Bianca Ferrari—ex-supermodel turned successful business woman—seems to have it all: beauty, brains and a career she loves. And she did it all by herself…through sheer force of will and ruthless determination. So when her life is suddenly turned upside down, it’s hard for her to admit that going it alone may not be an option…
A man who knows what she needs…
Sexy, rugged and down-to-earth, Trapper Kincaid has a knack for attracting all kinds of women—mostly the wrong kind. When he finds out that the exhaustingly independent and drop-dead gorgeous Bianca is in serious need of help, he knows he’s the man for the job. But Bianca isn’t going to make it easy…
Robin Kaye is a professional writer and winner of the Romance Writers of
America Golden Heart award for her first novel, Romeo, Romeo. Her
romantic comedies feature sexy, nurturing heroes and feisty, independent
heroines. She lives with her husband and three children in Mt. Airy,
Maryland.
Trapper sweet--talked
his way into Bianca’s office with a bouquet of flowers and chocolate. He liked
her receptionist, Terri. He’d talked to her several times when he and Bianca
had been seeing each other, and it didn’t sound as if she’d heard he was
persona non grata lately. He hoped he wasn’t getting Terri into trouble, but
damn, he didn’t know what the hell to do. Bianca’s doorman refused his bribe
the night before and wouldn’t let him into the building without announcing him
first. This was his only other option.
Terri had been easy. He
just dropped his sister--in--law Toni’s name, and she let him wait in Bianca’s
office. She even promised not to tip off Bianca and spoil his surprise. Then
she told him she wished her boyfriend was half as romantic, gave him a wink,
and unlocked Bianca’s office door.
He stepped into her
corner office, and the scent of Bianca hit him—-he was hard in a matter of
seconds. He digested the differences between her office and her apartment. Her
office was cool, modern, sleek, and so unlike her home. He’d been shocked when
Bianca invited him to her place, opened the door, and he saw the collection of
comfortable antiques—-not like something you’d see in a museum. No, it looked
like something you’d see in your grandmother’s house—-a feather--stuffed sofa
with an old quilt hanging over the back. Beautiful, yet comfortable pillows were
scattered everywhere. Low lighting from torchieres gave the place a romantic
glow. Rolled arms to drape a lover over, and sturdy oak tables in the kitchen
and dining room, perfect for dinner or sex—-one memorable evening, both—-added
to the reasons he’d fallen in love with the place.
Trapper took a seat
behind Bianca’s desk and pulled his cowboy hat low over his eyes to cut the
glare from the cold, hard--recessed lighting. He put his feet up and settled
for a long wait. Terri had told him Bianca had canceled her morning
appointments and was expected before noon. He sat back with his e--reader and
caught up on law journals, while trying to keep his dick at half--mast.
At eleven thirty the
door swooshed open. Bianca walked in, her black cape floating around her. Her
hair was longer than he remembered, and she had big bags under her eyes that no
amount of makeup could disguise. She looked beautiful, way too thin, and ill.
She still hadn’t noticed
him. She spun around, tossed her briefcase on the leather sofa, and turned her
back, tugging off her cape. She might have lost weight, but damn, she still had
the finest ass he’d ever seen.
He
put a smile on his face—-the one he was told made women swoon. He figured he
needed all the help he could get. He had a strong feeling she wouldn’t be happy
being ambushed, but what choice did she give him?
He walked around her
desk, leaned against it, watched, and waited for her to hang her cape—-a
difficult task since the darn thing had no sleeves.
She turned. The first
thing he noticed was that her breasts were larger, but maybe they just looked
that way since she’d lost quite a bit of weight.
His gaze headed south
and made an unplanned stop at her waistline. His smile froze. His jaw clenched.
Blood rushed through his ears, making his temples throb. Every muscle in his
body tensed.
Bianca—-his
Bianca—-was pregnant? Definitely pregnant—-past the point where a man would
wonder. Not ready--to--pop pregnant, but
just--about--time--for--maternity--clothes pregnant. He wasn’t sure how
pregnant that was, but shit, he was sure the baby she carried was his. He knew
it the second she spotted him grinning like the fool he was and flashed him a
guilty look. That was a nanosecond before what little color she’d had drained
from the beautiful face that haunted his every waking moment and his dreams,
leaving her looking like a corpse three weeks past her expiration date.
Bianca blinked, and her
wide, green eyes rolled back in her head.
Oh shit. He raced for
her.
Her long legs buckled,
and he caught her just before she hit the floor.
His heart didn’t beat
again until he felt her shallow breaths against his neck. He carried her to the
couch and laid her down, brushing the baby--fine hair off her face. He sat
beside her, waiting for her to wake up.
Trapper had heard
pregnant women sometimes fainted, but he didn’t think they passed out for this
long. It seemed like an eternity. He checked his watch. It had been less than a
minute. He took a deep breath, felt her pulse strong and steady on her neck,
and tried to keep the anger, terror, and helplessness out of his voice. “Come
on, sweetheart. Time to wake up.”
Nothing.
Panic scratched at his
insides like a feral cat trying to escape a trap.
She didn’t move.
Her
lips were pale. The blue veins stood out in her forehead.
She looked like death.
He ran to the door and
slammed it open. “I need some help here!”
In three strides, he
returned to Bianca’s side, took her cold hand, warming it between his. “Bianca,
sweetheart, please, just open your eyes.”
Terri
ran in. She took one look at Bianca and stepped back.
“She passed out.”
“I’ll get James.” She
ran from the room, screaming James’s name.
It
seemed like forever until James ran in. “What happened?”
“I was waiting for
Bianca when she arrived. She took one look at me and took a nosedive. I caught
her just before she hit the floor.”
“She pukes all the time,
but she’s never passed out that I know of.” He looked as panicked as Trapper
felt. He turned to Terri. “Call 9--1--1.” When she didn’t move, he screamed.
“Now!”
The
poor girl burst into tears and grabbed Bianca’s phone.
Trapper
placed Bianca’s hand on her belly, on top of the other resting there
protectively. He stared in wonder. They were having a baby. He was going to be
a father. He expected the fierce protectiveness, but he hadn’t expected the
fear or the joy or the awesome weight of responsibility that settled on his
chest. But most of all, he hadn’t expected the exhilarating feeling of knowing
that together they had created a child. A child he loved. A child he would give
his life for. A child who needed him.
His gaze rounded on
James. He wanted to pick the man up and toss him out of the floor to ceiling
window for allowing Bianca to get in this bad a shape. “What the hell happened
to her?” His voice was low, threatening, and a hell of a lot calmer than he
felt.
Terri’s eyes went wide,
and she skittered away.
James stood his ground
like a man preparing for a shoot--out. He arched a scholarly brow.
“Nothing
that won’t be remedied in five months. Where the hell have you been? Since I’ve
handled the first four months, you get her for the finale. The woman is a
full--time job. I recommend you clear your schedule.” He handed Trapper a copy
of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
“Here, you might want to read this. So far, Bianca’s only looked at the
pictures.”
3 comments:
I would like it to be a stranger who is sexy and wonderful.
I would probably choose a soldier, a guy that I didn't already know. This sounds like a great series. Thanks for having the giveaway.
A goodlooking stranger 20 years my junior.
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