The Royal Baby He Must Claim by Jadesola James

Author:Jadesola James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-12-10T18:32:52+00:00

* * *

Home.

The soft gray stone villa Kemi had selected lay on the edge of a private beach and featured pieces that had been imported, bit by bit, from places around the world where the former owner had found fine and unique building materials. The house was not large, but every room was exquisite, lovingly honed, carefully curated. There was a huge garden dotted with stone benches, a maze of roses and other local flowers, and a fountain in the middle.

The house itself featured a massive kitchen, dining room and multiple sitting rooms for entertaining and for dining. Luke’s favorite room was the library. He’d instructed the staff to line the walls with the biographies and military histories he loved to read, and soft, hand-braided rugs lent the tiled floor a little cheer.

Luke and Kemi were greeted by Kingsley, the housekeeper that Luke had sent ahead. He’d been the overseer at his previous home. The older man’s face was bright with curiosity. Luke knew his staff must be buzzing about his marriage, but he wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of a full disclosure. Kingsley smiled and inclined his head to both.

“How are you, sir?” Kingsley asked. “And welcome, madam.”

“Doing well, Kings.” Luke swung the single bag he carried up on the porch, and the two men faced off. Kingsley was the only link to Luke’s past in the Seychelles; after much consideration, Luke had kept him on. At least Kingsley would know the full context of his employer’s odd behavior. He had been there that night, after all, the horrible night his infant son had gone into crisis, and he’d been the one to drive them to the hospital, as Luke had been completely incapacitated himself—

He fought the memory down with some effort.

“Will you be taking your meal in the dining room, sir?”

Luke shook his head. Food was of little interest to him. “No. You may go, Kings. I’ll get something when I’m hungry. And there’s enough food to feed half the island in the car... Kemi and I did a little shopping.”

Kemi cleared her throat. There was a gleam in those soft brown eyes that could have been anything. “I actually wouldn’t mind something, Kingsley. I’m pleased to meet you.” She then rattled into a Yoruba greeting and extended her hand; Kingsley’s face brightened with delight, and he took it, bowed in the traditional manner, then answered back in the same language.

“Should I leave you both alone?” Luke asked dryly.

Kingsley snapped back to attention. “Oh! Madam was asking me where I’m from,” he said, looking more animated than he had in years, Luke thought with half amusement, half irritation. “I told her—”

“Never mind,” Luke said crisply. “Kemi, why don’t you let Kingsley show you around and then we’ll eat?”

He said it more as a question than a statement, and he thought he saw Kemi stifling a smile.

“That would be lovely,” she said, almost demurely.

“Very good, sir. I will take your bags up. Madam, you can come with me.

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