The Royal Affair (The Palmera Royals) (15 page)

Oh dear God. Need, he said, not love.

Marina willed her heart to slow down. How could she say no to a man she loved so intensely that she could never love another? But she had to, because he hadn’t said the three little words she needed to hear above all else.

Say it. Please say it.

Suddenly, Jonas took her hands in his. He knelt down on one knee, and Marina’s heart definitely stopped this time. “What are you doing?”

“What I should have done three weeks ago but didn’t because I was a dumb fool who was a coward. But a tiny six-year-old taught me about being brave and taking chances.”

“Suzie?”

“Yeah.” He gave her a broad smile. His thumbs were caressing her hands, but nothing would distract her from this moment. “She’s a bright bunny. She knew I was sad.”

“It’s in your eyes,” she agreed.

“It’s in my heart too. Ever since you left, it’s been there, eating away at me. I was so scared, sweetheart. If I loved you, and you left like…”

“Shush.” She put her finger to his lips. “I’m not leaving.”

“That’s good, because I have something very important to say.”

“You better get on and say it, then, because I’ve got something important to say right back.”

“Princess Marina Rose Palmera, I love you. Would you do me the honor of marrying me, of becoming my wife and mother of Suzie and our other children?”

“Others?”

“Sure, we’re going to have a whole football team of kids.”

“That’s an awful lot.”

“Well, maybe a few. You’ve woken me up, Marina, and filled my heart. I’ve learned to let go of the past, the hurt, and to trust my feelings. So, Your Royal Highness, how about it?”

A bubble of laughter sprang from her throat. “Oh, Jonas, you do have a way with words.”

“Glad you like it, but do you think you could kinda hurry up with accepting me, because my knees are killing me!”

“Oh, you poor baby.” She tugged on his hands, and he stood up. “I loved you.”

“And I tossed it away by only offering a cheap, tawdry affair.”

“No, you didn’t toss it away, because it’s still there. I still love you, and the answer is yes.”

He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her bodily from the ground, and spun around with her. “Yes. She said yes!”

“Are you trying to tell the world?”

“Hell, yeah.”

Just then, there was a tap on the door, and without either of them answering it, Pierre entered. His eyes bulged, a hand instantly going to his hip. “Your Highness!”

“No, no, it’s all right, Pierre. Mr. Wilder has just made me the happiest woman in the world.”

“Excellent. It’s about time, Mr. Wilder.” And with that, Pierre did an about-face, walked right out and closed the door behind him.

“He seems happy.” Jonas chuckled. “And is it true you’re the happiest woman in the world?”

“Absolutely, because, Jonas Wilder, you’re my forever man.”

About the Author

Multi-published author Jane Beckenham lives in a tiny slice of paradise just north of Auckland, New Zealand. From her office she can watch the tuis and fantails flit about, along with families of pukeko and quails and a pair of lorikeets have taken up residence.

Along with the menagerie of bird life, are Jane’s husband of thirty plus years and two daughters, and her beloved dog, Bingo and new members, Barney and Fred the goats, and Daisy, a new puppy.

For the last ten years Jane has sat in her office every day, writing stories of hope and dreams that bring a smile to her face and hopefully her readers too. Romance, love and honor are the words in Jane’s tag line, and words she believes are the centre of all her romances.

Jane’s love of reading began as a child when she spent years in hospital. Those days inspired her dreams, which over the years have become a crucial part of her life. Dreaming of being able to walk again, then dreaming of her own happy after, and dreaming of becoming a mother, and subsequently adopting her daughters from Russia.
Come and dream a little while with Jane.

Visit Jane’s web site:
www.janebeckenham.com

Email:
[email protected]

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JaneBeckenham

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Look for these titles by Jane Beckenham

Now Available:

He’s the One

Secrets and Seduction

Romeo for Hire

The Palmera Royals

The Bachelor Prince

The only thing Ms. Fix-It can’t fix is her traitorous heart.

Of the many thrills Lucas Palmera has pursued, marriage isn’t one of them. Having witnessed how the death of his mother destroyed his father, Lucas considers love and matrimony too great an emotional risk. But Torrevna’s crown prince must marry—and soon—if he is to ascend the throne.

That doesn’t mean he’s not determined to put it off as long as possible. For that, he needs the cooperation of his indispensable personal assistant, Cassie Masters.

Cassie learned how to handle high-powered men by watching her social-climbing mother parade a string of them through her life—and vowing never to follow those footsteps. But when Lucas proposes Cassie act as his “fiancée” to fend off his meddling sisters, she’s in no position to refuse. After all, cleaning up Lucas’s messes is in her job description.

Trouble is, Cassie’s traitorous heart has always belonged to Lucas. And by the time she realizes she’s in too deep, her heart is pulling her headlong down a path she swore she’d never follow.

Warning: Contains a prince whose playboy ways conceal a tender heart and a long-suffering PA who’s determined to keep love off the schedule—especially her own. Toe-curling kisses and royal gossip included at no extra charge.

He wants to hate her, but a little lust wouldn’t hurt…

The only emotion Leah Grainger can muster when thinking of her dead husband is relief. Until she learns his gambling debt threatens her beloved farm and the child she wanted to protect from the rootless existence she grew up with.

The last straw? Her husband’s brother demands a meeting. When she charges into his office to tell him she won’t let another Grainger screw up her life, the startlingly handsome, former oil rig wildcatter goes for the jugular. He’s claimed legal guardianship of her daughter, bought her mortgage…and he’s moving in.

The final email Mac received from his suicidal brother blamed Leah for everything. If it’s the last thing he does, he plans to protect his niece. Even if it means using his millions to gain the upper hand. And hardening his heart against the beautiful Leah’s protests of innocence.

Yet something seems off. Leah is nothing like the uncaring woman his brother described. She’s warm, loving…and when a new threat to her child surfaces and she reaches out to him in need, his body won’t let him say no. Even when her last secret forces him to make a decision that exposes his most closely guarded possession. His heart.

Warning: Contains tug-your-heart love, raise-the-roof lust, a marriage of convenience and hot sex that will give a whole new meaning to the word “wildcatter.”

Virginity is Overrated

Taylor Sullivan doesn’t trust Cupid, but she plays one for a living. As a successful wedding consultant, she creates a couple’s ultimate fantasy—even though she’s never managed to create her own. And when her clients start asking her for wedding night advice, she’s sensible enough to know when to enlist help.

Cade Harper knows two things about women. They either abandon him, or use him as a walking bank. He doesn’t do commitment, and marriage is a dirty word—witness the string of broken hearts he’s left in his wake. Yet Taylor’s business proposition intrigues him. In exchange for one night of no-strings passion, she’ll develop a promotional plan for his business. Who could say no?

Never one to buy anything sight unseen, Taylor tests the waters with a kiss. In an instant she has the only answer she’s ever wanted—that Cade is the one she wants.

As business starts tumbling into pleasure, Cade finds himself falling hard and fast.

It’s a fantasy come true—if they can turn heartache into forever…

Warning: Contains explicit, straight-to-the-heart sex between a hopeless romantic heroine and an abandon-all-hope hero. No need to dress up for this party—just curl up with a glass of bubbly and a box of tissues!

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

Cincinnati OH 45249

The Royal Affair

Copyright © 2015 by Jane Beckenham

ISBN: 978-1-61923-008-8

Edited by Linda Ingmanson

Cover by Angela Waters

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: July 2015

www.samhainpublishing.com