Her Twin Baby Secret

Could her biggest competition...

...become her babies’ father?

Alexa Moore is the definition of independent. She runs her own successful business and she’s decided to start a longed-for family—by herself! But after business rival Benjamin Foster comes to her rescue and pretends to be her boyfriend for a night, their earth-shattering kiss sparks Alexa’s desire to share much more with him... But having Benjamin in her life means she must confide in him—she’s pregnant with twins!

Being an author has always been THERESE BEHARRIE’s dream. But it was only when the corporate world loomed during her final year at university that she realised how soon she wanted that dream to become a reality. So she got serious about her writing, and now she writes the kind of books she wants to see in the world, featuring people who look like her, for a living. When she’s not writing she’s spending time with her husband and dogs in Cape Town, South Africa. She admits that this is a perfect life, and is grateful for it.

Also by Therese Beharrie

Tempted by the Billionaire Next Door

Surprise Baby, Second Chance

Her Festive Flirtation

Island Fling with the Tycoon

Conveniently Wed, Royally Bound miniseries

United by Their Royal Baby

Falling for His Convenient Queen

Billionaires for Heiresses miniseries

Second Chance with Her Billionaire

From Heiress to Mum

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Her Twin Baby Secret

Therese Beharrie

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90323-7

HER TWIN BABY SECRET

© 2020 Therese Beharrie

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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For Grant,

who would pretend to be in a fake relationship

with me so I could save face in a heartbeat.

If we weren’t already married, I mean. I love you.

For the online friends

who’ve become my community.

I didn’t ever think you could exist,

but I’m so grateful you do.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Dedication

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

PROLOGUE

ALEXA MOORE HAD never thought the pressure her parents had put on her her entire life would result in this. She barely contained the squeal of excitement tickling her throat.

Her father was sitting beside her in the car, her mother at the back. Both were staring at their phones. They were either checking their emails, replying to emails, or writing their own emails. Leighton and Karla Moore were simple in that way. Work came first; everything else, second. They’d reconciled having a family in light of those priorities by treating their children as though they were work. That was why Alexa and her younger brother by a year, Lee, were raised to function much as their parents did: work was the most important thing. Being Leighton and Karla’s children, they had to work harder than anyone else.

Who needed a loving, emotionally supportive family anyway?

But that wasn’t for today. Today was for happiness and new beginnings. She wasn’t stubborn enough not to acknowledge her parents’ contribution to this moment. It was part of why she’d brought them with her. They were the ones who had suggested—instructed—her to start working as soon as she turned sixteen. They’d told her to give them half of what she earned, and because she was their child she’d asked them to help her invest the other half. On her graduation from her Honours degree in business, they’d gifted her with a policy they’d taken out with that money. It had been an impressive nest egg. And it had kept growing while she attended culinary school.

She’d got a bursary to study at Cape Town’s Culinary Institute. She was lucky. If she hadn’t, she would have had to use that nest egg and she wouldn’t be able to move forward with her dream. Her parents had paid for her studies in business on the condition that she got distinctions for all her subjects. She had, though not easily, because she knew she’d already disappointed them by not taking the mathematics bursary an elite tertiary faculty had offered.

But her dream was her dream. A business degree helped her get to that dream—and helped her please her parents more than culinary school had. Their disappointment was worth it for this moment though. She had no student loans, four years of business knowledge, two years of culinary knowledge, and two years’ experience in the industry. She was finally ready. This was the last step.

She pulled up in front of the property, letting out a happy sigh before she got out of the car. The brick façade of the building was as appealing as it had been the first time she’d seen it. As the first time it had encouraged her to take a chance on it.

‘This is it.’

She clasped her fingers together behind her back to keep from fidgeting.

‘This?’

‘Yes.’ She straightened her spine at the disapproval in her father’s voice. ‘It’s an up-and-coming neighbourhood.’

‘It looks unsafe, Lex,’ Karla said.

‘Oh, it’s fine.’ She waved a hand. ‘You know how Cape Town city centre is. The fanciest road is right next to the dodgiest one. Besides, there are so many people around.’

