Chosen As The Frenchman's Bride

by Abby Green

• ISBN13: 9780373233908
• ISBN10: 0373233906
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-01
• Publisher: Harlequin

Summary

Tall, bronzed Frenchman Xavier Salgado-Lezille isn't a man a girl can say no to easily. Jane tries to play it cool, but she's inexperienced...anda virgin. Falling in love isn't part of the plan...neither is discovering she's pregnant once the affair is over.Xavier knows she's carrying his child, and he wants an heir. Jane has been chosen as his bride!

Excerpts

Earlier that day-- JANE VAUGHAN wandered up and down the bustling jetty with a frown appearing over the ridge of her sunglasses. She couldn't remember exactly which gate she'd been at yesterday; now there were lots of bobbing boats and people lining up to get on board. The man she'd approached had taken no deposit, nor given her a ticket, but instead had reassured her that if she came back to him he would make sure she got on the right boat--the only problem now was that she couldn't spot him anywhere. Bumping into that stranger in the street just afterwards must have scrambled her brain more than she'd thought. She shook her head wryly. She'd never thought herself to be the kind of woman that would spend a night fantasising about someone she had bumped into for mere moments. A newly familiar heat flooded her belly, however, as his tall, powerful body and hard-boned face swam into her mind's eye, his image still as vivid as if he were standing right in front of her. She shook her head again, this time to shake free of the memory. Honestly, this was so unlike her. She went towards a gate that looked familiar, tagging onto the end of a queue. When she got to the man at the top he seemed a little harassed. At her query of,"Excusez-moi. C'est le bAteau pour les Ales?"he just gestured impatiently into the boat. She hesitated for a moment, before figuring what was the worst that could happen? So if she didn't end up exactly where she'd expected to then it would be an adventure. They were going somewhere, and she was on holiday, not everything had to be strictly organised. She needed to relax more. Once they were underway she had to admit grudgingly that she was enjoying the breeze and the sun across her shoulders and bare legs. The brightly patterned halterneck dress she wore was a present from her friend Lisa, given with an order to make herself more visible. She pushed her sunglasses onto her head, tipping her face up to the sun, and for the first time since landing on the CAte D'Azur a week ago felt a rush of wellbeing and freedom. She didn't even really miss her friend's presence. Lisa was meant to have travelled with her--after all, it washerfamily's villa that Jane was staying in. But at the last minute Lisa's father had been rushed into hospital with a suspected heart attack, and this very week was undergoing a delicate operation. The conversation she'd had with Lisa the night before her departure had been rushed, but her friend had been insistent. "Janey, if you don't go then I'll feel guilty on top of everything else. Anyway, you'll be doing us a favour. No one has been at the house for months, and it needs to be aired, so look at it like that." "But I can't just leave when you might need me most--" "Look," Lisa pointed out, "you know my family. It'll be like Picadilly Circus in the hospital, and we've been assured Dad is going to be fine-- Seeing your little face here would only upset me, and I mean that in a good way." She knew Lisa was just being brave, that the outcome was anything but assured, and didn't want to put her under any more pressure. "OK, OK." Jane had given in. Lisa was right; there wasn't anything she could do. With a formidable mother, four sisters and three brothers she would only get in the way. And of the three brothers one in particular was intent on pursuing Jane. Not sure how she felt about Dominic, who was lovely, if a little dull, Jane was well aware that the campaign would have been taken up with enthusiasm by Lisa had she had the opportunity. She got up and wandered over to the railing, shades back on against the glare of the sun, the sea spray catching her every now and then. She still couldn't help a little pang of guilt at enjoying her solitude so much. She really hadn't expected to embrace it, but