God, she was cute. “Fair point. And when have these cards ever let you down? But I don’t see a dilemma. I’m here to help with the kids—” He caught his breath as fresh wonder expanded in his chest. “Plural. Can you imagine?”
“You’re happy?” she asked with a teary smile.
“So happy.”
They couldn’t seem to kiss, they were both grinning so wide.
“But I also know that means we’re going to lose some of these quiet moments, so let’s take advantage of each other while we can,” he managed to say, sliding his hand under her shirt in search of her breast.
“Okay, but upstairs. Granny’s here.” She pointed at the empty chair across the table.
He froze to stare at her, knowing she was full of it. Her mouth was twitching. She had probably staged this entire reading as an elaborate ruse to deliver this news to him in the most playful way possible. To make him believe in cards and ghosts and supernatural forces.
Which he did, because what else was love? Not something that could be measured or tested or proved. It wasn’t even a trick you played on yourself. It was something you experienced and expressed and knew.
“Thank you for the good news, Granny. Make yourself at home.” He rose and helped his snickering wife to her feet, then kept her hand as he led her up the stairs.
If Her Billion-Dollar Bump left you wanting more, then make sure you catch up on the first two installments of the Diamonds of the Rich and Famous trilogy, Accidentally Wearing the Argentinian’s Ring by Maya Blake and Prince’s Forgotten Diamond by Emmy Grayson!
And why not explore these other Dani Collins stories?
A Convenient Ring to Claim Her
A Baby to Make Her His Bride
Awakened on Her Royal Wedding Night
The Baby His Secretary Carries
The Secret of Their Billion-Dollar Baby
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Keep reading for an excerpt from My One-Night Heir by Natalie Anderson.
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My One-Night Heir
by Natalie Anderson
CHAPTER ONE
Talia
‘OH, TALIA, thank heavens you’re here!’
Despite my exhaustion I shoot Kiri a massive grin. ‘Where do you need me?’
‘Everywhere.’ The chef looks near tears. ‘The servers are so inexperienced they need training more than guidance but there isn’t time. The fryer won’t get to temperature and I can’t—’
‘Leave the servers with me,’ I interrupt. It’s clear Kiri’s hit peak stressed chef and I need to move. Happily, sorting an imploding kitchen situation is something I’ve done more nights than I want to remember. If I quickly smooth front of house, Kiri can concentrate on her magical plates. She just needs confidence in me for calm to return.
‘There aren’t enough glasses for the affogatos.’ Kiri continues listing the catastrophes.
‘I’ll find alternative ones.’
‘Yeah, but the coffee machine is misfiring and the primary ordered espresso martinis ten minutes ago even though we’re only through the third course and have another two—’
‘Affogato and espresso martinis?’ I interrupt again.
‘She requested tiramisu as well.’ Kiri growls.
I chuckle. She’s a customer after my own heart. Coffee’s my one true love and I’m going to need my own caffeine hit to get through the next few hours.
‘The hired entertainment is late and has only just got onto the gondola.’ Kiri tosses a pan into a sink with more force than necessary. ‘Typical.’
It’s just over a twenty-minute ride in the suspension car to the exclusive restaurant at the top of the mountain so, what with the diva espresso machine and delayed entertainer, there’s a gap in proceedings. I can’t entertain, but I can tame a coffee machine.
‘I’ll stall with the martinis,’ I reassure Kiri as she whirls back to another pan, furiously stirring its bubbling contents into smooth submission.
‘Did you see the forecast?’ Kiri growls, stuck in her doom spiral. ‘Some apocalyptic storm is due.’
‘Yeah?’ I bite back a laugh and resort to my fool-proof trick to distract Kiri. ‘Well, it only needs to hold off for another couple of hours, then you’ll be back down the mountain being massaged by your unreasonably hot husband.’
Kiri’s eyes glaze over and her frantic stirring stops. She snaps out of it in time to catch my amusement. ‘I know.’ She finally cracks a smile. ‘I’m losing it.’
‘You’re fine. Focus on your food. I’ll take care of the extraneous. But not even I can change the weather.’
‘You sure?’ Kiri chuckles mid-sprint from counter to flaming grill. ‘I think you’re a goddess.’
I’m not. But I am used to working back-to-back shifts. I’ve been doing it since I was thirteen and got my first kitchen-hand job. When Romy—owner of the café I work a day shift at—phoned half an hour before closing saying the manager at the gondola restaurant was down with flu and they desperately needed a head waiter, I said yes. Sure I’ve already worked a twelve-hour day, plus I have a midnight-till-closing shift at a dive bar later tonight, but I need the money. And not just because of the cost of living here.
Queenstown is mega-expensive. The snowy mountain paradise in New Zealand’s South Island is stunningly beautiful with incredible views and adventurous opportunities. It’s super popular with the wealthy—there are vast numbers of stunning, luxury leisure homes everywhere. It feels as though every other café customer is a billionaire. They dress in sleek merino jumpers, rock-star jeans and mingle with the travellers who flit in to enjoy the slopes and adrenalin hits. They all have high expectations of service. Because I’m reliable I’ve got more work than I can manage. I hold down multiple food service jobs while building a social media side hustle because, not only do I need to make enough for my own survival, but I support my sister. Ava’s four years younger than me and a genius but even with her scholarships she needs additional support, and I don’t want our screwed-up family stopping her from succeeding.
So I quickly head out to scope the situation. Honestly, it’s pretty wild. Primary guest Simone Boras is Australian, as are her mostly female guests, and for her seventy-seventh birthday she’s booked out the entire restaurant. They’re loud, they’re laughing, they’re definitely here to have a good time and we’re going to need that entertainment soon to keep the energy up and divert attention from the delay on dessert.
