CATHY WILLIAMS - The Secret Sanchez Heir

“Marriage, Abigail. Like it or not, there’s no other way.”

Leandro Sanchez never forgot the beautiful virgin who lit a fire in him like no other—then betrayed him. When Abigail Christie appears on his doorstep, Leandro decides one last explosive night is the only way to get her out of his system. But Abigail has a secret...their son!

Leandro’s discovery of the true consequence of their steamy nights leaves Abigail completely at the billionaire’s mercy. The Spanish tycoon always gets what he wants, and now he’s determined to legitimize his heir...by seducing Abigail into wearing his ring!

‘We have a child. A son.’

Their eyes tangled. A son . There was no way that Leandro was going to cave in and believe Abby but… fatherhood . It was something he had never considered. Never wanted! He’d seen from his own unstable childhood that the production of children was something that could go horribly wrong. He’d not only learned from his own experience but he’d learned from his sister’s. He’d never wished to reproduce and take a chance on being a father. It wasn’t in his make-up.

What if she was telling the truth? Faced with that possibility, Leandro suddenly knew what it felt like for one’s world to fall apart. He’d sought order all his life, to combat the lack of order that had marked his formative years, and there could be nothing more disastrous and explosive when it came to destroying all that hard-fought-for order than the arrival of a child.

But, no, he wasn’t going to think like that.

He was a cool, rational man. He forced his thoughts away from possibilities. Possibilities counted for nothing.

‘Where?’

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘You tell me that I’m a father. Then let me see my son.’

CATHY WILLIAMScan remember reading Mills & Boon books as a teenager, and now that she is writing them she remains an avid fan. For her, there is nothing like creating romantic stories and engaging plots, and each and every book is a new adventure. Cathy lives in London. Her three daughters—Charlotte, Olivia and Emma—have always been, and continue to be, the greatest inspirations in her life.

Books by Cathy Williams

Mills & Boon Modern Romance

Bought to Wear the Billionaire’s Ring

Snowbound with His Innocent Temptation

A Virgin for Vasquez

Seduced into Her Boss’s Service

The Wedding Night Debt

A Pawn in the Playboy’s Game

At Her Boss’s Pleasure

The Real Romero

The Uncompromising Italian

The Argentinian’s Demand

Secrets of a Ruthless Tycoon

Enthralled by Moretti

His Temporary Mistress

The Italian Titans

Wearing the De Angelis Ring

The Surprise De Angelis Baby

One Night With Consequences

Bound by the Billionaire’s Baby

Seven Sexy Sins

To Sin with the Tycoon

Visit the Author Profile page at

millsandboon.co.ukfor more titles.

The Secret Sanchez Heir

Cathy Williams

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text “Marriage, Abigail. Like it or not, there’s no other way.” Leandro Sanchez never forgot the beautiful virgin who lit a fire in him like no other—then betrayed him. When Abigail Christie appears on his doorstep, Leandro decides one last explosive night is the only way to get her out of his system. But Abigail has a secret...their son! Leandro’s discovery of the true consequence of their steamy nights leaves Abigail completely at the billionaire’s mercy. The Spanish tycoon always gets what he wants, and now he’s determined to legitimize his heir...by seducing Abigail into wearing his ring!

Introduction ‘We have a child. A son.’ Their eyes tangled. A son . There was no way that Leandro was going to cave in and believe Abby but… fatherhood . It was something he had never considered. Never wanted! He’d seen from his own unstable childhood that the production of children was something that could go horribly wrong. He’d not only learned from his own experience but he’d learned from his sister’s. He’d never wished to reproduce and take a chance on being a father. It wasn’t in his make-up. What if she was telling the truth? Faced with that possibility, Leandro suddenly knew what it felt like for one’s world to fall apart. He’d sought order all his life, to combat the lack of order that had marked his formative years, and there could be nothing more disastrous and explosive when it came to destroying all that hard-fought-for order than the arrival of a child. But, no, he wasn’t going to think like that. He was a cool, rational man. He forced his thoughts away from possibilities. Possibilities counted for nothing. ‘Where?’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ ‘You tell me that I’m a father. Then let me see my son.’

