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EPILOGUE

THE TINY CHAPEL in the Highland village of Rottingdean was filled to capacity for the blessing of Danny and Tiago’s marriage vows. Tiago had flown everyone who mattered over from Brazil, and had even persuaded Lizzie’s mother to make an appearance—though she had scooted off to meet up with her toy-boy some time before the end of the ceremony.

That apart, he was determined nothing would stand in the way of Danny’s happiness. He had left nothing to chance—even buying Danny a more ‘job-appropriate’ ring to jostle alongside the jewels he loved to lavish on her.

‘I intend to work you very hard,’ he murmured as he slipped the simple platinum band on to Danny’s wedding ring finger.

‘I love it,’ she whispered, glancing at the ring and then meeting and sharing the humour in his eyes. ‘And as for working me hard—both in and out of the bedroom—I wouldn’t have it any other way. Though I may have to take some time off...’

‘Why?’

‘Shh...’ she warned him as the minister began to address the congregation once more.

‘Are you going to make me wait before you explain that comment?’ Tiago demanded, with his usual force.

‘Tiago, I am going to make you a daddy. Now, please be quiet.’

* * *

She had never seen Tiago so happy. He couldn’t wait to tell everyone their news when they arrived at the hotel where they were holding their reception.

‘So you tamed the playboy?’ Lizzie commented, giving Danny a hug. ‘And I couldn’t be more thrilled that we’re both expecting our babies in the same month.’

‘Hello, you two!’

‘Emma?’

Danny couldn’t have been more surprised to see a chirpy young girl with the same bright red hair as Lizzie wearing a chambermaid’s uniform.

But why was she surprised, when Lizzie’s cousin Emma had always worked hard and had always loved working with people? Danny only had to think back to the garden parties the three of them had used to organise under Lizzie’s grandmother’s supervision, to raise money for local charities, to remember that. With her bubbly personality, Emma Fane would be an asset wherever she worked.

‘No wonder you hardly recognised me,’ Emma exclaimed, giving Danny an enthusiastic hug. ‘It has been almost ten years since I last visited Rottingdean.’

Emma had been little more than a child then. ‘Of course I recognise you...’ Danny was still computing the information. ‘But I thought you were at college...?’

‘I was—hotel management,’ Emma confirmed, ‘but then this—’

She stroked her stomach lovingly, which caused Danny to exchange a fast concerned glance with Lizzie. Emma was a lot younger than they were, and seemed too young to be having a baby.

‘And now I need the money,’ Emma admitted bluntly. ‘But don’t worry about me,’ she added brightly. ‘This job at the hotel is great experience, and I love it here. Lizzie told me about the vacancy for a chambermaid, and here I am.’

Emma opened her arms wide, as if embracing the world and everything in it, with the infectious joie de vivre Danny had always associated with the young girl.

‘I hope you don’t mind me crashing your blessing,’ she went on, ‘but I’m just about to finish my shift and I couldn’t resist peeping in.’

‘Of course I don’t mind,’ Danny insisted. ‘You’re more than welcome to join us.’

‘Oh, no,’ Emma protested. ‘I couldn’t do that.’

‘Why not?’ Danny frowned. ‘I’ll speak to the manager for you.’

‘If you’re sure...?’ Emma’s face lit up.

‘I’m certain. It will be good to catch up. I had no idea you were married—’

Danny stopped—blanched—wanted to cut out her tongue. She knew immediately from the look on Emma’s face and Lizzie’s sudden tension that she’d said the entirely wrong thing.

‘Sorry—I didn’t mean to infer anything.’

‘It’s an easy mistake to make,’ Emma insisted. ‘But please don’t be embarrassed—I’m not. I couldn’t be happier.’

‘That’s obvious,’ Danny said warmly. ‘So the three of us are going to share this exciting trip into motherhood together? You are sticking around?’ she confirmed with Emma.

