LITMIR.BIZ

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Tina Leonard is a bestselling author of more than forty projects, including a popular thirteen-book miniseries for Harlequin American Romance. Her books have made the Waldenbooks, Ingram and Nielsen BookScan bestseller lists. Tina feels she has been blessed with a fertile imagination and quick typing skills, excellent editors and a family who loves her career. Born on a military base, she lived in many states before eventually marrying the boy who did her crayon printing for her in the first grade. Tina believes happy endings are a wonderful part of a good life. You can visit her at www.tinaleonard.com.

      Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Epilogue

      Prologue

      “Good morning, gentle men! Keep that stiff upper lip, Alexander Number One,” Daphne Way Banning sang out as she hurried past the six somber portraits of the Banning Boors. Hanging in the great hall of the Green Forks Ranch, the portraits lent austerity and a sense of family continuity to the Banning mansion. Privately, Daphne thought that the portraits needed more than a good dusting. They watched her with grim lines where their mouths should be and eyes that seemed disapproving and cold.

      Wait until they hear my news, Daphne thought excitedly, it’ll really send those stiff lips to their noses. “Where’s Alex, Sinclair?”

      “In with his father, Miss Daphne.” The elderly valet looked her way. “I don’t think Alexander is feeling very well this morning.”

      “Oh, dear.” Daphne hurried along. She had some news that might please the ailing Alexander. The pa tri arch of the family, he had let it be known since the moment Daphne and Alex had gotten back from the honeymoon that he expected to see grandbabies. Soon. They had been very careful not to oblige him too quickly, not out of a sense of meanness but simply from needing time to get to know each other as husband and wife. Oh, she’d been in love with Alex Banning forever, long before he’d known she was alive on the neighboring ranch. He had been slower to give his heart. She’d been surprised when he proposed after a three-month-long whirl wind court ship, packed with trips to Europe and yacht outings and heady romance. Daphne had said, “Yes! Yes!” when he asked for her hand. A dream come true…

      She wondered how Alex would feel about her news. They had been so careful not to get pregnant, but temptation had proved too great one en chanted Saturday night. Wild kisses sometime after midnight turned into a burning urge to get home and finish what they had started. Running upstairs and getting into bed, they’d spent hours passionately loving each other. The box of condoms lay undisturbed in the bedside table drawer.

      Too late to worry about that. Daphne walked to the bedroom, which had become a sickroom, and listened for voices to make certain Alexander was awake. She didn’t want to disturb him if he was resting.

      “Promise me, son.”

      She heard her husband sigh. “Dad, I don’t have to promise. Everything will turn out fine.”

      “I don’t have much longer to live. I want to know before I die that you under stand you must produce a son!”

      “Fine, Dad. But if you don’t mind, we’re going to wait a while before we work on it.”

      “It’s been three months! What are you waiting for?”

      Daphne stood still, but she heard Alex’s foot steps on the opposite side of the room. They were rapid and impatient, as if he’d gotten up from the bedside to stare out the window.

      “We barely know each other, Dad. I know this dynasty thing is big on your mind, but right now, Daphne and I aren’t thinking about producing heirs.”

      Wrong, husband. We are now—in about six months, Daphne thought unhappily. She touched her stomach protectively.

      “Son, let me tell you a story.”

      “Hope fully one I haven’t heard before?”

      Daphne started to smile.

      “Sit down!” Alexander thundered.

      The smile froze and then slid off her face. She heard her husband sigh again as he sat down.

      “For six generations, there’s been one male child born into each Banning marriage. Who knows why? I’ve often wondered if it was a curse left over from the days when our fore fathers were bravely beating pagan enemies off the English shores. One child, and no more,” Alexander rasped.

      “One’s enough. We didn’t need an heir and a spare.”

      “Take it seriously, Alex. What if there hadn’t been an heir each time?”

      There was quiet in the room for a moment. “Tell me, Dad.”

      “Females would be running the ranch! Wives who married into the family! It would slip out of Banning hands, and may I add those hands have capably handled the reins ever since our fore bears came over from England!”

      “Don’t get excited, Dad. It isn’t good for your blood pressure. And Green Forks isn’t a kingdom.”

      Daphne heard Alex sigh once more.

      “In England, we’d by damn be aristocracy! It’s important that we retain our illustrious heritage! Two governors, a couple of corporate CEOs, a successful wildcatter and a world-renowned chef. Great ness must carry on!”

      Coughing erupted in the sickroom, and Daphne started to hurry forward in alarm. Alex’s next words stopped her cold.

      “It’s a mistake to have children when you’re not sure if the marriage is going to work out.”

      Her jaw dropped. She backed up, her hand tight against her heart.

      “Son, I know you didn’t want an arranged marriage. I know you feel like I

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