The Prince's Secret Baby

by Christine Rimmer

  And didn’t Sydney look adorable? She was such a handsome woman. And she sat so close to Rule, holding his hand. And the glances those two shared…

  That. Yes. Exactly. Lili wanted that, what Rule and Sydney had. She wanted real love, strong love, true love, forever, with the right man.

  Unfortunately, that she would ever find the right man was looking less and less likely. Especially after what had happened with Alex.

  Really, how could she?

  With Alex, of all people?

  And now, just look at the mess she was in.

  Lili ate another almond cookie, whipped out another tissue and blotted up tears. Unceremoniously, she blew her nose.

  And then she sighed.

  Rule and Sydney. They looked so happy. They were so happy. And Lili was happy for them.

  Yes, it was true. She’d been something of a fool over Rule for all those years. He was so handsome and such a good man and he’d always treated her with warmth and affection. She’d let her vivid imagination carry her away. She’d dreamed of being Rule’s bride.

  She’d thought that she loved him. And she did love him. But now, at last, she understood that the love she felt for Rule wasn’t the kind of love a woman feels for the man to whom she binds her life.

  Again, Lili wondered if she would ever find that man.

  It was beyond doubtful. Maybe even impossible, given her current condition.

  Besides the cookies and the tissues, Lili also had her phone. It was on the bed beside her. She reached out and grabbed it and dialed the number she’d been putting off calling for too long now.

  She waited, hardly daring to breathe, as the phone rang. And rang. Finally, an answering machine picked up.

  Alex’s recorded voice said, “I’m not available. Leave a message.”

  She waited for the beep and then she said, “Alexander. You are the most exasperating man.” She wanted to blurt out the truth right then and there. But it wasn’t a good idea. Not on the phone. “Read the letter I sent you,” she said. “And then you’d better call me, Alex. We really do need to speak privately.” She waited some more. Maybe he was there, listening. Maybe for once he’d behave like a reasonable person and pick up the phone.

  But he didn’t. She heard the click that meant the machine had disconnected her.

  Very gently, she hung up.

  And after that, she just sat there, not even crying anymore, not even wanting another almond cookie, feeling terrible about everything. Wondering what was going to happen when her father found out.

  * * * * *

  Watch for Lili and Alex’s story,

  THE PRINCE SHE HAD TO MARRY,

  coming in November 2012,

  only from Harlequin Special Edition.

  The Anniversary Party

  Contents

  Chapter One by RaeAnne Thayne

  Chapter Two by Christine Rimmer

  Chapter Three by Susan Crosby

  Chapter Four by Christyne Butler

  Chapter Five by Gina Wilkins

  Chapter Six by Cindy Kirk

  Dear Reader,

  I am a big believer in celebrating milestones, and for Special Edition, this is a big one! Thirty years…it hardly seems possible, and yet April 1982 was indeed, yep, thirty years ago! When I walked into the Harlequin offices (only twenty years ago, but still), the first books I worked on were Special Edition. I loved the line instantly—for its breadth and its depth, and for its fabulous array of authors, some of whom I’ve been privileged to work with for twenty years, and some of whom are newer, but no less treasured, friends.

  When it came time to plan our thirtieth anniversary celebration, we wanted to give our readers something from the heart—not to mention something from our very beloved April 2012 lineup. So many thanks to RaeAnne Thayne, Christine Rimmer, Susan Crosby, Christyne Butler, Gina Wilkins and Cindy Kirk for their contributions to The Anniversary Party. The Morgans, Diana and Frank, are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary along with us. Like us, they’ve had a great thirty years, and they’re looking forward to many more. Like us, though there may be some obstacles along the way, they’re getting their happily ever after.

  Which is what we wish you, Dear Reader. Thanks for coming along for the first thirty years of Special Edition—we hope you’ll be with us for many more!

  We hope you enjoy The Anniversary Party.

  Here’s to the next thirty!

