The Paternity Claim

The Paternity Claim
Sharon Kendrick

Mills & Boon are proud to present a thrilling digital collection of all Sharon Kendrick’s novels and novellas for us to celebrate the publication of her amazing 100th book! Many of these books are available as e books for the first time.Bound by goldBeautiful Isabella De Gracas’ first love affair ended in disaster. Pregnant and alone, she returns to England…to the only man she trusts enough to help her: Paulo Dantas, the brooding Brazilian she met the year before.Widower Paulo is unprepared for the compelling changes in Isabella since he last saw her and is determined to protect his family friend. He has the perfect solution that could help them both… He will claim paternity of her child…with his ring!

“Can you understand why I ran to England, Paulo?”

“Yes, I can.” He nodded his head slowly. “But you’ve compromised me now, haven’t you, querida? Your father is convinced that I sired your baby. And to tell him otherwise would risk the kind of commotion you’re anxious to avoid.”

“So what do I do?”

His eyes glittered as he considered her question, the memory of her kiss still sweet on his mouth. “You stay here. With me. And after the baby is born, well, then…” He shrugged as he gave his rare and sexy smile.

“Then what?” Isabella questioned slowly. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

“Why, then we could enjoy our mutual passion, Bella,” he purred, seeing the darkening in her eyes. “After all, why should I take all of the responsibility of impending paternity, but with none of the corresponding pleasure? Live here. With me. And we will become lovers.”

Lovers.

Dear Reader (#udba95c75-b5a0-5baa-99a9-fcc1b1649662),

One hundred. Doesn’t matter how many times I say it, I still can’t believe that’s how many books I’ve written. It’s a fabulous feeling but more fabulous still is the news that Mills & Boon are issuing every single one of my backlist as digital titles. Wow. I can’t wait to share all my stories with you - which are as vivid to me now as when I wrote them.

There’s BOUGHT FOR HER HUSBAND, with its outrageously macho Greek hero and A SCANDAL, A SECRET AND A BABY featuring a very sexy Tuscan. THE SHEIKH’S HEIR proved so popular with readers that it spent two weeks on the USA Today charts and…well, I could go on, but I’ll leave you to discover them for yourselves.

I remember the first line of my very first book: “So you’ve come to Australia looking for a husband?” Actually, the heroine had gone to Australia to escape men, but guess what? She found a husband all the same! The man who inspired that book rang me up recently and when I told him I was beginning my 100

story and couldn’t decide what to write, he said, “Why don’t you go back to where it all started?”

So I did. And that’s how A ROYAL VOW OF CONVENIENCE was born. It opens in beautiful Queensland and moves to England and New York. It’s about a runaway princess and the enigmatic billionaire who is infuriated by her, yet who winds up rescuing her. But then, she goes and rescues him… Wouldn’t you know it?

I’ll end by saying how very grateful I am to have a career I love, and to thank each and every one of you who has supported me along the way. You really are very dear readers.

Love,

Sharon xxx

Relax and enjoy our fabulous series about couples whose passion ends in pregnancies…sometimes unexpected! Of course, the birth of a baby is always a joyful event, and we can guarantee that our characters will become wonderful moms and dads—but what happened in those nine months before?

Share the surprises, emotions, drama and suspense as our parents-to-be come to terms with the prospect of bringing a new baby into the world. All will discover that the business of making babies brings with it the most special love of all….

Delivered only by Mills & Boon Presents

Mills & Boon are proud to present a thrilling digital collection of all Sharon Kendrick’s novels and novellas for us to celebrate the publication of her amazing and awesome 100th book! Sharon is known worldwide for her likeable, spirited heroines and her gorgeous, utterly masculine heroes.

SHARON KENDRICK once won a national writing competition, describing her ideal date: being flown to an exotic island by a gorgeous and powerful man. Little did she realise that she’d just wandered into her dream job! Today she writes for Mills & Boon, featuring her often stubborn but always to-die-for heroes and the women who bring them to their knees. She believes that the best books are those you never want to end. Just like life…

The Paternity Claim

Sharon Kendrick

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

To Maria das Gracas Fish of the Brazilian Embassy,

London, with thanks for showing me how vibrant

and exuberant Brazilian people can be.

CONTENTS

Cover (#u2c7dfb6c-b6cd-5650-8024-855444f62743)

Extract (#u8aa653a5-0fca-517c-932a-7e4ef3d79c14)

Dear Reader (#u4609481c-9647-537e-b622-9b130e07b585)

About the Author (#ua0665394-7fe2-510f-ba8e-eeea7165b1b2)

Title Page (#uaed3c68d-de35-5c46-8600-b03b34e54a12)

Dedication (#uc6c09e35-a5d0-5dc5-bc11-1ff0e2eb78fa)

CHAPTER ONE (#u7155941f-599d-5b00-93b4-60118ea500a2)

CHAPTER TWO (#u17fe112a-9886-5d93-9314-95f00369236b)

CHAPTER THREE (#u30f73b94-6954-5393-a3fb-158730924e6c)

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)