Emma was just about to answer when Tiago strolled up to introduce them to a man—presumably another polo player, from the look of him—who might safely be called intimidating if you were of a nervous disposition.

Thankfully, Danny was not. She was used to daunting men, she thought as she glanced at Tiago, but for some reason she clutched Emma’s hand a little tighter. She felt protective towards the young girl—and not just because Tiago’s timing was so badly off. The little she knew about Emma’s family suggested there would be no support for the young girl there, and Emma must be barely out of college—if she had even finished college at all.

There was a mystery here, Danny suspected. Emma had been such a promising student, and so serious about her career.

‘Don’t look so worried,’ Emma whispered discreetly, before pulling away to leave Danny to mingle with her guests. ‘I’m a lot tougher than I look.’

She would have to be, Danny concluded with concern as she noticed the daunting polo player staring after Emma. A vivacious, pretty girl like Emma would always attract plenty of male attention.

She turned back to Tiago, who was waiting to introduce her.

‘Danny, this is Lucas Marcelos—another reprobate on the polo circuit.’

‘I’m very pleased to meet you, Lucas,’ she said politely. ‘Welcome to Scotland.’

Danny’s heart plummeted when she noticed that Lucas’s attention was still fixed on Emma—though he covered his distraction fast, turning to face Danny with a stare that was piercing in its intensity.

‘Tiago warned me you were beautiful,’ he said, ‘but now I see he was understating the case.’

Lucas’s voice was deep and accented, and for some reason it sent shivers down Danny’s spine. She was glad when Tiago moved to stand between them.

‘You’re a lucky man,’ Lucas told Tiago. ‘I don’t know what you’ve done to deserve such a woman, but you should give me your secret.’

‘I love her. It’s as simple as that and as complicated,’ Tiago admitted as he looped a protective arm around Danny’s shoulders. ‘And she keeps me in line.’

‘Which you like?’ Lucas sounded incredulous at this.

‘Which I adore,’ Tiago insisted, in a way no man in his right mind would choose to argue with. ‘You should try it some day, Lucas—find out for yourself.’

‘That, my friend, is never going to happen.’

‘You’d be surprised,’ Tiago murmured, turning back to Danny as Lucas strolled away.

‘Wow!’ Danny released her pent-up tension in a gust of relief. ‘Was I just scorched by an overload of testosterone, or was that a hologram of a very angry and frustrated man?’

‘That, chica, was a good friend of mine who has taken more hits from life than he should have done. But I don’t want to talk about Lucas now. I want to concentrate on you—if you don’t mind?’

‘I don’t mind at all.’

Danny shook off the feeling of unease Lucas had given her as Tiago drew her into the shadows, where they could be alone for a moment, but she did feel sorry for Lucas. To be alone was not an enviable position to be in. She just hoped Lucas wouldn’t decide to take out his bitter energies on young Emma tonight—because Emma was also alone, and a good deal more defenceless than a successful polo player like Lucas Marcelos.

‘Danny?’

She gazed up at her husband, rejoicing that they were together. No one and nothing would ever part them again, and soon there would be a new addition to the Santos family.

‘I love you with all my heart,’ Tiago whispered against her mouth, kissing her tenderly and repeatedly. ‘And I can’t bear to share you with anyone. Is that terrible of me?’

‘Not at all.’ Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him back.

‘And now we’re going to be three—’

‘Or four—who knows?’ she teased him.

‘You’ve made me very happy,’ Tiago growled, staring deep into her eyes. ‘And that was before you gave me the news of our baby.’

Danny’s gaze dropped to the firm, sexy mouth of the man she loved. ‘Did you say you had taken a suite at the hotel, so we could freshen up after the blessing if we needed to?’

‘That’s right. I have,’ Tiago confirmed.

‘I need to freshen up.’ She looked at him.

‘Strange,’ Tiago murmured, brushing her mouth with his. ‘So do I...’

* * * * *

Read on for an extract from THE SHEIKH’S PRINCESS BRIDE by Annie West.