Best Friend To Royal Bride / Surprise Baby For The Billionaire. Annie Claydon

       CHAPTER ONE

      The first Friday in February

      THE EVENING OF the first Friday in February had been marked out as ‘busy’ in Marie’s calendar for the last twelve years. As she looked around the table, stacked with food and wine, twelve people all talking at once, she could only hope that it would be booked for the next twelve years.

      During her final year at medical school there had been one class that was special. A tight-knit group who had laughed together and shared the ups and downs of their studies. Since then they’d graduated and gone their separate ways, but one evening every year still belonged to them.

      Sunita was passing her phone around so that everyone could see the pictures of her new baby. Will was just back from America, and Rae had stories to tell about Africa. Nate was having relationship problems, and was talking intently to David, who was nodding thoughtfully. When she got the chance, Marie would change seats and offer what support she could.

      And Alex…

      Marie didn’t like to admit it, but she looked forward to seeing him the most. He had been the golden boy of the class, managing to combine a carefree love of life and a wicked sense of fun with academic brilliance. He and Marie had struck up an especially close friendship and, in truth, if you were looking for anything long-term with Alex, then friendship was the way to go. He was seldom without a girlfriend, but those relationships never lasted very long.

      Tonight he looked as if he had things on his mind. He’d flipped through Sunita’s photographs, grinning and saying all the right things, but when he’d passed the phone on he’d gone back to playing with his food and staring abstractedly into space.

      Marie leaned over, feeling the softness of his cashmere sweater as she brushed her fingers against his arm to get his attention. ‘What’s going on, Alex?’

      ‘I’m…coasting at the moment. One hand on the driving wheel with the wind in my hair.’ He shrugged, smiling suddenly. Those long-lashed grey eyes were still the same, and so was his mop of dark hair, shorter now but still as thick.

      The memory was as fresh as if it had been yesterday. Alex pulling up outside her student digs, the soft top of his car pulled back, saying he just wanted to feel the warm breeze on his face and would Marie like to keep