About the Author CATHY WILLIAMS can remember reading Mills & Boon books as a teenager, and now that she is writing them she remains an avid fan. For her, there is nothing like creating romantic stories and engaging plots, and each and every book is a new adventure. Cathy lives in London. Her three daughters—Charlotte, Olivia and Emma—have always been, and continue to be, the greatest inspirations in her life. Books by Cathy Williams Mills & Boon Modern Romance Bought to Wear the Billionaire’s Ring Snowbound with His Innocent Temptation A Virgin for Vasquez Seduced into Her Boss’s Service The Wedding Night Debt A Pawn in the Playboy’s Game At Her Boss’s Pleasure The Real Romero The Uncompromising Italian The Argentinian’s Demand Secrets of a Ruthless Tycoon Enthralled by Moretti His Temporary Mistress The Italian Titans Wearing the De Angelis Ring The Surprise De Angelis Baby One Night With Consequences Bound by the Billionaire’s Baby Seven Sexy Sins To Sin with the Tycoon Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Title Page The Secret Sanchez Heir Cathy Williams www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

THROUGH THE WINDOWS of the airy den tucked away in the west wing of his sprawling country mansion, Leandro Sanchez had a bird’s eye view of what could only be called the inevitable end of his six-month relationship with Rosalind Duval.

Only fitting, he thought, that a high-maintenance, spoiled diva should exit on a cloud of over-the-top drama.

It was a little after six in the evening and the last of the trucks that only that morning had delivered food, decorations—including a ridiculous ice sculpture for display in his hall—and several dozen staff was now departing. The specially bought Chinese-style lanterns that lined the long, private avenue leading up to his estate twinkled and glittered in the lightly falling snow and illuminated the dark shapes of the vehicles slowly wending their way away from his estate.

Sensual mouth compressed into a thin line of distaste, Leandro replayed in his mind the events of the last three hours. He had returned from his business trip to New York, fresh off the red eye, to pick up a barrage of text messages from Rosalind that he was to come immediately to his country house where he would find a surprise waiting for him.

Leandro loathed surprises. He was especially put out because, during the past week while he had been in New York, he had decided that his relationship with the very eligible Lady Rosalind Duval had reached the end of its course.

On paper, she had ticked all the boxes. She was beautiful, well-bred and independently wealthy. Her parents, whilst not nearly on the same level as him financially, formed the bedrock of that dying breed known as the British aristocracy. As a bonus, she was friendly with his sister Cecilia, who, indeed, had engineered the initial meeting between them.

Leandro was not in the market for love but he had been...restless and Rosalind had stepped into that uncustomary void with the promise of something different. It was not to be.

Her background had filled her with high expectations that every single one of her demands would be met with complete subservience. As a privileged only child, she was accustomed to getting her own way, and the fact that she was in her early thirties proved no barrier to her stamping her feet and throwing temper tantrums if things didn’t go as she decreed. She had always been the centre of attention and had seen no reason why he, Leandro, shouldn’t fall in line and continue the tradition.

She’d demanded his constant attention, phoning him sometimes several times a day and, having had full use of his credit card, had seen absolutely nothing wrong with buying whatever she’d happened to fancy on a whim. From jewellery, to clothes, to an outrageously expensive sports car, finally to an engagement ring which, he had discovered to his horror, had been the surprise waiting for him when he had returned from New York.

‘Special delivery!’ She had beamed as hordes of people came and went, fetching, carrying and getting everything in place for the accompanying engagement party which had been arranged for the following day. ‘It should arrive at just the right time for us to pop a cork and celebrate before dinner. It’s time we made this official, Leandro. Mummy and Daddy are simply desperate for a grandchild and I don’t see the point of delaying any longer. We’re both in our thirties and it’s time to take the next step. Darling, I know you’re a typical man and wouldn’t dream of doing anything about it, so I thought I’d do the necessary!’

He watched the tail end of the last van disappear from view then, flexing his lean muscles, he strolled out towards the kitchen, taking in the detritus left behind in the wake of everyone’s hasty departure.

In the hall, the ridiculous ice sculpture of a couple entwined was still perfectly intact and would require removal the following day. He would have to enlist a team of cleaners to return his country house to its ‘before’ state.

Right now, all he wanted was something strong to drink. The wretched engagement ring was on its way. Another hasty departure would have to be effected, although he was debating whether he would keep the ring or not. It had cost a small fortune. Quite a flawless diamond, he had seen from the receipt that had been flung at him by an incandescent Rosalind. Maybe he would gift it to her. She had, after all, been responsible for sourcing the priceless gem even if it had been purchased on his credit card.

He grimaced and thought that there was a better than even chance that the gesture would not be met with warm approval.

For once, his thoughts assumed an introspective nature. In the kitchen, Julie, his housekeeper, was busy trying to eradicate all evidence of the blighted party preparations. He dismissed her while he poured himself a drink.

‘One more delivery due,’ he said absently, swirling the amber liquid in the glass and staring down at it for a few seconds before glancing across to the middle-aged woman who had been responsible for looking after his country mansion for the past five years, ever since he had bought it. ‘I will need to dispatch this one personally. I’ll be in my office. When the courier arrives, let me know, Julie. They shouldn’t be on the premises for longer than ten minutes and then you can leave for the evening. You’ll need the usual team here in the morning to finish clearing up this...mess.’