The Billionaire Prince’s Nanny (European Billionaire Beaus Book 1) Read online

  “I want to respond to this article,” he said, tapping it with his knuckles. “Publicly, and immediately.”

  Valencia frowned. “I’m…not sure that’s the most prudent idea.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Why wouldn’t it be prudent?” He took a deep breath. “You’re the one who wanted me to be more…public. This is as public as it gets. I want to speak.”

  “The thing is…” Valencia glanced down at the floor. “It will confirm the rumors.”

  “You don’t think she’s already confirmed them?”

  “I do, but it’ll lend them a legitimacy that they don’t have now. And it will complicate things for the project.” Valencia lifted her chin. “We should go on a complete media blackout and wait for this to blow over instead of letting your feelings sway your decisions.”

  “Ah.” Armin was beginning to understand. “So you’d rather let other, less flattering, pieces gain traction. And dominate the narrative.”

  “I’m only looking out for your best interest.”

  “You wanted me to become more public with my persona so that the anti-royalists would have a chance to get to know me, and now you want me to hide in the palace?”

  “I only think—”

  “How much is he paying you?”

  Valencia had the nerve to look confused. “Who?”

  “Papazyan. Is it a hefty paycheck?”

  She went white, then red. “It’s—it’s not about the money.”

  “Get out.”

  Katie had been right all along. Well, there was one of the other informants in the palace. Fired.

  Armin knew what he had to do.

  It took thirty minutes to gather the press on the front steps of the palace.

  Armin stood alone, facing the bank of microphones.

  The assembled crowd rustled and shifted until he cleared his throat and took another small step forward.

  It was time.

  It was past time.

  “Good afternoon.” They answered him in a murmured chorus. “I’m here today to confirm what many of the citizens of Stolvenia have suspected. Until a few days ago, Katie Crestley lived in my household as nanny to my two wonderful girls. And it is true that I developed strong feelings for her.”

  It wasn’t a smooth, prepared speech. It was straight from his heart. He had taken the lesson in vulnerability with the girls and brought it out into the sun with him.

  “It can be lonely, being a member of the royal family. Being myself. I want so badly to be the prince that my people deserve, but that means that it’s a struggle to ever let down my guard and just be a man. It’s rare to find someone who understands that. It’s even rarer for that someone to see the best in me when I can’t always see it for myself. Katie saw that. I thought revealing myself like that would make me less capable as a royal and a leader, but I was wrong. I became a better man and a better prince because of her.”

  There was a shocked silence. The microphones inched closer.

  “But I also understand that times do change. I’ve learned that I can best serve you by opening up to you—by seeing you, just as I want to be seen. By hearing you, just as I want to be heard. And that means letting you have your voice. I have spoken with my brother, Rafael, who is our king. And it is my pleasure to announce that in the coming year, at the request of a significant portion of the population, a referendum will be held regarding the continuation of the monarchy.”

  Another moment of silence, and then…

  …they cheered.

  They all cheered.

  Armin had nothing left to say.

  He went back inside, where the girls waited inside the massive lobby of the palace.

  “Good speech, Daddy. Good speech.” Lily reached up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

  He pulled her into a hug. “How would you like to go see what I’ve been working on?” he asked. The crowd outside still cheered.

  “Yes,” said Seraphine. “Will Katie be there?”

  “Well…I don’t know.” Their faces fell. “But maybe. That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

  Katie hovered at the edge of the crowd, wondering whether she should run or stay put.

  Her article had gone viral. Not only that, but several outlets had run pictures of her, and people around her were noticing. She could hear them whispering her name. It would be smarter to stay away and avoid more attention…but she couldn’t bring herself to miss this.

  The groundbreaking for the orphanage had been rescheduled.

  It had all happened so fast. He’d been on television just this afternoon telling the world that it was all true—he had fallen in love with the nanny. And he had not looked ashamed in the slightest while he said it. And then the major bombshell: a referendum on the monarchy.

  Unheard of.

  Three hours later, the site of the orphanage was humming with activity…and cheering. The pro-royalists were out in a chanting, cheering crowd with signs supporting Armin. Katie had to wonder if the anti-royalists had had their agenda puffed up a bit by the press, because she didn’t see any of them in the crowd. At least, if they were there, they weren’t being very gregarious. It seemed those in favor of the monarchy were clearly ready to campaign for it, and Armin’s announcement wasn’t even six hours old. It was…honestly pretty stirring, Katie had to admit.

  There was a loud cheer, and Katie turned, trying to see over everyone’s heads.

  “They’re here!” called a man nearby. “The motorcade—it’s pulling up.”

  The crowd got louder, and finally Katie saw them—Armin, holding the girls by the hand. He walked proudly up the steps to the little dais that had obviously been constructed for just this moment. He blinked out into the crowd and gave a little wave without letting go of Lily’s hand. It was clear from the look on his face that he hadn’t exactly expected this to turn into a rally.

