A Princess Under The Mistletoe

A Princess Under The Mistletoe
Leanne Banks

New York Times Bestselling AuthorHER ROYAL CHRISTMAS SECRETPrincess Sasha of Sergenia was born to rule, not change dirty diapers. But after threats force her family into exile, Sasha becomes "Sara," a nurturing nanny in Chantaine. Now, rather than having servants wait on her during holiday festivities, Sasha is caring for construction specialist Gavin Sinclair's children for Christmas. Baby Adelaide and five-year-old Sam win her heart, but their father makes her pulse pound….For Gavin, "Sara" is a holiday miracle. Since his late wife died in childbirth, Gavin has struggled to keep his life afloat and his family together. This unexpected addition has brightened his world—and made him wonder if love might be on the horizon. He knows the mysterious nanny has secrets aplenty. But is true love enough to create a fairy-tale ending under the mistletoe for the sexy single dad and the lovely royal?

Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and found Gavin staring at her.

He crooked a finger at her and then pointed toward the hallway. She followed him outside the door of Sam’s bedroom.

“That’s a first,” Gavin said. “In six months. Sam has been coming into my bedroom and staring at me, making sure I’m not going to leave him forever. The way, in his eyes, his mother did.”

Her heart twisted at his words. “He’s had a hard time. You’ve all had a hard time.”

Gavin gave a slow nod, and she was all too aware of his height, his power, his masculinity. “Yeah, we have. Who would have known a sound machine would make such a difference?”

She shrugged, knowing that a sound machine was the secret to a night of sleep for her. “Yeah. Who would have known?”

“Thank you,” he said, and lowered his head toward hers.

She caught her breath.

He squeezed her arm. “Get some sleep.”

Sara nearly collapsed in a combination of relief and strange disappointment. She stared after him and felt a flip in her stomach. Yes, she definitely needed more sleep.

* * *

Royal Babies:

A new generation of

little princes—and princesses!

A Princess Under the Mistletoe

Leanne Banks

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

LEANNE BANKS is a New York Times bestselling author with over sixty books to her credit. A book lover and romance fan from even before she learned to read, Leanne has always treasured the way that books allow us to go to new places and experience the lives of wonderful characters. Always ready for a trip to the beach, Leanne lives in Virginia with her family and her Pomeranian muse.

This book is dedicated to all the single parents and all the people who step in to help when things get crazy. You are everyday heroes!

Contents

Cover (#uf51d5d43-f5c2-537e-9d2c-74b1050ca353)

Introduction (#ua43d64e1-6bf2-5d68-87f6-e4e6138af583)

Title Page (#uf527cfae-09de-5d51-a801-1aeb023554f4)

About the Author (#u139e8a17-d004-5627-a1c8-6a6b6be5e411)

Dedication (#u8692fefa-cf52-57bf-b049-598b3b8e8c70)

Prologue (#ulink_536b5a1f-246c-59ba-a5a7-08798dbe585d)

Chapter One (#ulink_2af948a4-9064-5be5-a2c1-23d80a662acc)

Chapter Two (#ulink_af2d9efa-a20b-5d4a-bb27-09ee3c447c8c)

Chapter Three (#ulink_77cc91fa-c743-5291-abea-b28c7636b06e)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

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)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue (#ulink_889e879c-209c-5105-85ab-aed9f5c3ff1a)

“Your Highness, Princess Fredericka Devereaux, please allow me to introduce you to Princesses Sasha and Tabitha Tarisse,” Paul Hamburg said as the beautiful princess who had arranged for Sasha and her sister’s safety swept into the room.

Sasha stood and dragged her younger sister to her feet. The past few months had been nonstop terror for her and the rest of her family, the royal Tarisses of Sergenia. Her country had suffered a terrible economic downturn during the past three years, and the citizens had grown angry and impatient. Just lately they’d turned their anger and frustration against the royal family. There’d been threats. Sasha had barely escaped a beating and her sister Tabitha had nearly been kidnapped.

As much as Sasha had despised the idea of leaving her country, her brother, Alexander, had convinced her that all of them must leave, at least temporarily. One of the royal advisors had negotiated with Princess Fredericka for the Tarisse siblings to come to Chantaine, a peaceful Mediterranean island country.

“Please call me Ericka,” she said, moving toward the two women. “You must be tired. Would you like some tea?” she asked.

“Yes, please,” Sasha said, hoping she’d made the right choice about coming to Chantaine. She and her sister had left everything familiar to them back in Sergenia. What if this move was a disaster? Despite Princess Ericka’s cool, blond beauty, the woman’s eyes held a world of compassion.