A Rich Man's Whim - By Lynne Graham Page 0,66

the bond between them had gone from strength to strength since they married. Once that was achieved, Mikhail’s sense of security had enabled him to drop what remained of his reserve. And, as he had promised, he had embraced her sisters as though they were his own so that she was as close to her siblings as she had ever been.

‘Gloating again …?’ a familiar accented drawl teased.

‘Sorry, can’t help it, still can’t believe they’re ours,’ Kat confided, her bright head turning to focus on the darkly handsome male poised in the doorway, a flock of butterflies taking flight inside her tummy. Mikhail’s effect on her hormones never faded, she thought, her face warming. And how could it have done? He was drop-dead gorgeous.

A faint smile curving his sensual lips, her husband joined her to stare down at their son and daughter. ‘They do look cute when they’re not squalling,’ he conceded with amusement. ‘This morning they looked like little red-faced dictators when they woke up.’

‘They were hungry,’ their mother proclaimed defensively.

Mikhail turned her slowly round. ‘So am I, lasko-vaya moya. I am very hungry to have my beautiful wife all to myself for a few days.’

Her sparkling green eyes rounded as she leant up against his lean, powerful body, one hand resting on a broad shoulder. ‘Have you actually taken some time off?’

‘Even better. I’ve arranged a holiday for us on a deserted island.’

‘Doesn’t sound the kind of place you can take babies.’

‘They’re not coming.’ Lean, strong face resolute, Mikhail gazed down at his wife as she parted her generous mouth to object. ‘Your sisters are going to look after them for us. Our third wedding anniversary is an important occasion and I want to do something special.’

‘But, we can’t leave them behind—’

A black brow quirked. ‘Even with two nannies and your sisters and the entire household staff to look after them?’

Kat’s even white teeth worried at her full lower lip in indecision.

‘I need you too,’ Mikhail husked, lowering his dark head to caress her mouth slowly with his in exactly the way she could never resist, leaving her breathless and quivering. ‘And I think you need me in the same way.’

‘Well …’ Kat hesitated. ‘A deserted island?’

‘White beach, blue sea, no clothes,’ Mikhail outlined.

‘So that’s the fantasy?’ Kat laughed, loving his honesty as much as she loved him and the surprise break he had organised.

‘The fantasy I have every intention of turning into fact,’ her husband countered with a lethally sexy look in his black diamond eyes. ‘More pleasure than you can believe …’

‘Oh, I can believe,’ she confirmed dizzily, breathless at the smouldering look of desire in his stunning gaze. ‘You always deliver.’

‘I’m crazy about you,’ Mikhail muttered thickly, claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss that sent her every sense singing.

Kat was too happy and too bound up in that kiss to reply. A second honeymoon on a deserted island, Mikhail all to herself. No, she had not a single complaint about that plan of action.

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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First published in Great Britain 2013

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.

Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,

Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

eISBN: 978-1-472-00193-1

Table of Contents

Excerpt

About the Author

Title Page

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue