Jameson Bronwyn - The Bought-And-Paid for Wife

8/13/2019 Jameson Bronwyn - The Bought-And-Paid for Wife

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The Bought-and-Paid-

for WifeBronwvn Jameson

Published by Silhouette Books America's Publisher of Contemporary Romance

From the Library of Thomas Fleetwood ekamn!For all my readers" with a special mention to those who'#e written to me! $ treasure e#erynote andletter and card!And to %rs! &hite" the number one ad#ocate for my own little Lew! Thank you" (!

Special thanks and acknowled)ment are )i#en to Bronwyn *ameson for her contributionto T+, S,CR,T L$-,S .F S.C$,T/ &$-,S miniseries!

Contents

Acknowled)ments

Chapter .ne

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Fi#e

Chapter Si0Chapter Se#en

Chapter ,i)ht

Chapter 1ineChapter Ten

Chapter ,le#enChapter Twel#e

Comin) 1e0t %onth

One

+e'd seen pictures! +e'd e0pected beautiful! After all" when a man chooses a trophy wife"he wants one other men will co#et! But Tristan Thorpe hadn't appreciated the e0tent of

that beauty2 or its powerful clout2 until the front door of the Connecticut colonial

opened in a rush and she was there" fi#e3and3a3bit feet of breathtakin) impact!-anessa Thorpe! +is father's widow! The enemy!

$n e#ery one of those society diary pictures she looked as )lossy and polished as a trophy

pri4e should!! !which had left Tristan speculatin) o#er how much was real2 the platinum

hair5 the full lips5 the petite but perfectly cur#ed body52 and how much came courtesy


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of his father's wealth!

+e hadn't wondered about the sparklers at her throat and in her ears! Those" he knew"

were real! 6nlike her other multi3faceted assets" the diamonds appeared on the listed#aluations of Stuart Thorpe's estate!

But here" now" seein) her in the flesh for the first time" Tristan didn't notice anythin)

fake! All he saw was the #ery real sparkle in her sil#ery3)reen eyes and the smile!&armer than the Au)ust sunat his back now that the rain had cleared" it lit her wholeface with pleasure and licked his body with instant male appreciation!

That hot shot of hormones lasted all of a second" which was as lon) as it took for shock tofree4e the smile on her perfect pink lips!

$ts!!!you

+er whispered )asp came coated with dismay and" althou)h she didn't mo#e" Tristan saw

the recoil in her e0pression! She wanted to back away! +ell" she probably wanted to slamthe door in his face" and a per#erse part of him wished she would )i#e it a )o! The lon)

fli)ht from Australia and the snarled afternoon traffic followin) a hea#y rainstorm had

him ed)y enou)h to en7oy that kind of confrontation!

Lo)ic" howe#er" was Tristan Thorpe's master and it cautioned him to remain cool! Sorryto disappoint you" duchess! And because he wasn't the least bit sorry" he smiled" as slow

and mockin) as his drawled )reetin)! .b#iously" you were e0pectin) someone else!.b#iously!

Tristan arched an eyebrow! idn't you say $ was welcome here any time5 $ don't recall2

Two years a)o" he reminded her! After her husband's death! Seein) as she had to call

his estran)ed family on the other side of the world to inform them of his passin)" why not

e0tend her lar)esse5 An e03waitress with e0pectations of a cool hundred million ininheritance could afford to appear )enerous!

Ri)ht now she didn't look so )enerous! $n fact she looked downri)ht inhospitable! &hy

are you here" Tristan5 The court date isn't until ne0t month!$f it's e#en necessary!

Surprise and suspicion narrowed her eyes! +a#e you chan)ed your mind5 Are you

droppin) your contest of the will51ot a chance!

Then what do you want5

There's been a new de#elopment! Tristan paused" sa#orin) the moment! +e'd flown

nearly ten thousand miles for this! +e wanted to dra) it out" to see her flail" before hebrou)ht her down! $ think you'll chan)e your mind about keepin) that court date!

For a second she stared at him" her e0pression re#ealin) nothin) but annoyance! Behind

her" somewhere within the mansion's #ast interior" a phone started to rin)! +e saw hermomentary distraction" a )lance" a ti)htenin) of her lips" before she spoke!

$f this is another of your attempts to obstruct e0ecution of Stuart's will2 the hostility

in her eyes and her #oice confirmed that's e0actly what she thou)ht2 please take it tomy lawyer" the same as you'#e done with e#ery other new de#elopment the past two

years! 1othin) has chan)ed in that re)ard! 1ow" if you'll e0cuse me!!!

.h" no! 1o way would he be dismissed! 1ot with that snooty #oice" not with that

imperious lift of her perfect little chin!


