this.â His cousin was also adroit at turning down requests without causing diplomatic upset.
Demyan was not so patient. There were benefits to not being raised a Crown Prince.
âHe is on his honeymoon.â Fedirâs words were true, but Demyan sensed there was more to it.
Otherwise, this could have waited. âHeâll be back in a couple of weeks.â
And if Mr. Saltzman was looking for a job for his son, why were there pictures of his stepdaughter all over the conference table?