Baby Bombshell For The Doctor Prince

His secret: he’s a prince!

Her secret: she’s carrying his baby!

After ER doc Lev Vanin shared one unforgettable night with gorgeous Dr. Imogen Hayes, he never expected to see her again. He couldn’t tell Imogen he’s actually a prince! But when a revolution at home forces Lev into hiding, he ends up working in Imogen’s hospital and his secret is out! Plus, Lev’s life is about to be turned upside down once again...because Imogen’s pregnant with his heir!

Born and raised just outside Toronto, Ontario, AMY RUTTAN fled the big city to settle down with the country boy of her dreams. After the birth of her second child Amy was lucky enough to realise her lifelong dream of becoming a romance author. When she’s not furiously typing away at her computer she’s mum to three wonderful children, who use her as a personal taxi and chef.

Also by Amy Ruttan

Convenient Marriage, Surprise Twins

Navy Doc on Her Christmas List

The Surgeon King’s Secret Baby

A Mummy for His Daughter

A Date with Dr Moustakas

NY Doc Under the Northern Lights

Carrying the Surgeon’s Baby

The Surgeon’s Convenient Husband

Royal Doc’s Secret Heir

Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Baby Bombshell for the Doctor Prince

Amy Ruttan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90240-7

BABY BOMBSHELL FOR THE DOCTOR PRINCE

© 2020 Amy Ruttan

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 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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For my readers.

I wouldn’t be here, at this milestone,

without all of your support.

Much love.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Dedication

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

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

CHAPTER ONE

Toronto, Ontario

DANG IT!

She was late.

Imogen hated being late. Especially on the first day of the medical conference, in her first lab of the conference. This was a lab she’d specifically signed up for. This was her number one reason for coming to the conference and she was late.

Jet lag. It was jet lag and that was the story she was sticking to.

She’d been in Yellowknife a long time and hadn’t traveled in a while. Jet lag usually didn’t bother her.

Except today, of course. It had to be today.

She slipped into the room, hoping no one clocked her or noticed she was late for the simulation lab that was the talk of this conference. It was the whole reason why she had come. If it hadn’t been for the lab and workshops, she would’ve stayed in Yellowknife, in her safe little bubble where she knew her routines, knew her patients, knew her work.

She tried to move quietly at the back of the lab, looking for any open seat.

“Dr. Hayes?”

She cringed as her name was called out.

“Yes. Sorry,” she responded.

The instructor looked less than impressed. “Join group five over there. They’ve already started without you.”

Imogen’s cheeks heated with embarrassment as she slunk over to group five.

She sat down. The other two doctors briefly filled her in, but she knew they were annoyed she was late.

She was too. The last thing she wanted was to be the center of attention. She hated it, and arriving late had done exactly that.

Her ex, Allen, had craved the limelight and she didn’t.

She loved helping her patients. She loved Yellowknife, but Allen had wanted more.

She was mortified to be the last one here.

“Another latecomer,” the instructor piped up. “Honestly, people, let’s not make this a precedent. Join group five, please.”

Imogen looked up to see the other straggler, hoping to find a kindred spirit with whom she could commiserate. Her mouth dropped open when she saw who was walking toward her group.

He was six-three, at least, broad-shouldered, blue-eyed, and he had a neat beard. He reminded her of all those Viking heroes that she would see on the covers of her best friend’s mother’s romance novels. The ones she and her friend would sneak out and read at slumber parties.

It was like he had walked straight out of the pages of a book.

She was pretty tall herself, at five-eleven, so it was rare for her to find someone who towered over her and made her feel like she could actually wear a nice pair of heels with him and be swept off her feet.

Allen had never liked her to wear heels, as he was already an inch shorter than her.

What are you thinking about? Why are you thinking like this?

It had to be the jet lag. She wasn’t thinking rationally. She shook those thoughts from her head.

He sat down next to her, smiling politely at her; she met his gaze, which was intense. It was as if he could read exactly what she was thinking and he in turn looked her up and down with a brief flick of his eyes.

She really hoped she wasn’t blushing, because suddenly it was very hot in this room, especially after the chilly reception she had received from the others and the hotel air-conditioning, which was cranked up full blast.