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Tristan didn't stop to consider propriety or )ood manners! To pre#ent her closin) the door

on him" he stepped forward! To halt her lea#in)" he reached out and cau)ht her by the

arm!The bare arm" he reali4ed as the shock of her warm and female softness shot throu)h his

system!

-a)uely" beneath that purr of awareness" he felt her stillness and heard the hitch of herbreath! Shock" no doubt" that he'd dare lay a hand on her!

/ou don't want to close that door on me! +is #oice sounded rou)h" a deep )rowl in the

tense silence! And he reali4ed that the shrill rin)in) of the telephone had stopped"whether because someone had picked up or the caller had 8uit" he didn't know and

couldn't care! /ou don't want me takin) this public!

1o5

$f you're smart2 And she was! They mi)ht ha#e dealt with each other lar)ely throu)hlawyers" but he'd ne#er underestimated the smarts behind her platinum blond looks 2

you'll keep this between you and me!

Their eyes clashed with raw anta)onism and somethin) else! The same somethin) that

still bu44ed throu)h his system and ti)htened his )ut! The same somethin) that made himrelease his )rip on her arm without breakin) eye contact" e#en when he heard the rubbery

s8uelch of rapidly approachin) sneakers on the foyer's marble floor!Take the call if you need" he said! $ can wait!

The owner of the sneakers stopped and cleared her throat and Tristan's attention switched

to a trim middle3a)ed woman" e#en shorter than -anessa! espite her casual 7eans and T3shirt attire" he pe))ed her as the housekeeper! Perhaps because of the old3fashioned

feather duster pokin) out from under one arm!

Sorry to interrupt! ,#en thou)h she addressed her boss" the woman's )a4e flicked o#er

Tristan" not curious" not ner#ous" but si4in) him up! The dislike in her e0pressionsu))ested she reco)ni4ed him! Andy needs to speak to you!

Thank you" 9loria! $'ll take it in the library! And your!!! )uest5

The pause was deliberate! +e )ot the distinct impression that" like her employer" shewould relish tossin) the )uest out on his backside! And then turnin) the do)s on him!

Show him to the sittin) room!

1o need! Tristan's )a4e shifted to -anessa! $ li#ed here for twel#e years! $ can find myown way!

That re)istered like a slap of shock in her rain3on3water eyes but she didn't comment!

$nstead she inclined her head and played the )racious hostess! Can 9loria brin) you tea5

.r a cold drink5&ould that be safe5

The housekeeper made a sound that fell midway between a snort and a lau)h! +er boss"

howe#er" didn't appear to appreciate his )ibe! +er lips compressed into a ti)ht line! $won't keep you lon)!

on't hurry on my account!

She paused" 7ust lon) enou)h to cast him a lon)" frosty look o#er one shoulder! Belie#eme! $ ne#er do anythin) on your account" Tristan!

6ttered with the perfect mi0 of scorn and indifference" it was a killer closin) line2 one

he would ha#e paid with a salute of lau)hter at another time" in another place! &ith

another ad#ersary! But this was -anessa Thorpe and she was already halfway across the


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foyer" her head bent in earnest con#ersation with her employee!

+e couldn't distin)uish words" but the low lilt of her #oice packed the same impact as her

million3watt smile!

$t created the same stin) of heat as when he'd )ripped her arm!! !and that heat still

prickled in the palm of his hand! Fle0in) his fin)ers helped! Allowin) his )a4e to dropbelow her shoulders didn't!

She wore a little dress2 a sundress" he supposed" althou)h the milk3pale skin it re#ealed

hadn't seen much sun! -ery little skin lay bare: this was not a pro#ocati#e dress! Thesilky material didn't clin) as much as flow with the subtle cur#es of her body! $t was

classy" e0pensi#e and feminine! The kind of dress that whispered woman to e#ery red3

blooded male cell he owned!

At the door to the library" she )a#e final instructions to the housekeeper who hurried off!To fi0 his tea" with a side of lemon" milk and arsenic" he presumed!

For a lon) moment the only sound was the retreatin) s8ueak of rubber soles and then" as

if she felt the touch of his )a4e or the cynical whisper of his thou)hts" -anessa pi#oted on

the heel of one of her delicate sandals! The skirt flared out from her le)s" re#ealin) a hintof bare thi)h!

%akin) his skin prickle with renewed heat!Their eyes met" clashed" held" and he saw a flash of somethin) in her face" 8uicksil#er

fast! Then it and she were )one" from the room but not from his blood!

amn it to bla4es" he could not be attracted to her! +e would not allow it!&ith a )rowl of a))ra#ation" he shut his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck! Twenty3

si0 hours he'd been tra#elin)! Lon)er from when he left his 1orthern Beaches' home for

the airport in Sydney's south end!