  Should she…approach him?

  No.

  Not in public, not in front of all these people. Katie steeled herself. She’d do what she came here to do. Silently support him through the groundbreaking, see if he had anything else to add to his earlier announcement, and slip away in time to catch her train to France.

  The speeches began.

  They blurred, one into the other, the words indistinguishable. Katie couldn’t take her eyes off Armin. He was so handsome, there in the sunlight, and so proud—nothing about him spoke of indecision at all. He looked…free.

  That hurt, that he could seem so relaxed and at peace, as if losing her hadn’t mattered, but…if he was free and happy, then she could learn to be that way, too.

  Armin and the girls used ceremonial scissors to cut a large red ribbon, and another cheer went up. Behind them, in the dirt, a front-end loader made a tentative dig into the earth.

  The ground had been broken.

  It was time to go.

  Katie turned, looking for the quickest way out of the crowd. But the whispers around her swelled, and then…

  “Katie!”

  It wasn’t Armin’s voice. It was Seraphine’s.

  She turned to see the girls barreling down on her, enormous smiles on their faces. And nothing in the world could keep her from kneeling down and taking them into her arms, both of them talking over each other.

  “—did you go?”

  “—so lonely, and wanted you to come back right away, but—”

  “—said that there was something important you had to do and maybe you would be here, but we didn’t know—”

  “Come back, Katie, come back, okay?”

  “I missed you so much,” she said, kissing them on the tops of their heads. “But Prince Armin was right, I did have to go.”

  A shadow fell over the three of them, and she looked up into Armin’s face. She pulled the girls into one more tight hug, and then he offered her a hand up.

  She took it.

  She was painfully aware of the crowd around them, of the cameras flashing, but all of it paled in comparison to the
look in his eyes.

  “I never should have sent you away,” he said, a catch in his voice.

  That told her all she needed to know and sweet relief cascaded over her as she realized she was exactly where she needed to be. “I never should have gone.”

  And then, there in front of everyone, Armin kissed her.

  The girls shrieked, the crowd cheered, and the next thing Katie knew, someone was shouting for a picture. A picture, of all things.

  She pulled herself away from the soft heat of his lips, her fingertips flying to her own. It was on the tip of her tongue to decline whoever was asking, but then Armin said, “Of course.”

  He turned her gently toward one of the photographers in the crowd, but before the man could snap the picture, Armin held up a hand. “Wait. Ms. Crestley is not properly dressed.”

  Katie looked down at herself. She’d worn a light blue dress, sturdy enough for traveling, and she thought it looked quite nice.

  But when she looked back up, she caught Armin gazing down at her, a glittering ring between his fingers.

  “Katie,” he said, and the crowd went silent. “You made me realize that the two parts of who I have to be aren’t mutually exclusive. The prince and the man are one. And I love you with all that I am. Will you marry me?”

  It was pure joy, sweeping over her, and it almost knocked her to her knees. “Yes,” she gasped. “Yes.”

  More cheers. Thousands of pictures.

  Armin drew her in close, and she reached down and took Lily’s hand while Armin took Seraphine’s. They stood there, the four of them, being photographed as a family for the first time.

  Her prince leaned down to her ear. “You tell a hell of a story, you know that?”

  “It’s only just beginning,” she answered.

  Epilogue

  The party was a huge success.

  They had all gone to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting of the beautifully restored orphanage, and the girls were both asleep in the car by the time they got back to the palace. Armin carried them in one by one, and Katie tucked them into bed, smoothing their hair back and turning out the light.

  Outside in the hall, he pulled her close for a kiss that was as deep and thrilling as the first one they’d ever shared. Then he gave a satisfied sigh.

  “It was an amazing party,” she murmured as they walked hand in hand back to the room they shared. “I hope whoever writes the story about it gives you all the credit you deserve.”

  “Who needs credit when I have you?” Armin squeezed her hand. She appreciated the sentiment, but she’d meant what she’d said. He had been putting in long hours working on new infrastructure projects in remote regions of Stolvenia, and he still made time to ensure that every detail of the orphanage project was perfect.

  “I almost wish I could write it myself,” said Katie. “But it would only be considered a puff piece. Speaking of…” She let him open the door for her, and they stepped into the room they shared. “I need to finish some things before I come to bed.”

  He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, pulling her close. “I understand,” he said. “But I’ll miss you every moment until you return.”

  Armin let her go, across the suite and into the little office she used for her work.

  Katie was writing again.

  It was for a new paper in Stolvenia, one that wasn’t run by anyone remotely like Papazyan. And she had insisted on a full interview process and a trial run when Armin encouraged her to work there. They might have wanted her for the attention her byline would draw, but she’d wanted to prove to them that her writing and reporting abilities could stand on their own, under any name.