“I’m Dr. Hayes,” she whispered. “And I was late too.”

He smiled. “Dr. Vanin.”

He had an accent she couldn’t quite place, but there was no time to talk, as they both had to catch up on what they’d missed.

And she got the feeling, by the way he sat so stiffly beside her, that he wasn’t the chatty type. After the instructor gave them all directions, their group went to work in the simulation lab that had been set up. She was paired off with Dr. Vanin as they practiced using robotic technology to perform a surgery she would usually do with a laparoscope.

Their operation on the silicone abdomen was removing a gallbladder with a gallstone that was lodged in the common bile duct. One that could not be retrieved after an ERCP and that needed to be surgically removed.

Thankfully, this was her forte.

She was one of the top general surgeons in the Northwest Territories.

“Have you ever used this technology before?” Dr. Vanin asked.

“Robotic, no, but I’m pretty familiar with laparoscopic surgery, but when there’s a situation like this with a stone lodged in a duct, I usually do a full laparotomy at that point. It’s why I’m here, to learn how to do this kind of surgery in the most minimally invasive way possible.”

He nodded, seemingly impressed. “I do not do much general surgery, especially delicate work with laparoscopes. My specialty is trauma. I’m here to hone my skills.”

“Well, I can help guide you.” She stepped to the side. “Why don’t you go first?”

He smiled warmly. “Thank you, Dr. Hayes.”

“No problem.” Imogen stood beside him. Her heart raced like she was a young girl standing beside her first crush. It was silly, but there was just something about him that made her feel out of control.

And she didn’t like to lose control.

Control protected her. It had got her where she was today.

And she was kicking herself for offering to guide him with the instruments. The last thing she wanted to do was crow about her achievements. Allen used to get so defensive when she was lauded over him.

Allen’s not here. He’s gone.

“If I’m overstepping...” she started to say, and he looked up at her, confused.

“How? I appreciate the help from a more experienced general surgeon. Please, you are not overstepping.”

She blushed. “Okay.”

He nodded and turned his attention back to the instruments.

She watched him use the robotic controls easily. He was picking it up quickly.

“What stitch do you use on the common bile duct?” he asked.

“A running stitch using a monofilament absorbable suture. That allows me proper repair of the anastomosis of the bile duct. And it will hold well; the last thing a patient needs is a leak, which would lead to sepsis.”

“Show me how you do it.” He stood up and she took his spot. She showed him her running stitch, which she could do blindfolded.

“You do that so efficiently,” he remarked.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. It is the truth,” he stated.

She blushed. “Still, thanks.”

Imogen couldn’t remember anyone, other than her late father, complimenting her. But her father had had to compliment her—he was her father. He had been supportive and loving, but he’d also been biased.

Allen had never complimented her, but she’d never really worked much with him because the way they’d started out had been through professional rivalry, a torrid romance, then her broken heart when he’d left because he couldn’t handle her popularity or life in the north.

She’d sworn she’d never again date another doctor.

Of course, with her workload in Yellowknife, she never had time to date, and the only people she interacted with besides patients were doctors, paramedics, nurses...medical people.

So she never bothered dating. Never thought about it.

And if she didn’t think about it, she had control over her feelings. She didn’t feel so alone or hurt.

Why are you thinking about it now, then?

She had to get a grip. She was not at this conference to date. She was here to work. Even if her friend and boss, Jeanette, had told her to loosen up and enjoy herself, Imogen had no time for that.

Once she finished her part of the lab, and the class was over, she was going to ask Dr. Vanin out for a cup of coffee. But when she looked up, he’d already left the room. She was disappointed, but it was probably for the best that she keep her distance.

All week she saw him. And as much as she tried to avoid him, they always seemed to sit next to each other and during labs they always partnered up. But when the class was done he’d disappear. Even though she made other acquaintances at the conference, when she’d spot Dr. Vanin, he was always on his own and he always seemed to disappear before she had the chance to really talk to him.

He wasn’t really talkative, but he was smart and knowledgeable and, oh, so sexy.