+e was tired and he was wired" runnin) on adrenaline and fi0ation on his )oal!+ow could he belie#e anythin) he felt ri)ht now5 +ow could he trust anythin) in the

turmoil of emotions elicited by his return to ,astwick" Connecticut5 To this" the home

where he'd )rown up" where he'd felt cherished and secure" only to ha#e that comfortblanket yanked from under his adolescent feet without any warnin)!

9uess what" darlin)5 &e're )oin) to li#e in Australia! /ou and your sisters and your

mother! &on't that be e0citin)5Twenty years later he was back and his hei)htened responses2 the heat" the bitterness2

weren't all about -anessa Thorpe!

+e e0pelled a lon) breath and forced himself to mo#e farther inside!

She'd chan)ed thin)s" of course! The colors" the furnishin)s" the mood! +is footsteps

echoed in the ca#ernous foyer" soarin) to the two3story ceilin) and bouncin) off walls

painted in a medley of pale blues! &here he remembered the warmth of a childhoodhome" now he felt nothin) but an outsider's detachment!

$)norin) the ti)ht sensation in his )ut" he e0ecuted a slow three3si0ty and took in the

matchedmaho)any hall stand and side table" the pair of watercolor seascapes" the #ase of lon)3

stemmed blooms! The place was as perfectly put to)ether as -anessa Thorpe" as carefully

e0ecuted as had been her plan to snare a multimillionaire three times her a)e!

For two years Tristan had fou)ht the will that )a#e her e#erythin) bar a token be8uest to


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him" Stuart Thorpe's only child" a deliberate act to show he'd chosen wife o#er son as his

beneficiary! Tristan had filed motion after motion while he searched for a loophole" an

an)le" a reason!+e'd ne#er doubted that he would win! +e always did!

Finally" from out of the blue" he'd cau)ht his lucky break! An anonymous alle)ation

contradictin) what his le)al team had learned about the youn) widow! $nitially" all they'dheard was )ood2 Saint -anessa with all her charity committees and #oluntary work and

her unstintin) de#otion to an ailin) husband!

But a second round of discreet in8uiries had re#ealed another slant on -anessa Thorpe!1o solid e#idence" but enou)h rumors from enou)h different sources to point toward the

smoke of a secretly )uarded fire! ,#idence would not be easily attained two years after

the fact but it mi)ht not pro#e necessary!

+e was bankin) on an admission of )uilt to close this thin) off" )rantin) his mother allthat was ri)htfully hers! &innin) would not make up for her life's disappointments and

unhappiness" but it would ser#e to re#erse the )ross in7ustice of her di#orce settlement!

Twenty years late but it would redress the balance! $t was 7ust and fair! And at lon) last" it

would set thin)s ri)ht in Tristan's mind!-anessa put down the recei#er and slumped o#er the library desk" weak with relief! Plans

had chan)ed! Andy would not be arri#in) at the door any minute" makin) her meetin)with Tristan Thorpe e#en more difficult than it promised to be!

And she knew" from e0perience" that anythin) in#ol#in) Tristan would pro#e more

difficult than it needed to be!

Time after time he'd pro#en that" obstructin) the e0ecution of probate at e#ery turn"

refusin) each effort to compromise" threatenin) to ne#er )i#e up until he had his due! All

because he'd cast one look at her a)e" another at her back)round and thou)ht +ello" )olddi))er!

-anessa knew plenty about narrow3minded bi)ots" but still she'd )i#en this one time to

reassess! She'd called" she'd e0tended that in#itation to #isit" she'd )i#en him e#eryopportunity to take a fair settlement from the estate! She'd thou)ht he deser#ed it" e#en

thou)h Stuart had decided otherwise!

But Tristan remained infle0ible! A )reedy" heartless brute and bully! Too bad she refusedto be intimidated!

Refle0i#ely she lifted a hand to rub at her arm! She hated that his touch had left a remnant

warmth" that she'd felt the same heat from eyes the chan)eable blue of summer on the

Sound! From the depth of his dark drawl and the scent of rain on his clothes and thecontrast between ci#ili4ed suit and unci#ili4ed2

An abrupt knock at the library door brou)ht her head up with a )uilty start! But it was

only 9loria" her brow puckered with concern! $s e#erythin) all ri)ht" hon5 o you needto )o out5 Because if you do" $ can deal with himself!

