One Night, Two Babies / Valente's Baby: One Night, Two Babies. Kathie DeNosky

      

       One Night, Two Babies by Kathie DeNosky

       From the desk of Emerald Larson, owner and CEO of Emerald, Inc

      To: My personal assistant, Luther Freemont

      Re: My granddaughter, Arielle Garnier

      My granddaughter, Arielle, has moved to Dallas, Texas, and successfully taken over Premier Academy for Pre-schoolers. But during my recent investigation to find her and her brothers, it was brought to my attention that she’s pregnant and has been unable to locate the baby’s father. I’ve been advised by the lead investigator that he’s Zach Forsythe, whose nephew attends Premier Academy. I have every reason to believe they will come face to face in the very near future. That said, I expect you to arrange whatever you deem necessary to accomplish my goal of bringing them together. Keep me informed of the progress.

      As always, I am relying on your complete discretion in this matter.

      Emerald Larson

       Valente’s Baby by Maxine Sullivan

       “Maybe you could have handled this differently, figlio mio”

      “You were the one who told me to marry her, Dad.”

      “Megan needed the Valente name. If you hadn’t, I would have found a way to force you.”

      “Yeah, like you did with Alex and Nick.”

      “Naturally.” There was a lengthy pause before Cesare spoke again. “What are you going to do now?”

      “I’m not sure,” Matt murmured, sounding distracted.

      Lana, standing in the doorway, felt as though her breath had been cut off. They were talking about her.

      And what was this about Alex and Nick? Cesare had forced them to marry their wives? He would have forced Nick to marry, too?

      God, how many lives were the Valentes prepared to wreck for the sake of the family name?

       Available in August 2010 from Mills & Boon® Desire™

      Claiming King’s Baby by Maureen Child & Wyoming Wedding by Sara Orwig

      Taming the Texas Tycoon by Katherine Garbera & One Night with the Wealthy Rancher by Brenda Jackson

      One Night, Two Babies by Kathie DeNosky & Valente’s Baby by Maxine Sullivan

      One Night, Two Babies

      By

      Kathie DeNosky

      Valente’s Baby

      By

      Maxine Sullivan

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      One Night, Two Babies

      By

Kathie DeNosky

      About the Author

      KATHIE DENOSKY lives in her native southern Illinois with her big, lovable Bernese mountain dog, Nemo. Writing highly sensual stories with a generous amount of humour, Kathie’s books have appeared on bestseller lists and received the Write Touch Readers’ Award and the National Readers’ Choice Award. Kathie enjoys going to rodeos, travelling to research settings for her books and listening to country music. Readers may contact Kathie at PO Box 2064, Herrin, Illinois 62948-5264, USA or e-mail her at [email protected]. They can also visit her website at www.kathiedenosky.com.

      This series is dedicated to Charlie, the love of my life.

      A special thank-you to Donna Swan, Carolyn Jordan and Lisa Swan for the Saturday Night Girls’ Club. You’re the best.

      Dear Reader,

      Last month you met the Garnier siblings, three more of Emerald Larson’s ILLEGITIMATE HEIRS, and with her help, watched Luke find true happiness with his executive assistant, Haley Rollins. This month, Emerald turns her unwavering determination and full attention to setting things right for Luke’s sister, Arielle.

      After spending the most exciting week of her life in the arms of Zach Forsythe, Arielle Garnier finds herself alone and facing the challenge of single motherhood. But when she unexpectedly comes face to face with Zach and he learns she’s pregnant with twins, he’s determined to do “the right thing” and make Arielle his wife.

      So please sit back and enjoy the ride as, once again, Emerald Larson helps one of her illegitimate heirs find true love in One Night, Two Babies.

      All the best,

       Kathie DeNosky

      Chapter One

      “Mrs. Montrose, I know what Derek did was wrong, but you have to give him another chance.”

      When Arielle Garnier looked up from her computer screen at the sound of the male voice, her heart came to a screeching halt. The man who just stopped inside her office doorway was the last person she ever expected to see again. And if the look on his handsome face was any indication, he was just as surprised to be coming face-to-face with her, as well.

      His vivid green eyes pinned her to the chair. He stared at her for several uncomfortable seconds before he finally spoke again. “I need to talk to the preschool’s administrator, Mrs. Montrose, about an incident involving Derek Forsythe. Could you please tell me where I could find her?”

      “Helen Montrose is no longer in charge here. She sold the school and retired a couple of weeks ago.” Arielle tried desperately to keep her voice even in spite of her jangled nerves. “I’m the new owner and administrator of Premier Academy for Preschoolers.”

      She took a deep breath and reminded herself to remain outwardly calm, even if his reappearance in her life did shake her all the way to the core. This was her territory and he was the one intruding. Besides, she’d rather walk barefoot across hot coals than allow him to think he still had any effect on her.

      When he continued to stare at her, she forced herself to ask, “Was there something you needed?”

      He finally shook his head. “I don’t have time to play games, Arielle. I need to speak with Helen Montrose as soon as possible.”

      The shock of seeing him again quickly gave way to anger that he didn’t believe she was the new owner. “I told you, Mrs. Montrose retired. And if you have business here at the school, you will have to deal with me.”

      He didn’t look at all pleased with the situation, but that was just too bad. She certainly wasn’t excited to be seated before the man who, three and a half months earlier, had spent a week loving her like she was the most desirable woman alive, then disappeared without so much as a backward glance. He hadn’t even had the decency to call or leave her a note.

      “All right,” he eventually said. She could tell he wasn’t happy, but instead of pressing the issue any further, he took a deep breath. “I suppose this would be a good time to reintroduce myself. My real name is Zach Forsythe.”

      Arielle’s heart felt as if it had fallen to her feet. Among his other transgressions, he’d lied to her about his name? He was really Zachary Forsythe, owner of the Forsythe resort and hotel empire? And if he was here to discuss Derek Forsythe, did that mean he was the little boy’s father? Was he married?

      Bile