So when she walked into the hotel bar for the mixer at the end of the conference, and saw him brooding at the bar rather than conversing with the rest of the physicians, she steeled her resolve to go and talk to him.

Even if this was so not her usual modus operandi, she didn’t know anyone else. If she took control of the situation, then she could make a new friend. She could even call it networking, since he was a fellow professional and she absolutely, definitely was not going to date anyone medical ever again.

The way her own parents had ended up had made her a little gun-shy. Her father had been perpetually waiting for her mother to come back, but she never had.

She shook away the thought of the mother she’d never known.

This wasn’t dating. This was a mixer and she didn’t work with Dr. Vanin. All she was doing was going to talk to someone interesting.

And sexy.

Her stomach flip-flopped as she approached him.

“Dr. Vanin... Lev, isn’t it?”

Dr. Vanin turned around on his bar stool and smiled. “Yes. And you’re Dr. Hayes, if I remember, yes?”

“Yes, but you can call me Imogen.” She extended her hand. “May I sit?”

He nodded and motioned to the empty bar stool next to him, and suddenly she felt very awkward and out of place.

Say something.

“We seemed to have been at every workshop together. Quite a coincidence, eh?” She cringed inwardly at using such an obvious Canadian colloquialism.

“That we do,” he said. His eyes twinkled and she hoped he found her awkwardness cute rather than goofy.

“Where are you from?” she asked.

“I’m from Chenar.”

“Where exactly is that again?” She knew it was in Europe but felt silly for not having a better grasp of geography.

He smiled and nodded. “Northeastern Europe. Our country was founded by Viking traders looking for access to the Silk Road by land instead of by sea. It’s why we appear more Nordic than Russian. I get asked that all the time. Not many people know where it is. They just assume I’m Romanian or Russian.”

“Now I remember. It’s a small, unique country. I’ve been there, but a long time ago.”

His smile brightened. “You’ve been there? How unusual.”

“My father loved to travel. It was just the two of us and we went to a lot of places when I was young.”

“Does your father still travel?”

“No. He passed a couple of years ago.” Imogen tried to swallow the lump in her throat as she thought of her father, a scientist, who had been working up in Alert. He’d passed away from a major hemorrhagic stroke. Gone before he’d even hit the floor.

Imogen had been traveling to smaller communities up in Nunavut when it had happened. It was a sore spot for her that she hadn’t been there when he’d passed. He’d been her only family. It had been just the two of them for so long.

Her throat tightened.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lev said gently.

“Thank you.” She cleared her throat, trying not to cry.

“And now that I have thoroughly depressed you,” he teased, “what should we talk about next?”

Imogen smiled at him. “No. I’m fine. Really.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you sure? I mean, this social thing is kind of sad, and then I went and depressed you further...”

“You’re not depressing me.”

“Good.” He took another sip of his drink. “I would hate to drag you down with me.”

Imogen glanced over her shoulder. He wasn’t wrong. It was summer and this was Toronto. She’d lived in the city when she was at university and then medical school. They were in a stodgy hotel with cheap drinks and bland food. Outside, Toronto was just coming to life.

“Do you want to get out of here?” she whispered conspiratorially.

He perked up. “Really?”

“I used to live in Toronto. I could take you on a quick tour if you’d like?”

Lev grinned and there was a twinkle in those deep blue eyes. “I would like that very much.”

“Good.” She set down her drink. “Let’s go, before someone else decides to talk to us.”

Lev finished the rest of his Scotch and followed her out of the bar.

It was kind of exciting to sneak out of the hotel, dumping their name badges on a table just outside the reception room.

In only a few minutes they were out of the hotel and on Front Street. The sun was only just beginning to set, though it wasn’t late. Where she lived now, in Yellowknife, the summer sun wouldn’t set for hours. It was one of her favorite things about living so far north, but there was still something magical about sunset in a bustling city like Toronto, with the city lights coming on and reflecting in the water of Lake Ontario. Toronto never seemed to sleep. It was exciting and thrilling. She’d forgotten that.

“There is one thing I want to do,” Lev said as they walked along Front Street. “Something I’ve wanted to do since I came to Toronto.”

“What’s that?” she asked, curious.

