Heâs a man of cool sophistication.
Heâs got pride, power and wealth.
At the top of his corporate ladder, heâs a
ruthless businessman. An expert loverâ heâs one hundred percent committed to staying single.
His life runs like a well-oiled machineâ¦.
Until now.
Because suddenly heâs responsible for a BABY!
His Baby.
An exciting new miniseries from
Harlequin Presents>®
Heâs sexy, successfulâ¦
and heâs facing up to fatherhood!
Rafaelâs Love-Child
by Kate Walker
Harlequin Presents>® #2160
WHEN she was certain the balcony was empty Joscelyn Hunter hid behind one of its pillars and let her smiling mask slip. For what seemed like hours sheâd laughed and chatted and circulated like the perfect guest. But enough was enough. It had been a test to come to the party alone tonight. But Anna was her oldest friend. Missing her engagement celebrations had never been an option.
The breeze was cool, and Joss shivered as it found her bare arms. Soon she could make some excuse and goâwhere? Home to the empty flat? She stared malevolently at the view, lost in angry reverie, until at last a slight cough alerted her to unwanted company. Joss turned with bad grace, to see a tall man with a glass in either hand.
âI watched you steal away.â The stranger held out one of the glasses. âSomething told me you might be glad of this.â
Because there was no way she could snap at one of Annaâs guests and tell him to get lost, Joss muttered perfunctory thanks and accepted the drink.
âWould you rather I left you to your solitude?â said the man, after a long silence.
Joss looked up into his face. A long way up, which was a novelty. âYouâve as much right to look at Hyde Park as me,â she said, shrugging.
âIâll take that as a no.â He touched his glass to hers. âWhat shall we drink to?â
âThe happy pair?â
He echoed her toast, but barely tasted his wine.
âYou donât care for champagne?â she asked politely.
âNo. Do you?â
She shook her head. âSecretly I detest the stuff.â
âYour secretâs safe with me,â he assured her.
Joss relaxed against the pillar, surprised to find she rather welcomed the manâs company after all. It was certainly preferable to her own. âAre you one of Hughâs friends?â
âNo.â He shrugged rangy shoulders. âIâm a friend of a friend. Who dragged me along.â
She looked him up and down, amused. âYouâre a bit on the large side to be dragged anywhere. Why were you unwilling?â
âIâm no party animal. But the friend disapproves of my social life. Or lack of it.â He leaned comfortably on the other side of the pillar. âAll work and no play is bad for me, he tells me. With monotonous frequency. So once in a while I give in and let him have his way. Donât drink that if youâd rather not,â he added.
âIâve been on mineral water so far. Maybe a dose of champagne will improve my mood.â She drank the wine down like medicine.
Her companion nodded slowly. âI see.â
She tilted her head to look at him. âYou see what, exactly?â
âIâve been watching you for some time. Noting your body language.â
She stared up at him in mock alarm. âWhat did it say?â
âThat somethingâs not right with your world.â
âSo you came charging to my aid with medicinal champagne.â She shook her head in pretend admiration. âDo you often play Good Samaritan?â
âNo. Never.â
âThen why now?â
He leaned closer. âVarious reasons. But mainly because Iâmâcurious.â
âAbout what, in particular?â
âThe mood behind the smiles.â
âIâd hoped I was concealing that,â Joss said gruffly, and turned away to stare across the park.
âNo one else noticed,â he assured her.
âI hope youâre right. The last thing Anna needs is a spectre at the feast.â
âAnnaâs a friend of yours?â
âOldest and closest. But too euphoric tonight to notice anything amiss.â
Her large companion moved until his dark sleeve brushed her arm, and to her astonishment Joss felt a flicker of reaction, as though heâd actually touched her.
âDo you live with Anna?â he asked.
âNo, I donât,â she said flatly, and shivered.
âYouâre cold,â he said quickly. âPerhaps you should go in.â
âNot yet. But you go, if you want.â
âDo you want me to?â
âNot if youâd prefer to stay,â she said indifferently, but hoped he would. In the dim light all she could make out was the manâs impressive height, topped by a strong-featured face under thick dark hair. But what she could see she liked very much.