Engaged to London’s Wildest Billionaire

“But are you certain you want a scandal?” “Even when I have no idea what kind of scandal I want?” He smiled then, a wicked smirk that made her overheated and trembling. Once again, here was the man she’d read about in the media. The bad boy they loved to write about. “Luckily I’m an expert. I can guide you. How about one where you’re protected? You’ll look naive at the end, but you can walk away with your head held high. And you’ll be untouchable.” “That sounds perfect. What are you planning?” “An engagement.” She sat on the edge of the bed then, because the shock at his comment meant her legs couldn’t be trusted to support her. “What?” “Of convenience. Your parents seem to be worried you’ve fallen under my spell. Let’s make it real. We’ll say it was love at first sight and we’re engaged. The press will lap up the story of a romance out of the ashes of your heartbreak. No one will try to take you away from me after that.” Behind the Palace Doors... The secret life of royals! Heavy is the head that wears the crown. It’s a truth that Princess Lise, Duke Lance and King Alessandro know all too well... Whilst they might spend their days welcoming the world’s diplomats and their nights at exclusive balls, that doesn’t mean their lives are as picture-perfect as their royal images. Could having someone to share that responsibility with change everything? To claim her crown, queen-to-be Lise must wed. The man she has to turn to is Rafe, the self-made billionaire who once made her believe in love... Read Lise and Rafe’s story inThe Marriage That Made Her Queen To escape an arranged marriage, Sara needs the help of notorious playboy Lance. Their engagement may be fake, but their passion is no charade! Read Lance and Sara’s story inEngaged to London’s Wildest Billionaire Both available now! And look out for the final installment,Sandro and Victoria’s storyComing soon! Engaged to London’s Wildest Billionaire Kali Anthony www.millsandboon.co.uk When KALI ANTHONY read her first romance novel at fourteen, she realized a few truths: there can never be too many happy endings and, one day, she would write them herself. After marrying her own tall, dark and handsome hero in a perfect friends-to-lovers romance, Kali took the plunge and penned her first story. Writing has been a love affair ever since. If she isn’t battling her cat for access to the keyboard, you can find Kali playing dress-up in vintage clothes, gardening or bushwhacking with her husband and three children in the rain forests of South East Queensland. To those who were told to settle, but instead waited for the person who could make them laugh and their heart sing. This story’s for you. Contents Cover About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Note to Readers Introduction Behind the Palace Doors Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN Extract About the Publisher CHAPTER ONE ‘EARTH TO EARTH, ashes to ashes, dust to dust...’ Sara stood at the edge of the royal mausoleum as the priest intoned the committal service. A small group of mourners and official witnesses, as required by Lauritania’s constitution, huddled round on a day that outside was too bright and beautiful to contemplate the three grand coffins of King, Queen and Crown Prince, waiting to be interred. She paid little attention to the people around her, her focus entirely on the coffin holding the earthly remains of Crown Prince Ferdinand Betencourt. Their country’s flag was draped over the top, bedecked with lilies, their scent cloying in the still morning air. A mere ten days ago she’d been Lady Sara Conrad, his fiancée. A woman one day destined to ascend the throne by his side... The hysterical sound bubbled from her before she could stifle it. She clutched a handkerchief to her mouth to try and cover up the barely suppressed laugh at how foolish she’d been. She’d never believed ignorance could be bliss, but had learned a powerful lesson. ‘You’ll be by his side, you’ll bear his heirs, but you’ll never have his heart...’ Poisonous words whispered in a ballroom just a few months earlier. Words spoken by some woman, tall and elegant and worldly and everything Sara wasn’t, telling her exactly where her place was in the hierarchy of Ferdinand’s needs. She frantically dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, pretending her laugh was a grief-stricken sob. Had anyone noticed the sound of near hysterical disbelief? Because, in truth, she’d grieved the loss of Ferdinand months before his untimely death. The destruction of her immature dream that once they were married he might find the time to love her. She kept the handkerchief to her face, chancing a furtive glance at the assembled group. As she did so, a prickle of awareness tripped along her spine. She turned to her right and caught a man she didn’t know staring at her. A stranger in the tiny band of familiar faces. She hadn’t noticed him before in the throng of black-bedecked mourners and cronies at the funeral. There was no missing him now. He stood out. From his imposing height to the perfect cut of his dark suit and his undeniably authoritative presence. All screaming bespoke tailoring and old money. The only thing out of place was the expression of bored indifference on his face, while those around them were in the clutches of sorrow. A face that was square-jawed, cleft-chinned, sculpted perfection. His intense focus made her feel too small for her skin. As if she wanted to split from it, shed the dour black clothing she wore and morph into something brighter, more beautiful. Changed. How inappropriate, considering she was supposed to be mourning her fiancé today. Yet there was no controlling how her body reacted to this captivating stranger. Much like she couldn’t control the seething anger