The Tycoon’s Pregnant Lover: European Tycoon, #1

By Leslie North

Romance novelist Brandy Jackson is not a one-night-stand kind of girl, but with Maximillian Benton, she's willing to make an exception. Big mistake. Turns out, the charming, handsome man with a sexy British accent is a jerk who's only interested in laying claim to Landon Castle, the inheritance Brandy received when her beloved grandmother died. But apparently through a cheating attorney, the castle was purchased at auction by Max. When a judge orders them to both live at the castle until the legal matter is resolved, Brandy reluctantly agrees. As big as the castle is, it turns out to be too small for her and Max, who find themselves spending more and more time together. And even though Brandy knows Max isn't her happily-ever-after, when the heat becomes too much she still gives in to her passion. Bigger mistake. Now she's pregnant.

 

Max's motives for wanting the castle are simple: revenge. A billionaire software designer, Max was swindled by the man who owned the castle, and now it's sweet payback owning the thing his nemesis loved most. So when his plans are sent awry by a pretty American, he has no choice but to dig in his heels and make sure the castle remains his. Max tries, rather desperately, to ignore his attraction to Brandy and the way his heart expands whenever they're together. Despite his cynicism about love, he can't help wondering if Brandy might be different from all the other women he's met. But when he believes he's been duped by her sweet smile and sexy body, Max all too readily decides ending what they have is for the best. Happily ever after just isn't for him. But he can't shake the feeling he may have lost the best thing in his life…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Relay Publishing
• Release date: Jul 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393068259

Book preview

The Tycoon’s Pregnant Lover

European Tycoon

The Tycoon’s Pregnant Lover

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The Tycoon’s Fake Fiancée

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The Tycoon’s Convenient Bride

Leslie’s Billionaires

Sovalon Royals

The Billionaire Prince’s Stubborn Assistant

The Playboy Prince’s Pregnant American

The Billionaire Prince’s Single Mother

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The Billionaires Club

The Billionaire’s Pregnant Competition

The Billionaire’s Pretend Girlfriend

The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet

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Billionaires & Babies

The Billionaire’s Accidental Baby

Matchmaking the Billionaire

Pregnant by the Billionaire

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The Beaumont Brothers

The Billionaire’s Sham Girlfriend

The Billionaire’s False Fiancée

The Billionaire’s Last Chance

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Preston Billionaires

The Billionaire’s Pretend Wife

The Billionaire’s Secret Son

The Billionaire’s Pregnant Employee

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European Tycoon

The Tycoon’s Pregnant Lover

The Tycoon’s Fake Fiancée

The Tycoon’s Convenient Bride

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Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

The Billionaire’s Christmas Fiancée

The Billionaire’s Sudden Christmas Baby

The Billionaire’s Second Chance Christmas

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McClellan Billionaires

The Billionaire’s Pregnant Assistant

The Billionaire Chef’s Baby

The Billionaire’s Ward

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European Billionaire Beaus

The Billionaire Prince’s Nanny

The Billionaire Prince’s Daughter

The Billionaire King’s Heir

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Royals of Danovar

Royal Service

Royal Treatment

Royal Order

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The Romano Brothers

Italian Billionaire’s Stubborn Lover

Italian Billionaire's Unexpected Lover

Italian Billionaire's Determined Lover

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The Jameson Brothers

The Billionaire’s Ex-Wife

The Billionaire’s Pregnant Fling

The Billionaire’s Sexy Rival

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Maxfield Brothers

The Billionaire’s Tenacious Boss

The Billionaire’s Rebellious Lover

The Billionaire’s Stubborn Lover

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The Rosso Family

Greek Billionaire’s Blackmailed Bride

Greek Billionaire’s Forbidden Lover

Greek Billionaire’s Uncontrollable Attraction

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Royals of Monaco

The Prince’s Unwilling Lover

The Prince’s Pregnant Challenge

The Lord’s Passionate Lover

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Yacht Tycoon’s Secret Lover

Yacht Tycoon’s Secret Lover Part 1

Yacht Tycoon’s Secret Lover Part 2

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The Secret Billionaires Series

Secret Billionaire’s Stubborn Cowgirl

Secret Billionaire’s Stormy Lover

Secret Billionaire’s Frosty Lover

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

RELAY PUBLISHING EDITION, JANUARY 2020

Copyright © 2020 Relay Publishing Ltd.

All rights reserved. Published in the United Kingdom by Relay Publishing. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Leslie North is a pen name created by Relay Publishing for co-authored Romance projects. Relay Publishing works with incredible teams of writers and editors to collaboratively create the very best stories for our readers.

Cover Design by LJ Mayhem Covers.

www.relaypub.com

The Tycoon’s Pregnant Lover

Blurb

Romance novelist Brandy Jackson is not a one-night-stand kind of girl, but with Maximillian Benton, she’s willing to make an exception. Big mistake. Turns out, the charming, handsome man with a sexy British accent is a jerk who’s only interested in laying claim to Landon Castle, the inheritance Brandy received when her beloved grandmother died. But apparently through a cheating attorney, the castle was purchased at auction by Max. When a judge orders them to both live at the castle until the legal matter is resolved, Brandy reluctantly agrees. As big as the castle is, it turns out to be too small for her and Max, who find themselves spending more and more time together. And even though Brandy knows Max isn’t her happily-ever-after, when the heat becomes too much she still gives in to her passion. Bigger mistake. Now she’s pregnant.