  All the best,

  Gail Chasan

  Senior Editor, Special Edition

  Chapter One

  by RaeAnne Thayne

  With the basket of crusty bread sticks she had baked that afternoon in one arm and a mixed salad—insalata mista, as the Italians would say—in the other, Melissa Morgan walked into her sister’s house and her jaw dropped.

  “Oh, my word, Ab! This looks incredible! When did you start decorating? A month ago?”

  Predictably, Abby looked a little wild-eyed. Her sister was one of those type A personalities who always sought perfection, whether that was excelling in her college studies, where she’d emerged with a summa cum laude, or decorating for their parents’ surprise thirtieth anniversary celebration.

  Abby didn’t answer for a moment. She was busy arranging a plant in the basket of a rusty bicycle resting against one wall so the greenery spilled over the top, almost to the front tire. Melissa had no idea how she’d managed it but somehow Abby had hung wooden lattice from her ceiling to form a faux pergola over her dining table. Grapevines, fairy lights and more greenery had been woven through the lattice and, at various intervals, candles hung in colored jars like something out of a Tuscan vineyard.

  Adorning the walls were framed posters of Venice and the beautiful and calming Lake Como.

  “It feels like a month,” Abby finally answered, “but actually, I only started last week. Greg helped me hang the lattice. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

  The affection in her sister’s voice caused a funny little twinge inside Melissa. Abby and her husband had one of those perfect relationships. They clearly adored each other, no matter what.

  She wished she could say the same thing about Josh. After a year of dating, shouldn’t she have a little more confidence in their relationship? If someone had asked her a month ago if she thought her boyfriend loved her, she would have been able to answer with complete assurance in the affirmative, but for the past few weeks something had changed. He’d been acting so oddly—dodging phone calls, canceling plans, avoiding her questions.

  He seemed to be slipping away more every day. As melodramatic as it sounded, she didn’t know how she would survive if he decided to break things off.

  Breathe, she reminded herself. She didn’t want to ruin the anniversary dinner by worrying about Josh. For now, she really needed to focus on her wonderful parents and how very much they deserved this celebration she and Abby had been planning for a long time.

  “You and Greg have really outdone yourself. I love all the little details. The old wine bottles, the flowers. Just beautiful. I know Mom and Dad will be thrilled with your hard work.” She paused. “I can only see one little problem.”

  Abby looked vaguely panicked. “What? What’s missing?”

  Melissa shook her head ruefully. “Nothing. That’s the problem. I was supposed to be helping you. That’s why I’m here early, right? Have you left anything for me to do?”

  “Are you kidding? I’ve still got a million things to do. The chicken cacciatore is just about ready to go into the oven. Why don’t you help me set the table?”

  “Sure,” she said, following her sister into the kitchen.

  “You talked to Louise, right?” Abby asked.

  “Yes. She had everything ready when I stopped at her office on my way over here. I’ve got a huge gift basket in the car. You should see it. She really went all out. Biscotti, gourmet cappuccino mix, even a bottle of prosecco.”

  “What about the tickets and the itinerary?” Abby had that panicked loo
k again.

  “Relax, Abs. It’s all there. She’s been amazing. I think she just might be as scarily organized as you are.”

  Abby made a face. “Did you have a chance to go over the details?”

  “She printed everything out and included a copy for us, as well as Mom and Dad. In addition to the plane tickets and the hotel information and the other goodies, she sent over pamphlets, maps, even an Italian-English dictionary and a couple of guidebooks.”

  “Perfect! They’re going to be so surprised.”

  “Surprised and happy, I hope,” Melissa answered, loading her arms with the deep red chargers and honey-gold plates her sister indicated, which perfectly matched the theme for the evening.

  “How could they be anything else? They finally have the chance to enjoy the perfect honeymoon they missed out on the first time.” Abby smiled, looking more than a little starry-eyed. Despite being married for several years, her sister was a true romantic.