As if proving it, a group of young people walked past them. They were most likely students; not exactly her target clientele. But everyone had to start somewhere, and students meant lecturers and parents and more mature people who would come to the classy joint in the dingy neighbourhood for the feel of it. She jiggled her shoulders.

‘I’m going to call it In the Rough, because this place is a diamond in the rough.’ She grinned. ‘It’s going to be—’

‘Lee, darling!’

The world either slowed at her mother’s exclamation, or Alexa’s heart was pumping alarmingly fast. Why was her brother here? How much of what she’d said had he heard? Would he use it against her?

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, her voice cool, a reaction to mitigate the heated emotions those questions had evoked. She would not show them that vulnerability. ‘I didn’t tell you about this.’

‘Dad did,’ Lee said, taking their father’s hand in a quick shake. ‘He told me about a week ago you were planning on showing them a property. Gave me the address and everything, so I could check it out myself.’

‘Why would you want to?’

‘I can’t check on what my big sister is doing with her life?’

No, she wanted to answer. She would have, if their parents weren’t there—they would disapprove. Somehow, after years of trying and failing to obtain their approval, she still wanted it. After years of her brother using that desire as a weapon to compete with her, she was still offering it to him.

‘To be fair, I’m not doing this with my life yet.’ She was trying to be civil, like she always did. Because she was still trying to be a decent person with Lee, too. When would she learn her lesson when it came to her family? ‘I wanted Mom and Dad to see this place before I put in an offer.’

‘I know.’

‘Did you want to see it, too?’

‘Oh, I already have.’

She frowned. ‘Why?’

‘Because I made an offer.’ He shoved his hands into his pockets, his smile catlike. ‘The owner accepted it this morning. This place is going to be mine.’

There was a stunned silence. Her parents broke it by asking Lee why he’d bought the place. Bits and pieces of his answer floated across to her. He wanted to secure the place as a surprise for Alexa. It was a smart business decision to invest in property, particularly in a neighbourhood that was fast becoming one to watch. If he and Alexa worked together, there was less chance of failure. The Moores could become a powerhouse in the hospitality industry.

Lies. Lies, all of it.

Lee spoke to them as fluently as he did his other languages. His linguistic skills were as impressive as her mathematical skills. He knew five of South Africa’s eleven official languages; he also knew how to fool their parents. They thought he was a good, supportive brother when in reality, he was a master manipulator. All for the sake of winning a competition he’d made up in his head where they were the only competitors and he the only willing participant.

‘Alexa,’ Karla called. ‘You’re daydreaming, darling.’

She blinked. ‘Sorry.’

‘Did you hear what your brother did?’

‘Yes.’

‘Aren’t you glad?’

‘Why would I be glad?’

Her mother exchanged a look with her father. Leighton took the baton.

‘Lee’s made the smart decision here. It’s not a buyer’s market at the moment, so you might not have got the property. He has more capital, and more clout, so he had a better chance of being successful in the purchase.’

‘He didn’t know about the property before you told him,’ she said numbly. ‘And he only has more capital because he’s been working longer.’ In the business sector, which was more lucrative. Even her nest egg couldn’t beat that. ‘The owner said she hadn’t had much interest in the six months the property’s been on the market.’

‘She did sound thrilled with my offer.’

She turned at the satisfaction in Lee’s voice. When she saw it reflected on his face, her heart broke. This didn’t feel like the other times. When he’d race to the dinner table, turn back to her and say, ‘I win!’ though he’d been the only one running. Or when he would bring a test home from school, announcing that he’d beat Alexa’s mark from the year before.

This was more malicious. It was...uglier. And it proved that she would always be a target Lee would shoot at, no matter what the cost.

Unless she did something about it.

‘I hope you find a tenant soon, Lee.’

‘Wait!’ he said when she started walking to her car. ‘I thought you’d rent it?’

‘So you can pop in whenever you want? Make your presence known in my business? Pull the rug out from under me when I think I’m safe?’ She shook her head. ‘I appreciate the offer, but you’ll have to find someone else.’

‘Alexa, you’re being foolish.’

‘No, Dad, I’m being realistic. But this is a great neighbourhood.’ Her voice cracked, echoing her heart. ‘He’ll find someone to rent from him soon enough.’

