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PROLOGUE

“THIS TRADITION OF not seeing the bride before the wedding is ridiculous I think it would be so much wiser if we just met up for one hour to help…ease our…nerves,” Rafe said with a seductive purr

“Met away fro you up on that offer, Mr Palazzo,” Ari replied with a giggle

“I can pull the fire alarested

His tone i just that The strange part was that Ari was actually considering it

“I think our parents would disown us,” she said

“I can live with that ”

“I love you, Rafe,” she told him, overco so badly to touch him, feel him there next to her She’d only been apart fro day — the day she would become his wife

She wanted to throw out all tradition and simply be in his arh she knew that the tirow and mature

“You are the center of my world, Ari,” he replied

It meant more to her to hear him say that than a simple I love you To be the center of a person like Rafe’s world was indeed a compliment

“After the wedding is over, I have a very special surprise for you,” she whispered as she glanced over at the bathroohtly shut

The breath rushed audibly from his mouth “What is that?”

Oh, the excite her fiancé

“For starters, what I’ dress wouldn’t even cover a Barbie doll,” she replied

“You’re going to give me a heart attack before I’m able to say my vows,” he whispered, strain in his voice

“I wouldn’t want to do that I couldn’t do a striptease for you then, and… Oh, I shouldn’t give it all away,” she taunted him

“That’s it! The alarht now ”

Ari didn’t want to argue She wouldn’tan hour in his arms Heck, she’d take fifteen minutes

Sandra knocked “Ari, I can hear you on the phone,” she said through the door “That’s cheating, young lady,” her mother added with a smile in her voice

“We’ve been busted, Rafe I guess you will just have to wait until tonight to see ée ”

“We’ll see about waiting that long I may not be able to stand it — just like I can’t wait to say my voith you ”

“Becoh for me ”

They hung up and Ari reluctantly left the bathrooe team who had been hired to make her perfect could continue to prep her Soon, she would be Mrs Rafe Palazzo The ht

CHAPTER ONE

PERFECT TIMING

Damned makeup Damned mirror Damned nausea

Up until this point she hadn’t felt even the slightest indisposition, but here it was, the day of her brother’s wedding, and she was suddenly overco afternoon She dropped the roaned heavily

“Please, just let h the ceremony Then we can tell the family all about you We don’t need toup all over your uncle Rafe’s polished new shoes,” Rachel said aloud

She had to se the fact that it was going to happen It see on to acceptance A to love this little creation she’d made by accident

It hadn’t taken her as long as she’d thought Only three and a half months Now, she couldn’t picture her life without this child

“I proh the wedding with no problems,” she offered with a chuckle

Didn’t all children want their very own pony? Well, she’d find out very soon whether the bribe worked

“Maybe our child wants his presence to be known to the world After all, he is the future king of Corythia and shouldn’t be hidden, even while still in the womb ”

Rachel froze as she peered into thejust inside the door to her rooe 2

Of course The day was just getting better and better

It wasto simply disappear Why make it easy for her and her unborn child? She should have known he wouldn’t have the patience to wait for a better time to seek her out

It was all about his schedule and as convenient to him This was one of the reasons she had refused to answer his calls — he was too damn impatient She didn’t knohat she wanted to do yet; she didn’t have any answers for hi just yet

“You weren’t invited here, Ian,” she said in her haughtiest tone She quickly regained her co him

“I didn’t ask for your per now Don’t you realize how rude that is?” he asked with irritation as he prowled about the roo

“I would say that you’re the one being rude I didn’t invite you to any wedding, much less my brother’s And I certainly didn’t allow you into the roo in ”

“You’ve apparently been coddled too long, because your”

Rachel gasped at his audacity and lack of self-awareness If her sto, she’d have shot to her feet to confront hiht a lesson on how to treat a lady He was no knight in shining ar in his case

“Yes, you are right, Ian Graziani, or I guess I should say Adriane, since even your name was a lie I have been very well taken care of my entire life because I have parents who adore me as I adore the, and I don’t have tiht with you today Leave now, and I will talk to you next week ”

Rachel’s choice of words and abrupt dish his eyes Well, tough, she thought They were having a child together, one she was carrying, and as long as he continued treating her like a servant, he’d have to get used to her attitude She didn’t submit well — not well at all

“I’ve been trying to be reasonable with you, Rachel, but you insist on acting like a spoiled brat I tire of this ga ” He stood directly behind her, lifted his hand and placed it on her shoulder as if he had a right to do so

He didn’t

Noas Rachel’s eyes that were blazing How dare he! Twisting around, she threw his hand off her shoulder

“Look, Ian I really don’t want to say so that can’t be taken back It’s more than apparent that you don’t have the saoes any further, I suggest you do as I’ve requested and make yourself scarce,” she said between clenched teeth

“I was invited here, Rachel — by your brother,” he told her sly

“Why in the world would he invite you?”

“We are friends I told you this already It seems you don’t listen when I speak Rafe and I have done business together for many years ”

“You didn’t te

ll him about the baby, did you?” She hated the hint of worry in her tone

Adriane paused He looked at her, his head slightly tilted as if assessing heras if she were under a aze seared her

“No I thought you should be the one to do it But you obviously have a difficult ti with your family,” he replied

“I do not!” Did this man have a death wish?

“Then why haven’t you said anything yet?”

“That is none of your business ” Because she was afraid of their reaction Their good little girl had screwed up Literally Why else wouldn’t she have told them?

“The fact that you carry my heir makes it very much my business ”

“Doesn’t the baby have to be a boy to be your heir?”