  “This has to be better than the original,” she said. “The bar was set pretty low thirty years ago, judging by all the stories they’ve told us over the years. Missed trains, lousy hotels, disappearing luggage.”

  “Don’t forget the pickpocket that stole their cash and passports.”

  Melissa had to smile. Though their parents’ stories always made their honeymoon thirty years ago sound dismal, Frank and Diane always laughed when they shared them, as if they had viewed the whole thing as a huge adventure.

  She wanted that. She wanted to share that kind of joy and laughter and tears with Josh. The adventure that was life.

  Her smile faded, replaced by that ache of sadness that always seemed so close these days. Oh, Josh. She reached into the silverware drawer, avoiding her sister’s gaze.

  “Okay. What’s wrong?” Abby asked anyway.

  She forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

  “Late night with Josh?” her sister teased.

  Before she could stop them, tears welled up and spilled over. She blinked them back but not before her sharp-eyed sister caught them.

  “What did I say?” Abby asked with a stunned look.

  “Nothing. I just…I didn’t have a late night with Josh. Not last night, not last week, not for the last two weeks. He’s avoiding my calls and canceled our last two dates. Even when we’re together, it’s like he’s not there. I know he’s busy at work but…I think he’s planning to break up with me.”

  Abby’s jaw sagged and Melissa saw shock and something else, something furtive, shift across Abby’s expression.

  “That can’t be true. It just…can’t be.”

  She wanted to believe that, too. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Forget it. You’ve worked so hard to make this night perfect and I don’t want to ruin it.”

  Abby shook her head. “You need to put that wacky idea out of your head right now. Josh is crazy about you. It’s clear to anybody who has ever seen the two of you together for five seconds. He couldn’t possibly be thinking of breaking things off.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” she lied. Too much evidence pointed otherwise. Worst of all was the casual kiss good-night the past few times she’d seen him, instead of one of their deep, emotional, soul-sharing kisses that made her toes curl.

  “I’m serious, Missy. Trust me on this. I’m absolutely positive he’s not planning to break up with you. Not Josh. He loves you. In fact…”

  She stopped, biting her lip, and furiously turned back to the chicken.

  “In fact what?”

  Abby’s features were evasive. “In fact, would he be out right now with Greg buying the wine and champagne for tonight if he didn’t want to have anything to do with the Morgan family?”

  Out of the corner of her gaze, Melissa saw that amazingly decorated dining room again, the magical setting her sister had worked so hard to create for their parents who loved each other dearly. She refused to ruin this night for Abby and the rest of her family. For now, she would focus on the celebration and forget the tiny cracks in her heart.

  She pasted on a smile and grabbed the napkins, with their rings formed out of entwined grapevine hearts. “You’re right. I’m being silly. I’m sure everything will be just fine. Anyway, tonight is for Mom and Dad. That’s the important thing.”

  Abby gave her a searching look and Melissa couldn’t help thinking that even with the worry lines on her forehead, Abby seemed to glow tonight.

  “It is about them, isn’t it?” Abby murmured. Though Melissa’s arms were full, her sister reached around the plates and cutlery to give her a hug. “Trust me, baby sister. Everything will be just fine.”

  Melissa dearly wanted to believe her and as she returned to the dining room, she did her very best to ignore the ache of fear that something infinitely dear was slipping away.

  * * *

  “Hello? Are you still in there?”

  His friend Greg’s words jerked Josh out of his daze and he glanced up. “Yeah. Sorry. Did you say something?”

  “Only about three times. I’ve been asking your opinion about the champagne and all I’m getting in return is a blank stare. You’re a million miles away, man, which is not really helping out much here.”

  This just might be the most important day of his life. Who could blame a guy if he couldn’t seem to string two thoughts together?

  “Sorry. I’ve got a lot of things on my mind.”

  “And champagne is obviously not one of those things.”

  He made a face. “It rarely is. I’m afraid I’m more of a Sam Adams kind of guy.”

  “I hear you. Why do you think I asked you to come along and help me pick out the wine and champagne for tonight?”