Max’s motives for wanting the castle are simple: revenge. A billionaire software designer, Max was swindled by the man who owned the castle, and now it’s sweet payback owning the thing his nemesis loved most. So when his plans are sent awry by a pretty American, he has no choice but to dig in his heels and make sure the castle remains his. Max tries, rather desperately, to ignore his attraction to Brandy and the way his heart expands whenever they’re together. Despite his cynicism about love, he can’t help wondering if Brandy might be different from all the other women he’s met. But when he believes he’s been duped by her sweet smile and sexy body, Max all too readily decides ending what they have is for the best. Happily ever after just isn’t for him. But he can’t shake the feeling he may have lost the best thing in his life…

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(European Tycoon Book One)

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Epilogue

End of The Tycoon’s Pregnant Lover

Thank you!

About Leslie

Sneak Peek: The Tycoon’s Fake Fiancée

Also by Leslie

1

Max Benton had come to the Grand Abby Hotel in York on business, not pleasure—but that didn’t mean temptation didn’t have a way of happening.

These days, it was almost always business with him. Either he was sprinting to finish coding a security program to faultlessness, or he was enjoying the company of a woman. Tonight, sitting at the hotel bar with his laptop open and an Old Fashioned on his right, he was just settling into the former when the latter walked through the door.

Don’t look, Max warned himself. Look up and it’s over for you. You may as well kiss your deadline goodbye.

He massaged his lower lip thoughtfully with one rough finger, then cursed. He didn’t need to be thinking in terms of kisses. He had seen an incredible pair of legs enter the bar out of the corner of his eye, and he’d immediately barred himself from looking beyond that. The telltale click of heels heralded the woman’s approach. She sat down several stools away and sighed wearily. He didn’t look up. When she placed her order with the bartender in a pleasant, throaty voice, he didn’t look up. But when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed those long, lean legs cross themselves beneath the bar, and that black skirt rise up to expose several more inches of thigh…

He looked. He was helpless not to. He kept his glance brief, drinking in everything he could of his fellow bar patron before turning back to his screen. Suddenly, he became aware of his own heartbeat, his blood pumping in his ears. She was more than he might have expected even in his wildest (and crudest) imaginings—she was a stunner, a knockout, a raven-haired beauty with a body that would make a photographer for Playboy blush. She carried herself casually, as if she wasn’t at all aware of herself or the effect she would have on any watching hot-blooded male, and her unassuming demeanor only made that blood of his run hotter.

She jounced one ankle beneath the bar, cheek pillowed in one softly-closed palm, as she pored over a set of documents she had unearthed from her briefcase. She didn’t appear to notice him there, but appearances could be deceiving. She could be playing the same game he was, both players abiding by unspoken rules.

Max glared at his laptop.

He couldn’t go on like this, not with Venus herself sitting so close to him. A decision had to be made.

For perhaps the first time in his life, Max decided that work, revenge… it could all wait. He could afford one last diversion. He closed his laptop and turned his full attention to the gorgeous specimen sitting farther down the length of the bar. The brunette didn’t disappoint; she looked up at once, perhaps compelled by the forthrightness of his stare. A light pink dusted those impeccably high cheekbones of hers, and he hadn’t even said a word.

This was going to be too easy.

You’re an American, he said.

Brandy’s first instinct was toward self-consciousness. Obviously, this lone man sitting at the bar across from her was gorgeous. In fact, she had been surprised to find him alone. His sandy blond hair was swept faultlessly back from his angular face, and his eyes were such a vivid, gorgeous blue, their steady gaze stole the air from her lungs—and any memory of how to breathe along with it.

He had the face of a romance hero, one of the dashing men she wrote about in her books—something she had never expected to encounter in real life. She wondered idly if he was a movie star… one of those rarified beings who was, here and now, staring at her raptly and obviously awaiting her next move. It was a dance, she realized. The question was: did she want him to continue to take the lead?

How did you guess? She was all too aware in that moment of how unspectacular her accent was compared to his own. Then again, if she was a foreigner on this side of the pond, might she sound just a little exotic to an Englishman? Maybe a little Hollywood chic?

Or maybe that was too much to hope for.

I never guess. He signaled the bartender.

Brandy realized belatedly that he was ordering another drink for her. Cocky. She raised an eyebrow, not quite approving, not quite disapproving. Not ever?

I never make a move that isn’t calculated, the man replied.

Brandy calculated her own move, then, and moved a few stools closer. Oh no? Sounds boring.

"Am I boring you?" The Englishman raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head. No. Surprising me, yes. I didn’t expect to meet anyone while I stopped over.

What are you in town for?

His questions were so direct, they left her feeling a bit breathless. I’m here on business, she managed after a moment. She toyed with her drink, letting her fingertips rove the cool glass, mopping up the beads of water weeping down its sides.

What sort of business? The man’s eyes were transfixed on her fingers. In the ensuing silence, he raised his gaze to her face. His eyes were so blue, they burned. Brandy drew her lip between her teeth, desperate for a spark of physical contact, and his eyes followed. She had him hypnotized, she thought. Or had he already mesmerized her?

Family business. She didn’t mean to be evasive, but it was a long story, and one she didn’t wish to delve into at this moment. As excited as she was about what the future held for her here in England, at the moment, this man excited her more. He was gazing at her with unabashed hunger, and now that they had actually spoken, she sensed that his interest had been even further piqued. Maybe her curt responses added to a veneer of mystery, or maybe he hadn’t expected her to be a match for his questions.

But all he said in reply was, I’m here on family business, too.

What are the odds? Hard as it was to turn away from him, she did. She had drained her drink to