The last was issued with a sniff of disdain that made -anessa smile! For a brief second

she considered takin) that option" mostly because it would tick him off! But she neededto find out what he wanted and why he'd felt a need to deli#er his latest pain3in3the3butt

ob7ection in person!

1ot that she belie#ed he'd disco#ered anythin) new! At least" nothin) that could influence

the estate distribution!


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,#erythin)'s fine" thanks! Andy's had to cancel our trip to the city but that's turned out to

be a blessin)! As for himself32 she said it with a mockin) smile as she rose to her feet

2 $ can handle him!$ know you're plenty tou)h" but he's a bi) one! The bi))er they are!!!

9loria harrumphed! /ou better make sure he doesn't break anythin) #aluable when he

falls! And if he does fi0 on makin) trouble" $'m here!1o" -anessa said" )ettin) serious! /ou will not be here because your workin) day

finished thirty minutes a)o! 1ow" )o home and fuss o#er your Bennie! As soon as $'m

done with our )uest"$'m headin) up to Le0ford anyway! $s e#erythin) all ri)ht upthere5 $s L2

,#erythin)'s fine" she repeated! And because she didn't want to e0tend the con#ersation

by fieldin) further 8ueries" she put a firm hand on 9loria's shoulder and propelled her

toward the door! $'ll see you tomorrow! 1ow" shoo!&antin) a )lass of water before facin) the dreaded enemy" -anessa headed to the

kitchen!!! and stumbled upon him en route2 not in the formal sittin) room as instructed"

but in the keepin) room!

1o" no" no! +er heart beat fast with a)itation! This was her place! The only roomdecorated with her thin)s! The only room small enou)h and co4y enou)h and informal

enou)h to rela0 in with a )ood book or to #isit with friends!Tristan Thorpe did not fit anywhere in that picture! 1ot the friends bit" and definitely not

the small and co4y part! +e'd made his mark as a pro football player in Australia" and she

could see why he'd been such a forceful presence on the field! $t wasn't only his hei)ht"broad3shouldered build and wide male stance! +e also e0uded an aura of purpose and

determination" a hard ed)e that his tailored suit and e0pensi#e )roomin) could not

dis)uise!

,#en standin) with his back to the door" without the full3on impact of his intense blue)a4e and the decisi#e set of his stron)3boned face" he created an uneasy awareness in

-anessa's flesh! She wasn't used to seein) a man in her house" especially one this

blatantly male!But he's here" she told herself! +e is what he is! eal with it!

That pra)matic mantra had pulled her throu)h a lot in twenty3nine years2 more

difficulties of more importance than Tristan! %ost of them had been sol#ed by her)odsend marria)e to Stuart and she could not afford to lose that resolution! 1ot now: not

e#er!

She started into the room and at the sound of her first footfall" his head came up! A

thousand ner#es 7umped to life as he swun) around to face her! She lifted her chin an inchhi)her! Strai)htened her shoulders and fi0ed her face with the cool" polite e0pression that

had )otten her throu)h the most terrifyin) of social e#ents!

Let him call her duchess! She didn't care!And then she noticed what had held his attention2 what he now held delicately balanced

in hisbi) hands2 and her heart lurched with $3do3care an0iety! $t was the 9irl withFlowers" the most treasured in her collection of Lladro fi)urines!That fretfulness must ha#e re)istered in her e0pression because he re)arded her narrowly!

Bad news5

-anessa knew he referred to the phone call" but she nodded toward the fi)urine! .nly if

you drop that!


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+eart in mouth she watched him turn it o#er in his hands" first one way and then the

other! As a football player he'd been ma)ic with his hands" accordin) to Stuart! But ma)ic

or not" she didn't want Tristan's hands on her thin)s! She didn't want to look at them aweek or a month or a year from now" and remember this man in her home!

As much as she wanted to keep her distance" she couldn't help herself! She had to cross

the room and take the statuette from his hands!&hen $ mentioned bad news" $ meant the phone call!

The brush of their fin)ers unsettled -anessa more than she'd anticipated! She felt the fine

tremorin her hand and prayed he didn't hear the telltale rattle as she put the fi)urinedown!

There's no bad news" she said" reco#erin) her poise! She indicated a win)back chair

with one hand! &ould you like to sit5

$'m comfortable standin)!Leanin) a)ainst a cabinet with the heels of his hands restin) on its ed)e" he looked at

ease! ,0cept the ti)htness around the corners of his mouth and the tick of a muscle in his

7aw )a#e him away! 1ot to mention the intentness of the sharp blue )a4e fi0ed on her

face!Like a lion" she decided" lollin) in the )rass of the #eldt" but with e#ery muscle coiled as

he waited for the chance to pounce! Paint her pelt black and white and call her 4ebra"because she was the prey!