  Tonight’s work—because she was on a deadline—was about Stolvenia’s new economic growth.

  The manufacturing economy was expanding, and Katie wanted to highlight all the unsung heroes making the biggest difference to the people of Stolvenia. Not the princes, no—even though they were definitely doing their part. But there were several families who had weathered every possible storm in the country since World War II, and they were still working tirelessly to provide jobs and opportunities across the country. Katie was thrilled to be writing about them, and honestly, they were thrilled to have her. She did her due diligence as a journalist, of course, but every time she scheduled an interview, there was a palpable excitement in the air. And why not? The country she now considered her home was on the rise.

  “Listen,” came Armin’s voice from the doorway. She turned to find him bathed in the moonlight, wearing nothing but his boxers, his glorious body on full display. “Can it wait?”

  “I’m writing about unsung heroes, Prince Armin. Don’t you think they should be, you know, sung?”

  “Can they be sung in the morning?” His teeth flashed in a wicked grin. “I need to sing to my fianceé.”

  “When you put it that way…”

  She allowed herself to be swept up into his arms, laughing all the way to the bedroom.

  End of The Billionaire Prince’s Nanny

  European Billionaire Beaus Book One

  The Billionaire Prince’s Nanny, June 20, 2019

  The Billionaire Prince’s Daughter, June 27, 2019

  The Billionaire King’s Heir, July 4 2019

  Do you love bad-boy billionaires? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from The Billionaire Prince’s Daughter and Royal Service.

  Thank you!

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  About Leslie

  Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres. (no alignment block)

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  BLURB

  It was only supposed to be a one-night stand. A bit of glitz, glamour, and champagne with one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. What single woman—and Amy Branch was certainly single—could possibly resist Artur, Prince of Stolvenia, who made a living out of being charming? He sure charmed her, all right. Charmed her right into a night of passion that resulted in a little present neither of them were expecting.

  Now, all Amy has to do is find a way to tell Artur that he’s about to become a daddy. Easier said than done, but after months of trying to get word to him, she finally gets her chance. The playboy needs to be reformed to make the royal family more palatable to a country on the verge of voting to abolish the monarchy. That means Artur’s wild ways will have to end—with the help of a PR expert. A PR expert who just happens to be carrying the prince’s baby. What could possibly go wrong?

  Artur has begrudgingly agreed to have his image molded, but to his happy surprise the PR wrangler is the same sizzling hot woman he’d shared an intense night of passion with a few months back. He’s happy to pick up where they left off—until she turns to the side, exposing a noticeable baby bump. But Amy has no intention of using the baby to net herself a princely groom. Indeed, she seems intent on throwing Artur at every eligible woman in Stolvenia except for herself. Problem is, the only woman Artur realizes he wants to be with is Amy. Even more unfortunate, he has the audacity to fall in love with her.

  Now he somehow needs to convince Amy that being a family, even if it’s royal, is just what she needs.

  Grab your copy of The Billionaire Prince’s Daughter

  Available June 27th, 2019

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com


  EXCERPT

  There are times in every person’s life—even the most type A, responsible, hands-at-ten-and-two people—when they find themselves wondering how on earth they’d arrived at a particular moment. Amy knew that intellectually, but she’d never thought it would happen to her. And yet it was happening right now.

  She stared out over the New York City skyline with all its glittering canvas of twinkling lights. It was a view she’d seen a million times in pictures, but never quite from this vantage point. This being the Jewel Suite at the Towers at the Lotte Palace.

  Amy had never once in her life hoped to set foot in a hotel room like the Jewel Suite, which was two floors of total luxury. A crystal chandelier dripped elegantly down from the cathedral ceiling to midair on the first floor. She recognized the style as Art Deco and painfully, seriously…rich.

  Which was probably why a prince was staying here.

  She shouldn’t be standing here right now, if she cared at all about her professional reputation and the longevity of her career, which she did. Her mother had made sure, over the course of her childhood, to drill that into her: appearances were everything. But it had been a long night, there had been a lot of champagne, and the way Prince Artur looked at her…

  It had started at the gala earlier that night.

  The PR firm that Amy had worked at for the past three years had been hired at the last minute to make sure everything proceeded according to plan for a particularly high-profile charity event. From what she understood, the plan was to rehabilitate Prince Artur’s image. He wasn’t very well-known in the United States, but in his home country, the news outlets watched him like a hawk—especially now that the country was considering abolishing the monarchy. A referendum was approaching that would decide the matter, and the PR people who worked for the king wanted to ensure his controversial younger brother was an asset rather than a problem. He was charming, and wildly popular with some segments of the population, but he was also a consummate playboy, always getting into trouble.