‘Darling, your brother only wants to help.’

She took a deep breath before offering her mother a smile. ‘I know.’ Even after he’d punctured a hole in her dreams and her parents were defending him, she couldn’t be blunt. ‘I can’t take his help or I wouldn’t be making the Moore name proud, would I? It’s all about achieving things we can be proud of. I can’t be proud of this.’

Another breath.

‘You should go to the restaurant I booked for us tonight with Lee. He deserves it.’ She smiled at her family, well aware that it didn’t reach her eyes. ‘I hope you enjoy the food.’

She got into her car and drove away, leaving her heart and her dreams shattered behind her.

CHAPTER ONE

Four years later

‘OH,’ ALEXA SAID FLATLY. ‘It’s you.’

Benjamin Foster couldn’t help the laugh that rumbled in his chest. ‘Yes, it’s me.’

Alexa Moore, owner of the elite Infinity restaurant, and the woman who probably hated him more than anyone else in the world, glowered.

‘You need to stop following me.’

‘I’m not following you,’ he denied.

‘Are you sure? You seem to be everywhere I am.’

‘Because we’re in the same business.’

Her eyes stopped scanning the room and settled on him. Sharpened. ‘You’re here to offer Cherise de Bruyn a job.’

He tilted his head. ‘How did you know?’

‘You think I didn’t hear about Victor Fourie being poached from In the Rough?’ She smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. ‘It’s terrible when karma does her thing, isn’t it?’

‘I’m not sure why she would get involved.’

She gave him a look. He allowed himself a small smile.

‘Fine, I do know.’ A few seconds passed. Something cleared in his brain. ‘You’re here to offer Cherise a job, too.’

She responded by ignoring him. He shouldn’t have wanted to smile. It seemed rude to since he was the reason she had to offer Cherise a job. She hadn’t confirmed that was why she was there, but he was fairly certain. When the thought of being rude did nothing to deter his amusement—apparently what his presence did to her tickled his funny bone—he turned to the barperson and ordered a drink.

‘Can I get you one?’

‘I don’t want to owe you one, so no, thank you.’

He tsked. ‘That’s not very mature, Alexa.’

‘Maturity is for the weak,’ she muttered under her breath.

He didn’t bother hiding his grin this time, but paid for his drink before he replied. ‘I don’t agree with that.’

‘Why would you, Benjamin?’ she said with a sigh. ‘I said it. On principle, you can’t agree with me lest you seem weak.’

‘“Lest”?’

‘It means to avoid the risk of.’

‘I know what it means. I’m wondering why you said it.’

She sighed again, as though he were chopping up the last of her patience. Which was probably true. They’d known one another for eight years now. Or perhaps it would be better to say they’d known about one another for eight years. They didn’t know one another, not by a long shot. They had only gone to the Culinary Institute together, the current venue of their meeting, and met on and off in the six years after that.

Whenever they did, they rubbed each other up the wrong way. It caused a friction so intense that sometimes Benjamin struggled to figure out how he felt about her. On the one hand, she never backed down, said interesting things like lest, and made him laugh. On the other hand, she was his greatest competition.

Who could be friendly with the competition?

Infinity was rated highly on all the important websites. He often heard whispers of the patrons of his own restaurant comparing In the Rough’s food or ambience to Infinity’s. It wasn’t uncommon for patrons to do so; comments like that were part of the business. But her restaurant was the one he heard mentioned most frequently. It was also the one they preferred most frequently.

‘Really?’ she asked when he leaned against the bar. ‘In this spacious, beautiful, but most importantly spacious place, you couldn’t find someone else to bother?’

‘Bothering you is more fun.’

Her reply came in the form of a glare. He smiled back, sipped from his drink, and didn’t move. He did watch though.

She was right—the venue was gorgeous. It was nestled in the valley of one of the many vineyards in Stellenbosch. Bright green fields stretched out in front of them courtesy of an all-glass wall. The room they were in, usually a dining hall, had been transformed for the sake of the graduation. Chairs were set out in rows, a small stage had been erected on one side, and the opposite side housed the bar they were at. On the other side of the glass wall, accessed through a door on the side, were tables and chairs under tall trees.