The #i#idness of that mental ima)e created a shi#er up her spine" but she snapped strai)ht

in automatic refle0! o not let the enemy see your fear! $t was a lesson she'd learned as achild" one she'd tried to instill into her youn)er brother" Lew!

.ne she'd used often in her new life" adaptin) to the scrutiny of ,astwick society!

As much as she wanted to put distance between herself and the enemy" she stood her)round and met his unsettlin) )a4e! &ould you care to tell me about this new

de#elopment5 Because $ can't think of a thin) that would make any difference to your

claim on Stuart's estate!/ou're aware of e#ery letter in that will" -anessa! Surely you'#e worked this out!

/ou'#e tried to obstruct e#ery letter of that will! $ can't belie#e there's one you missed;

&e didn't miss this one" duchess! /ou were 7ust cle#er enou)h to beat us!!! then!-anessa huffed out a breath! $ ha#e no idea what you're talkin) about! Stop playin)

)ames" Tristan! $ don't ha#e the time or the patience!

For a lon) moment he didn't respond" althou)h she reali4ed2 belatedly2 that he no

lon)er loun)ed a)ainst the cabinet! +e'd strai)htened" closin) down the )ap betweenthem! But she refused to ask for space! She refused to acknowled)e that his pro0imity

bothered her!

$s he the same one5She blinked" baffled by his 8uestion! &ho5

The man you were e0pectin) this afternoon! The one who put that smile on your face

when you answered the door! The one who called!&as he cra4y5 The same what5 &hat are you talkin) about5

$'m askin) if this man2 Andy" isn't it52 is the one who's )oin) to cost you a hundred

million dollars!

-anessa's heart sei4ed with shock and a terrible reali4ation!


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&ell5 he asked" not )i#in) her a chance to reco#er" to respond! $s he the man you were

sleepin) with while you were married to my father5

Two

.h! %y! Lord! +e was talkin) about the adultery clause! The one left o#er from Stuart'sfirst marria)e" to Tristan's mother!

&hen Tristan had si)naled his intention to challen)e the will" her lawyer" *ack

Cartwri)ht" had )one o#er e#ery clause with painstakin) care" makin) sure -anessaunderstood and that he wouldn't recei#e any nasty surprises from the opposin) attorney!

She'd )i#en that clause no more thou)ht! She had no reason to! But now Tristan thou)ht

she'd had a lo#er!!! that she still had a lo#er!That comprehension took a moment to sink in" and then she couldn't pre#ent her shock

from bubblin) into lau)hter!

/ou think this is funny5

$ think" she said" reco#erin)" this is ludicrous! &here would you )et such an idea5

%y lawyer's asked around! There are rumors!She stared at him in disbelief! After almost two years of this dispute" you'#e decided to

in#ent rumors5$ didn't in#ent anythin)!

1o5 Then where did these rumors suddenly sprout from5

+e took a second to answer" 7ust lon) enou)h for -anessa to note that the muscle stillticked in his 7aw! $ recei#ed a letter!

From5

oes it matter5

/es" it does" she fired back at him" her earlier disbelief )rowin) indi)nant! $t mattersthat someone is slanderin) me!

+e re)arded her in silence" a lon) taut moment that fanned -anessa's )atherin) fury!$'m )i#in) you the chance to deal with me pri#ately" here and now" he said finally" his#oice low and e#en! .r would you prefer to take this to court5 &ould you like to answer

all the 8uestions about who and where and how often under oath5 &ould you like all

your society friends to hear2/ou bastard! on't you dare e#en think about spreadin) your lies!

1ot lies! Somethin) )linted" brief and dan)erous in his eyes! $ intend to di) deep"

-anessa" if that's what it takes to disco#er all your dirty little secrets! $ will find e#erytruth about you! ,#ery last detail!

-anessa's head whirled with the implications of his threat! She had to )et away from him"

to cool down" to think" but when she tried to escape he blocked her e0it! And when she

attempted to stare him down" he shifted closer" hemmin) her into the corner where shecouldn't mo#e without touchin) him!

+er resentment rose in a thick" chokin) wa#e! She wanted to sound icy" imperious" but

instead her #oice 8ui#ered with ra)e! /ou start by turnin) up at my home unin#ited! /oumanhandle me! /ou threaten me with your nasty lies! And now you're resortin) to

physical intimidation! $ can hardly wait to see what you try ne0t!