  He had wondered that himself. “Because my car has a bigger trunk?”

  Greg laughed, which eased Josh’s nerves a little. He had to admit, he had liked the guy since he met him a year ago when he first started dating Melissa. Josh was married to Melissa’s sister, Abby, and if things worked out the way he hoped, they would be brothers-in-law in the not-so-distant future.

  “It’s only the six of us for dinner,” Greg reminded him. “I’m not exactly buying cases here. So what do you think?”

  He turned back to the racks of bottles. “No idea. Which one is more expensive?”

  Greg picked one up with a fancy label that certainly looked pricey.

  “Excellent choice.” The snooty clerk who had mostly been ignoring them since they walked in finally deigned to approach them.

  “You think so?” Greg asked. “We’re celebrating a big occasion.”

  “You won’t be disappointed, I assure you. What else can I help you find?”

  Sometime later—and with considerably lightened wallets—the two of them carried two magnums of champagne and two bottles of wine out to Josh’s car.

  “I, uh, need to make one last quick stop,” he said after pulling into traffic. “Do you mind waiting?”

  “No problem. The party doesn’t start for another two hours. We’ve got plenty of time.”

  When Josh pulled up in front of an assuming storefront a few moments later, Greg looked at the sign above the door then back at him with eyebrows raised. “Wow. Seriously? Tonight? I thought Abby was jumping the gun when she said she suspected you were close to proposing. She’s always right, that beautiful wife of mine. Don’t tell her I said that.”

  Josh shifted, uncomfortably aware his fingers were shaking a little as he undid his seatbelt. “I bought the ring two weeks ago. When the jeweler told me it would be ready today, I figured that was a sign.”

  “You’re a brave man to pick a ring out without her.”

  Panic clutched at his gut again, but he took a deep breath and pushed it away. He wanted to make his proposal perfect. Part of that, to his mind, was the element of surprise.

  “I found a bridal magazine at Melissa’s apartment kind of hidden under a stack of books and she had the page folded down on this ring. I snapped a quick picture w
ith my phone and took that in to the jeweler.”

  “Nice.” Greg’s admiring look settled his stomach a little.

  “I figure, if she doesn’t like it, we can always reset the stone, right?”

  “So when are you going to pop the question?”

  “I haven’t figured that out yet. I thought maybe when I take her home after the party tonight, we might drive up to that overlook above town.”

  “That could work.”

  “What about you? How did you propose to Abby?”

  “Nothing very original, I’m afraid. I took her to dinner at La Maison Marie. She loves that place. Personally, I think you’re only paying for overpriced sauce, but what can you do? Anyway, after dinner, she kept acting like she was expecting something. I did take her along to shop for rings a few weeks earlier but hadn’t said anything to her since. She seemed kind of disappointed when the dessert came and no big proposal. So we were walking around on the grounds after dinner and we walked past this waterfall and pond she liked. I pretended I tripped over something and did a stupid little magician sleight of hand and pulled out the ring box.”

  “Did you do the whole drop-to-your-knee thing?”

  “Yeah. It seemed important to Abby. Women remember that kind of thing.”

  “I hope I don’t forget that part.”

  “Don’t sweat it. When the moment comes, whatever you do will be right for the two of you, I promise.”

  “I hope so.”

  The depth of his love for Melissa still took him by surprise. He loved her with everything inside him and wanted to give her all the hearts and flowers and romance she could ever want.

  “It will be,” Greg said. “Anyway, look at how lousy Frank and Diane’s marriage started out. Their honeymoon sounded like a nightmare but thirty years later they can still laugh about it.”

  That was what he wanted with Melissa. Thirty years—and more—of laughter and joy and love.

  He just had to get through the proposal first.

  Chapter Two

  by Christine Rimmer

  “Frank. The light is yellow. Frank!” Diana Morgan stomped the passenger-side floor of the Buick. Hard. If only she had the brakes on her side.