“Go up that!” Lev pointed to the CN Tower.

“Sure. We can see if it’s still open.” Without thinking, Imogen took his hand. She froze for a moment when she realized what she’d done, but he didn’t pull away or seem to mind as they headed in the direction of Union Station. They ran across the road, dodging and weaving through the parked cars and the small evening traffic jam in front of the train station.

There were people on their way to some concert at the Scotiabank Arena and there were others trying to make their way home, taxis dropping off and picking up in front of Union Station. She led him through the train station and to the walkway that connected the station to the major attractions that hugged the Toronto waterfront.

They were lucky and able to get two tickets, which Lev insisted that he pay for because she was his tour guide.

It was a quick elevator ride up, and Imogen had to plug her ears as they popped. Soon they were on the observation deck of what used to be the tallest freestanding structure in the world.

They stood side by side, looking out over the city, which was lighting up as the sun sank on the west side of the city. Lev didn’t say much and Imogen stood beside him, her pulse racing with the anticipation of something new and exciting.

Something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“So big,” Lev whispered. “This city is about the size of my country.”

“It’s a pretty big city. All the years I lived here, this is my first time on the observation deck.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Really? Why?”

She shrugged. “I was at medical school. I was focused. I didn’t make time.”

She hadn’t made time for a lot of things and that saddened her.

They wandered along the perimeter of the observation deck until they were looking south at the lake. When she looked out over Lake Ontario, she closed her eyes and imagined she was back home in Yellowknife, on her houseboat and listening to the sounds of Great Slave Lake. She hated being so far from home. No matter where she and her father had traveled, they’d always come back to Yellowknife. She opened her eyes and looked out over the city and Lake Ontario.

Lake Ontario was smaller than Great Slave Lake, but you couldn’t tell when on the shoreline, as both were vast and she didn’t really care to think about it. Not now. Not when she was standing next to a man who made her body thrum with excitement, in a way Allen never had.

It’s just lust.

Allen had been her boyfriend for three years, and lust didn’t last forever.

She’d just met Lev. He was new.

She needed to get a grip on these crazy emotions. She had to get back in control. Only she liked this feeling of living a little. It was fun and new. It wasn’t going to be anything serious.

This was what she should’ve done when she was younger, but she’d been too afraid. She was still afraid, but she was going to savor tonight. It was the first step she needed to take, to put the burning mess of what had happened between her and Allen behind her.

Her first step in moving on.

Even if Allen had moved on a couple of years ago.

“I have never seen a lake so large.”

“This is the seventh largest in Canada.” She winced. Her father had always called her an encyclopedia and Allen had hated her little trivia facts.

Lev’s eyebrows rose. “Only seventh? Which is the largest?”

Imogen frowned. “Uh, I think Lake Superior. It’s farther north, but still in Ontario.”

Lev leaned forward. “I like Canada. I have only been here a short time and I wish I could stay. A man could get lost here.”

He said the last bit almost wistfully, like he wanted to get lost, and she didn’t really blame him for thinking that way. It was why she liked working in the north. Even though Yellowknife was a city, it was far from anything else.

Only a thirty-minute drive out of the city and it was wilderness, trees and rock that had been exposed by glaciers.

It was easy to get lost up there, but it was a place where she’d found herself after Allen had broken her heart and her father had died.

“What is on the islands?” Lev asked as they watched a ferry slowly make its way from Queens Quay to the islands.

“Some homes, parks, a nudist beach,” she teased.

Lev chuckled. “Wouldn’t it be cold?”

“Not in the summer. We don’t all drive a snowmobile to work.” She did, in the winter.

“I never thought that. Do people think that?” he asked.

“Some,” she said dryly.

He shook his head. “Well, I just meant it’s night and the water looks cold.”

“Yes. It can be cold, but I doubt people are at the beach now.”

A lazy grin spread on his face. “Why not? Darkness hides a lot.”

Her heart skipped a beat and she felt the blush rise in her cheeks as she tried not to think of the two of them alone on the nudist beach with only the moon lighting up the sky.

“Where can we get a drink?” he asked, breaking the tension.

“I know a nice place down by the waterfront.”