Their eyes clashed in a li)htnin) bolt that was ei)ht parts anta)onism" two parts


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challen)e! She knew" a split second before he mo#ed" before his hands came up to trap

her a)ainst the wall" that the two parts challen)e was two parts too much! And still she

couldn't back down" e#en when his )a4e dropped to her lips and caused a slow sweetripple in her blood! ,#en when he muttered somethin) low and unintelli)ible2 perhaps

an oath" perhaps a warnin)2 beneath his breath!

Then his mouth descended to hers" catchin) her )asp of indi)nation!For a second she was too stunned by the sensation of his lips pressed a)ainst hers to react!

,#erythin) was new" untried" unfamiliar! The bold presence of his mouth" the rou)h

te0ture of his skin" the elemental taste of rain and sun and man!,#erythin) was une0pected e0cept the electric char)e that flushed throu)h her skin and

ti)htened her breasts! That was the same as when he'd touched her" the same as when he'd

watched her walk away" the same as when she'd turned at the library door and cau)ht him

starin)!She heard the accelerated thud of her heartbeat and scrambled to compose herself" to

re7ect that unwanted response! But then he shifted his wei)ht sli)htly and she felt the

brush of his 7acket a)ainst her bare arm! For some reason that slide of body3warmed

fabric seemed more intimate than the kiss itself" and the effect shimmered throu)h herskin like li8uid silk!

The hands she'd raised to sho#e him away flattened a)ainst his chest and the slow beat of

his heart resonated into her palms! &ith a shock she reali4ed that she wasn't only

touchin) him but kissin) him back" 7ust now" for one split second! .h" no! A thousandtimes no! +er eyes 7olted open" wide and appalled" as she pushed with renewed purpose!

+is mouth stilled for one measured second before he let her )o! The messa)e was clear!

+e'd insti)ated this! +e was endin) it! amn him! And damn her traitorous body for

reactin) to whate#er weird male3female chemistry was )oin) on between them!Red3hot an)er ha4ed her #ision and she lashed out without conscious thou)ht! +e dod)ed

her easily" catchin) her arm before she came close to landin) a blow! And that only

infuriated her more! She wrenched at her captured arm and the 7erky action cau)ht theLladro 9irl with Flowers she'd set down on the cabinet!

$n slow motion she saw the delicate fi)urine start to topple but she couldn't mo#e fast

enou)h! The sound of its shatterin) impact on the marble floor filled the silence forse#eral lon) brittle seconds! -anessa pressed the back of one tremblin) hand to her

mouth" as if that mi)ht silence the an)uished cry deep inside her!

But when she started to duck down" he intercepted her" his hand on her arm holdin) her

steady!Lea#e it! $t's only an ornament!

An ornament" yes" but this one was a )ift from her childhood2 a symbol of where she'd

come from and all she'd dreamed of lea#in) behind!But only a symbol" her pra)matic side reminded her! She'd had to )row up too practical

for dreams and symbolism! This incident si)nified only one thin)< she'd allowed Tristan

Thorpe to cut throu)h her cool" to upset her enou)h that she'd lashed out in temper!And she would eat dirt before she )a#e him the satisfaction of knowin) how deeply he'd

affected her!

Are you all ri)ht5

The softened ed)e to his #oice cau)ht her off )uard" but she shru))ed that aside alon)


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+e wouldn't make that mistake a)ain!

The flow of traffic eased and he checked his mirror 7ust as a champa)ne colored

con#ertible whi44ed by! +e didn't ha#e to see the #anity plates to know it was her!,#erythin) on the list of possessions they'd sparred o#er this past year was indelibly

printed on his brain!

+e hadn't planned on followin) her any more than he'd planned on kissin) her" but as hesteeredinto a )ap in traffic Tristan had a hunch that this would turn out a whole lot morefulfillin) and less frustratin) than that ill3concei#ed meetin) of mouths!

$'m so )lad you su))ested this" -anessa said!This was to meet by the water at .ld Poynton" where the bree4e driftin) off Lon) $sland

Sound tempered the warmth of the late afternoon sun: where breathin) the fresh marine

air cooled the ed)y heat of -anessa's temper!! !a little!

And you was Andy Sil#erman" who'd su))ested the outdoor walk3and3talk when he'dcalled earlier to chan)e plans!

Andy had )rown up in the same /onkers nei)hborhood as -anessa's family" and she'd

reco)ni4ed him as soon as he commenced workin) at Twel#e .aks" the special3needs

facility that had been home to her youn)er brother for the past se#en years! They metre)ularly to discuss Lew's pro)ram and his pro)ress" and Andy had become more than

her brother's counselor!1ow she counted him as a friend!!!the only friend who knew and understood Lew and the

difficulties posed by his autism!

