LITMIR.BIZ

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head shot back up. ‘I thought you’d gone quiet when we spoke but I just assumed it was because you were surprised when I said Ella was pregnant.’

      ‘It wasn’t Ella’s pregnancy that surprised me.’

      Oliver ran his hand through his hair. ‘Yeah, obviously.’

      He wrinkled his nose and a smile broke out on his face. ‘You and Sienna, really?’

      Sebastian was curious. ‘What’s so strange about me and Sienna?’

      Oliver threw up his hands. ‘It’s just...it’s just...she’s so... Sienna.’ He shook his head and laughed. ‘Your parents will hate her. She’d be their ultimate nightmare for a queen.’

      Sebastian felt a little flare of protective anger. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

      Oliver shrugged. ‘Where will I start? She’s a surgeon. She’s always going to be a surgeon. Sienna would never give up her job—she’s just too good and too emotionally connected. Surgery is in her blood.’ He was shaking his head. ‘As for tactfulness and decorum? Sienna’s one of the most straight-talking doctors I’ve ever known. She doesn’t take any prisoners. She wouldn’t spend hours trying to butter up some foreign dignitary. She’d tell them exactly what she expected of them and then move on to dessert.’ He tapped his fingers on the table and stared up to the left for a second. ‘It’s almost like you picked the person least like your mother in the whole world. Except for looks, of course. Your mother was probably born knowing she’d one day be Queen. I bet even as a child Sienna never played dress-up princesses or looked for a prince. She’d have been too busy setting up her dolls’ hospital.’

      Sebastian had been about to interrupt, instead he took a breath. Oliver had absolutely nailed it.

      Sienna was a career woman. His mother had always taken a back seat to his father in every way.

      Sienna hadn’t been scared to shout at him. He’d never heard his mother raise her voice in her life.

      Sienna hadn’t been afraid to be bold and take him up on his proposition. Her comment How about you listen to it all night instead? had haunted his dreams in every erotic way possible. His mother would have a heart attack if she ever knew.

      Just as well Sienna was a doctor really.

      The reality of his future life was starting to crash all around him. Sebastian didn’t panic. He’d never panicked. But he felt wary. If he didn’t handle things well this could be a disaster.

      Could Sienna McDonald really be the future Queen of Montanari?

      He leaned back and folded his arms. ‘She’s the mother of my child. Montanari needs an heir. It’s my duty to marry her.’

      Oliver raised his eyebrows. ‘Please tell me you didn’t just say that?’

      When Sebastian didn’t answer right away, Oliver shook his head. ‘More importantly, please tell me you didn’t say that to Sienna?’

      Sebastian ignored the comment. ‘Montanari needs change. Sienna will be just the breath of fresh air it needs. Who couldn’t love her? She’s a neonatal surgeon. She eats, breathes and sleeps her job. People will admire her intelligence. They’ll admire her dedication. I know I do.’

      Oliver started tapping his fingers on the table again. ‘And what does Sienna have to say about all this?’

      He was good. He was too good. He clearly knew Sienna well.

      ‘Let’s just say that Sienna and I are a work in progress.’

      Oliver let out something resembling a snort. He stood up again. ‘You’re my oldest friend, Sebastian, but I’m telling you right now, I’m not choosing sides. She’s one of my best doctors. Upset her and you’ll upset me.’ He gave a little shudder. ‘She’ll kill me when she finds out it was me that told you.’ He leaned against the wall for a second. ‘Why didn’t she tell you herself?’

      Sebastian shrugged slightly. ‘Timing, she says. I’d just got engaged.’

      Oliver rolled his eyes then narrowed them again. ‘And why didn’t you tell me that you’d got in a compromising position with one of my doctors?’ He wagged his finger at Sebastian. ‘Can’t trust you for two minutes. I’ll need to rethink this whole hospital-twinning thing. Can’t have us sending all our doctors over there to get seduced by Montanari men—royal or not.’

      Sebastian stood up. ‘I have a baby on the way. My priorities have changed.’ He headed to the door. ‘I’ll see you at the board meeting tomorrow—and for the press announcement.’

      Oliver gave a nod. He tipped his head to one side. ‘So, what’s your next plan?’

      Sebastian shot him a wide smile. ‘Charm. Why else be a prince?’

      * * *

      Sienna stuck her head outside the doors to the paediatric ICU, then ducked back inside, keeping her nose pressed against the glass. The tinsel taped to the window tickled her nose and partially blocked her view.

      ‘What are you doing?’ asked an amused Charlie Warren, one of her OBGYN colleagues.

      ‘I’d have thought that was clear. I’m hiding.’ Her ever-expanding belly was stopping her from getting a clear view.

      Charlie laughed. ‘And who are you hiding from?’

      ‘You know. Him.’

      ‘Him, who?’

      Sienna sighed and turned around, leaning back against the door.

      ‘Sebastian.’

      Charlie nodded slowly. ‘Ah...now I see.’

      Sienna brushed a lock of loose hair out of her eyes. ‘I see the Teddy’s super-speed grapevine is working as well as ever. He’s been here less than twenty-four hours.’

      Charlie leaned against the door with her and gave her a knowing smile.

      ‘What are you grinning at?’ she half snapped.

      She’d always liked Charlie. They got on well. All her colleagues had been so supportive of her pregnancy. She stared at him again.

      ‘There’s something different about you.’

      ‘There is? What?’ He had a dopey kind of grin on his face.

      She pointed. ‘That. You’ve got the same look that Oliver is wearing.’

      ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

      She poked her finger in his chest. ‘Oh, yes, you do. What’s her name?’

      She was definitely curious. She’d spent the last week so wrapped up with preparations for Christmas and trying to keep her energy up that she’d obviously missed something important. Charlie was a widower. For as long as she’d known him there had been veiled shadows behind his eyes.

      They were gone now. And it made her heart sing a little to see that.

      He gave her a sheepish smile. ‘It’s Juliet.’

      Sienna’s mouth dropped open. ‘No.’ Then she couldn’t help but grin. ‘Really?’ She got on well with the Aussie surgeon who’d performed in-utero surgery to save the life of a quad born at Teddy’s last week.

      His smile said it all. ‘Really.’

      She leaned against the door again. ‘Oh, wow.’ She flicked her hair back. It was really beginning to annoy her. ‘First Oliver and now you. Lovesick people are falling all over the place.’ She gave him a wicked glare. ‘Better phone Public Health, it looks like we’ve got an infectious disease here.’

      He nodded. ‘Don’t forget Max and Annabelle. This thing is spreading faster than that winter virus.’ He gave her a cheeky wink. ‘And from what I saw this morning at breakfast, others might

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