Project: Runaway Bride

Project: Runaway Bride
Heidi Betts

“I’m sure you and your fiancé will work it out.

Especially now that he’s about to become a proud papa.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure Paul and I won’t be working out anything.”

Reid’s brows knit at that, but he kept his lips tightly shut. The sooner he distanced himself, the better.

“If running away from the wedding wasn’t enough to put an end to things, finding out about this baby sure as heck will be.”

He gave a snort of derision. He hadn’t meant to, it just sort of came out. “And why is that? I’d think good ole Paul would be even more eager to hustle you down the aisle now that you’re pregnant with his kid. Wouldn’t an illegitimate heir tarnish his sterling reputation?”

Juliet inhaled deeply, her chest rising as her lungs filled.

“That’s just it,” she said on a whisper of air. “It’s not his baby. It’s yours.”

* * *

Project: Runaway Bride is part of the Project: Passion series:

For these designing women, love is the latest look.

Project:

Runaway Bride

Heidi Betts

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

An avid romance reader since junior high, USA TODAY bestselling author HEIDI BETTS knew early on that she wanted to write these wonderful stories of love and adventure. It wasn’t until her freshman year of college, however, when she spent the entire night before finals reading a romance novel instead of studying, that she decided to take the road less traveled and follow her dream.

Soon after Heidi joined Romance Writers of America, her writing began to garner attention, including placing in the esteemed Golden Heart competition three years in a row. The recipient of numerous awards and stellar reviews, Heidi’s books combine believable characters with compelling plotlines, and are consistently described as “delightful,” “sizzling” and “wonderfully witty.”

For news, fun and information about upcoming books, be sure to visit Heidi online at www.heidibetts.com.

In memory of my grandmother,

Genevieve Gehrlein stock.

She absolutely hated what I do,

and this story probably would have upset her more

than most. But I like to believe that deep down,

she was still proud of me.

So like it or not, Gram, this one’s for you!

Contents

Chapter One (#u513c102c-c81e-5f29-88fd-19663226808d)

Chapter Two (#ubd9ee909-fffd-5425-bc07-5709e7260123)

Chapter Three (#u4d7e49f6-3ec4-5e7f-964a-8f695e8c1f77)

Chapter Four (#ue7d5e553-109b-5437-87da-2377d1aa0b46)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)

One

Juliet Zaccaro stared down at the little plastic wand she was clutching between shaky, white-knuckled fingers.

It was one of those kits that promised 100 percent accuracy. No doubts. No second-guessing. And that was definitely a giant blue plus sign, glaring back at her like a flashing Broadway marquee.

She was pregnant.

Her stomach tightened; her lungs following suit. Knees growing weak, she took a single stumbling step sideways and sank onto the closed toilet lid in a cloud of gauzy white crepe and tulle.

A laugh verging on hysterical tickled its way up her throat, but she tamped it down. Pressed her lips together to keep it from spilling out, because she knew if she didn’t, she might never stop.

It was her wedding day. Here she was in the cramped bathroom off the small-but-serviceable room at the rear of the church where she’d been getting ready, and she was very unexpectedly, very this-is-not-good-news pregnant.

She should have taken the test days ago rather than waiting until her hair and makeup were done and she was trussed up in her one-of-a-kind fairy-princess gown designed and hand sewn by her sister Lily. Hadn’t she suspected for more than a week now that the dizziness, the headaches, the upset stomachs were more than simply prewedding jitters? But she’d been so afraid she was right, so afraid she might actually be pregnant that she couldn’t bear to find out for sure.