The Secret That Shocked De Santis
How is she going to tell him?Army lieutenant Stella Zambrano has the surprise of her life when a routine medical check reveals that she’s pregnant. Tapping into survival mode, the headstrong beauty only has two things on her mind:1. Knowing she must conceal the father’s identity.2. Wondering what it means for the career she’s worked so hard for.Because Stella’s baby bombshell is the result of one shockingly sensual afternoon on a deserted beach with Prince Eduardo De Santis. And with an out-of-wedlock heir on the cards Stella knows the playboy Prince will demand marriage!
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Eduardo lifted away from the door and walked towards her with long, easy strides that belied the speed and strength she knew he had. His expression was too leashed to be anything like reassuring.
This wasnât the suave, gleaming-eyed Prince Charming whom the public adored. This was a coldly angry stranger, carved from granite. This was a side of him Stella had never seen.
Yet even now, despite his iciness, that sensual intensity still emanated from every inch of him. In seconds she was so close to succumbing to it again.
And that scared her more than anything.
He walked closer, his gaze never leaving her face, restraint evident in his too measured movements and the compression of his mouth. But for a second heâd looked furious.
It was only with supreme self-discipline that she suppressed the instinct to step back. Just beneath her skin her blood simmered, almost humming in delight from his nearness. It was insane, and she hated her foolishness. How could she be so weak when the result of this want had just ruined her world? And yet that wilful, wicked, reckless part of her only wanted him to touch her again. Touch her and make her forget the world, as heâd done so easily once before.
Mercifully, he didnât. He stopped a single pace away, his muscles taut, his stance wide and predatoryâas if he suspected she might try to escape at any second.
âStella Zambrano,â he said softly, but through gritted teeth. His intense lapis lazuli eyes sharpened, hardened, chilled. And his words stabbed. âWelcome to Secreto Real. We will be married here tomorrow.â
These powerful princes request your presence before
Destined for the crown, tempted to rebel!
Crown Prince Antonio and his wayward brother Prince Eduardo have grown up in the shadow of the San Felipe throne. Now, with their royal destinies fast approaching, the rebel Princes must choose their path.
Theyâve always resisted expectation, so the kingdom waits with bated breath to discover if the San Felipe heirs will be dictated to by duty or ruled by desire â¦
The Secret That Shocked De Santis
March 2016
And look out for
Crown Prince Antonioâs story coming soon from Mills & Boon Modern Romance!
NATALIE ANDERSON adores a happy endingâwhich is why she always reads the back of a book first. Just to be sure. So you can be sure youâve got a happy ending in your hands right nowâbecause she promises nothing less. Along with happy endings she loves peppermint-filled dark chocolate, pineapple juice and extremely long showers. Not to mention spending hours teasing her imaginary friends with dating dilemmas. She tends to torment them before eventually relenting and offeringâyou guessed itâa happy ending. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, with her gorgeous husband and four fabulous children.
If, like her, you love a happy ending, be sure to come and say hi on Facebookâfacebook.com/authornatalieaâfollow @authornataliea on Twitter, or visit her website/blog at natalie-anderson.com.
For the fabulous Flo. Thank you for being such an awesome editor and giving me such supportâthereâd be no book without you!
Contents
STELLA ZAMBRANO FELT as if she was sitting outside the principalâs office, knowing she was in trouble without a clue as to why. All she could do was wait and try not to think the worst.
The military wing of the San Felipe palace was designed to impress and to intimidate. It succeeded in both. The vaulted ceilings were metres high, the floors tiled in a headache-inducing intricate mathematical pattern, and the walls plastered with gold-framed portraits of the De Santis predecessorsâprinces, military leaders, powerful men.
San Felipe, a famed island principality in the heart of the Mediterranean, was currently ruled by Crown Prince Antonio De Santis. Austere, yet beloved, and devoted to duty, Antonio was aided by his charming, utterly adored younger brother, Eduardo. The public face of San Felipe, risk-taking, suave Prince Eduardo almost single-handedly kept the tourism industry afloat.
The most recent portrait in the vast room depicted the two brothers standing side by side in full military regalia. It hung on the wall directly opposite, dominating Stellaâs field of vision. She opted to stare at the floor. The sweat on her back iced. She desperately hoped the Princes were not present in the palace today.
âLieutenant Zambrano?â
She looked up as her name was called.
âThe General will see you now.â
Finally.
Stella searched the Captainâs face for clues, but saw that if he were any more expressionless heâd be dead. She was uncomfortable, conscious that she ought be wearing her sharply pressed midnight-blue trousers and a starched white shirt, topped with her gold-trimmed blue jacket. Her brass should be gleaming, her ribbons immaculate, her star straight on her shoulder. Instead she was wearing sweat-stained fatigues and muddied boots.