He remembered sitting there many a lunch time when he’d been at the Institute. Hell, he remembered watching Alexa glower at him from inside the dining hall much in the same way she was doing now. He’d known even then that she was dangerous. How, he wasn’t sure.

‘What the hell is he doing here?’

The words weren’t meant for him, but he heard them. When he followed her gaze, he saw the cause. Her brother, his business partner, was there. Benjamin didn’t know why. Securing a head chef was more in line with Benjamin’s responsibilities. But their partnership had evolved in the last four years, and their roles weren’t what they initially were when they started working together.

Back then, Benjamin was the head chef and Lee’s management company dealt with the running of the restaurant. Benjamin had since taken over some of those responsibilities, which was hard to do without a head chef. It meant that Benjamin’s time was still needed in the kitchen. For three glorious months after Victor Fourie had been persuaded to work for In the Rough, Benjamin had been able to explore more of the management side of things. As it turned out, he enjoyed running a restaurant more than spending all his time in the kitchen.

But Lee had been acting strangely when it came to this head chef thing. With Victor Fourie, Lee had actively encouraged Benjamin to go after the man even though he knew Victor worked for Alexa. It had started out harmlessly enough. They’d been out for drinks one night, discussing work, when the chef walked into the bar. It had seemed like a perfectly fair move to ask him to join them. After that night, Lee had told him to get Victor to take over some of Benjamin’s responsibilities. Since it would take an immense amount of pressure off Benjamin, he’d done it, though he hadn’t understood Lee’s insistence. Now Lee was here...

‘Ben!’ Lee said when he saw them. His eyes flickered to his sister. Something Benjamin didn’t like shimmered there. ‘Fancy seeing you here.’

‘Is it?’ Benjamin asked, taking Lee’s hand. ‘I told you I was coming.’

‘He has to pretend it’s a surprise in front of me,’ Alexa said, her voice emotionless.

He’d only ever heard her speak that way with her brother. He would have thought, after his and Alexa’s antagonistic history, she would have aimed that tone at him, too. But when she spoke to him, her voice was icy, or annoyed, or full of emotion, none of which he could read. He found he preferred it.

‘If he doesn’t,’ she continued, ‘it would be clear that he’s really here because of me.’

‘Not everything I do is because of you, Alexa.’ Lee said it smoothly, but Benjamin could feel the resentment.

‘I wish that were true.’

Lee didn’t acknowledge that Alexa had spoken. ‘What I am surprised about is finding you two together.’

‘Why?’ Benjamin asked.

‘Don’t you hate one another?’

He looked at Alexa; Alexa looked at him. For a beat, they said nothing. Her expression changed then, going from icy cool to warm. His heart thundered in response to her hazel eyes opening. They grew lighter when they did, so that he could see the green flecks in the light brown. In a way no grown man should experience, Benjamin’s knees went weak.

Her eyebrow quirked, as if she knew, though there was no possible way she could. But the show of sassiness pulled the side of her face higher, softening a defined cheekbone. It was an extraordinary juxtaposition to the other side of her face, which was untouched by the expression. It was still hard lines and sharp angles. That had never applied to her lips though, one side of which was now quirked up—much like her brow—in amusement. At him. He was amusing her.

Because he was admiring her full lips that looked as soft as dough. An interesting comparison, though not surprising since he regularly dealt with dough. What was surprising was that he wanted to mould that dough as he did in the kitchen. But with his lips instead of his hands, though he could imagine brushing a thumb over those soft creases...

He took a long drag from his drink, severely disappointed that it wasn’t alcohol. He could have done with the shock, the burn of downing a whiskey. But no, he’d decided he shouldn’t drink because he wanted a clear head when he spoke to Cherise.

How was this clear?

‘Well, Lee,’ Alexa said, her voice as smooth as the brandy he’d longed for. Or had he thought of whiskey? ‘You know what they say: hate and love are two sides of the same coin.’

Lee’s head dropped. ‘What are you saying?’

‘You don’t know?’ She turned to Benjamin. ‘You kept your word. How lovely of you.’