Tou)h day at the country club5 espite the li)hthearted comment" she felt a serioused)e to Andy's sidelon) look! /ou want to talk about it5

+a#en't we 7ust done that5

They'd talked about Lew" as they always did" and about why Andy had cancelled their

trip to the city! Storms" like today's" were one of se#eral tri))ers that upset Lew's need forcalm and routine order!

/our brother has bad days all the time" Andy said now! /ou're used to that!

1o! She didn't think she would e#er call herself used to Andy's autism or his mostdifficult" sometimes #iolently dama)in)" days! But she conceded Andy's percepti#e point!

+e knew there was more worryin) her today than Lew!

$'m not sure you want to hear this" she said! +ey" $'m a professional listener!

That made her smile! o you char)e e0tra for out3of3hours consultations" r!

Sil#erman5

They'd reached the end of the promenade! Andy paused and leaned a)ainst the stone wallthat separated the walkway from the beach! +e folded his arms across his chest! +is open

face and calm e0pression were part of what made him so )ood at his 7ob! 9o ahead and

spit it out! /ou know you want to!1ot so much want to as need to" -anessa silently amended! +er )a4e shifted beyond her

companion" trackin) two windsurfers as they rode a )ust of air across the clean blue

surface of the Sound! Then one of the surfers slowed" faltered" and toppled into the water"his charmed ride on the wind o#er!

&ouldn't it be nice if we all had such soft landin)s" she mused out loud! /ou'#e lost

me!

&ith a small si)h" she turned her attention back to Andy and his in#itation to spit it out!


12/82

$t's

Tristan Thorpe!

Andy tsked in sympathy! $sn't it always5+e's here! $n ,astwick! For the trial5 $ thou)ht that wasn't till ne0t month!

+e's here because he thinks he's found a way to beat me without )oin) to court! All

semblance of rela0ation destroyed" -anessa paced away a couple of steps" then swun)back! &hich he hasn't" but that won't stop him makin) trouble!

.nly if you let him!

She lau)hed" a short" sharp" humorless sound! +ow can $ stop him5 +e has it in his headthat $'m a nasty sly adulterer and he's here to pro#e it;

To his credit" Andy barely blinked at that disclosure! She supposed" in his line of work"

he heard all manner of shockers! That's not a problem if there's nothin) to substantiate!

.f course there's nothin) to substantiate;But you're upset because people mi)ht belie#e that of you" despite your innocence5

$'m upset because!!! because!!! Because he belie#es it! Because he kissed me! Because $

can't stop thinkin) about that!

%y point e0actly" Andy said" misinterpretin) her stumble into silence! /our friendsknow you well enou)h to not belie#e whate#er he mi)ht put about!

%y friends know! /ou know! $ know" she countered hotly" but he's always thou)ht theworst of me! 1ow he belie#es $'m not only an Anna 1icole Smith clone who took

ad#anta)e of a susceptible older man" but $ kept a lo#er on the side to share my ill3)otten

spoils! She e0haled on a note of dis)ust! $ don't e#en know why $'m surprised!Andy re)arded her closely for a lon) moment! +e's really )ot you stewin)" hasn't he5

.h" yes! $n ways she didn't want to think about" let alone talk about! She'd let him kiss

her" she'd breathed the scent of him into her lun)s" and then she'd raised her hand" for

pity's sake" when she despised #iolence born of temper and heated words anduncontrolled emotions!

+e )ot me so riled" she said with 8uiet intensity" her stomach twistin) with the pain of

those lon)3a)o memories! $ wanted to hit him" Andy!But you didn't! .nly because he stopped me!

She could still feel the steely )rip of his hand" the pressure of his fin)ers wrapped around

her wrist" and the need to lash out ra)in) in her blood! And the worst of it5 1ot the loss ofher treasured )ift but the acknowled)ment" on the hour3plus dri#e up here" that she hadn't

been lashin) out at him but at her fickle body's une0pected and unwanted response!

$ told myself not to let him )et under my skin! $ in#ited him into my home when $

wanted to slam the door in his face! $ tried to be polite and calm! But the man is 7ustso!!!so!!! 6nable to find a suitable descriptor" she spread her hands in a silent )esture of

appeal! ,0cept she doubted the dictionary contained a sin)le word stron) enou)h" hot

enou)h" comple0 enou)h to co#er all that Tristan had e#oked in her that afternoon! Andit's not only him that has me stewin)!

Suddenly she couldn't stand still any lon)er! +ookin) an arm throu)h one of Andy's

folded ones" she forced him into motion" walkin) back toward the strip of touristbouti8ues and sidewalk eateries opposite the small beach and marina!

Someone sent him a letter! An accusation! That's how this latest crusade of his started!

