Set in Hollywood, the story follows Mia Spinelli and Bronson Dane. Dane comes from a family steeped in Hollywood. His mother is a famous actress, his sister a famous designer and he is a highly successful movie producer. He is leery of women, having been burned by an aspiring actress once before. Mia comes from working for his nemesis, Anthony Price, and a man who she was linked with romantically in the tabloids, to work as his mother’s personal assistant, Bronson is leery of her too. Is she spying for Anthony? What did they have together? So he tries the age-old theory that it is better to keep your enemies close. But he didn’t count on Mia’s beauty and spunk attracting him to the point that one night in Cannes, they ended up spending the night together. Nor did he plan on her ending up pregnant a few months later.

Mia, meanwhile is equally stunned. She and Anthony were just good friends and when her working for him started interfering with his marriage; she decided to pursue another job. And she learned a secret she wished she hadn’t. Anthony is the son that Olivia Dane gave up for adoption when she was just starting out in her career. She is determined to keep this secret for Anthony until he decides to deal with it and yet, as she grows closer to Bronson and they start to work together to build a life for their child, she is fearful that this secret will tear them apart.

What made this story work was Mia’s determination and the character of Olivia. Olivia is a strong woman and is determined that her son will not let one bad actress ruin his ability to love. She pushes Mia to push Bronson and in doing so, gives her the courage to go after what she wants – a life for her child with a father in the picture. And she is courageous enough to confront Bronson when he is acting the Neanderthal, like he does at times as a means of protection.

As an added bonus, Harlequin has given us a story by Leanne Banks entitled Billionaire’s Baby in celebration of their 30th anniversary. It is a nicely done short story about two people who have a romantic time in Cozumel and were reunited four years later to fulfill their destiny.

--Shirley Lyons