Shetu))ed at his arm in a)itation! &ho would do such a thin)5 id he show you thisletter5


13/82

-anessa shook her head and in Andy's raised brows she read another 8uestion! Are you

thinkin) that this letter mi)ht not e0ist5

$f $ were you" he said carefully" $'d want to see it!At the time she'd been too astounded and too het up by his alle)ations! She hadn't thou)ht

of askin) to see the e#idence! Frownin)" she walked and she chewed the whole e0chan)e

and its implications o#er in her mind! &hy would he in#ent this letter and come all theway o#er here to pro#e its claims5 That only makes sense if he belie#es he can pro#e it!

And that only makes sense if someone2 such as his correspondent2 has con#inced him

they ha#e somethin) on me!And that made no sense because she had ne#er slept around!

1ot once! 1ot e#er!

$t's not as if $ ha#e a pool boy" she continued" or a tennis pro or a personal trainer! The

onlymale staff $ employ re)ularly is 9loria's Bennie" and that's only for odd 7obs to keepher happy! $ see *ack" my attorney" re)ularly but e#eryone knows he's a besotted new

husband and soon3to3be father!

And you see me!

Andy's e#enly spoken comment hun) in the air a second before she )rasped itssi)nificance! Then she stopped in her tracks" shakin) her head with a slowly dawnin)

reali4ation! 6sually they met behind the walls of Twel#e .aks' sprawlin) estate" in one ofthe formal meetin) rooms or the less formal library" or they walked around the estate's

spacious )rounds!

But on occasions they did meet in the nearby town of Le0ford" for lunch or a coffee! Andthey'd also met once or twice here at the shore where Andy li#ed!

o you think some busybody could ha#e seen2 she wa))led her hand between them"

unable to #oice the us that mi)ht link their friendship in a nonplatonic way 2 and

misconstrued5$t's possible!

-anessa stared at him wide3eyed! Then" pity help her" she couldn't suppress an

in#oluntary )i))le!Pretty funny" huh5

$'m sorry! Soberin) instantly" she reached out and put her hand on his arm! And that

was the thin) with Andy2 she could touch him and feel no spark" no 7olt" no pricklin) ofheat! 1othin) but a comfortable warmth similar to what she'd established with her

husband and still missed so #ery much! $ didn't mean to offend you! /ou know $ lo#e

you like a brother!

=know that" but what about someone watchin) us5Shock immobili4ed her for a split second! Then she drew back her hand and her body"

suddenly aware of how close they stood! As they'd done on countless other innocent

occasions!&ith an audience5

They continued walkin)" but -anessa couldn't stop herself from )lancin) at each car and

passin) pedestrian! Scores of people were out en7oyin) the )or)eous summer twili)ht" yetshe felt e0posed!

espite the warmth of the air she felt a chill run o#er her skin! $ hate the thou)ht that

someone misht ha#e been followin) me!

That's somethin) $'#e ne#er 8uite understood! She cut him a narrow look! The fact that


14/82

$ don't like bein) spied on5 The fact you'#e kept Lew and your #isits to Twel#e .aks

secret! That has nothin) to do with bein) spied on!

%aybe not" he said in his usual mild manner! But if the )ood folk of ,astwick knewabout your brother" then they'd also understand why you need to dri#e up here so often

and why you meet with me! That would take care of one possible misinterpretation!

As usual" Andy was ri)ht! ,0cept up until now she hadn't seen any need to share thismost personal part of her life! .nly Stuart2 plus a handful of trusted professionals and

some old friends from her pre3,astwick days2 knew about Lew! To)ether they had

decided to keep his lon)3term tenancy at Twel#e .aks pri#ate!Are you ashamed of2

.f course not; -anessa swun) around to face Andy" all thou)hts of bein) spied upon

lost in thefierceness of her answer! on't you dare su))est that Lew is some sort ofembarrassment! $ would take out a paid pa)e in the 1ew /ork Times if $ thou)ht it wouldhelp" but what would be the point5 All that would accomplish is a whole lot of talk and

fin)er3pointin) from small3minded people who don't understand!

And this is the society you want to li#e in5

1o! This is the society $ chose to li#e in when $ married Stuart!Because that choice included Twel#e .aks" the e0clusi#e facility that pro#ided Lew with

the best en#ironment" the ri)ht therapy" e#erythin) he needed to )row and flourish as anindi#idual! She hadn't e#en dreamed of accessin) such an e0pensi#e option before she

met her future husband! $n fact she'd been at the end of her tether" out of options for

carin) for Lew and dealin) with his increasin)ly #iolent tendencies as he )rew from aboy into a man!

Besides" she continued" not e#eryone in ,astwick is narrow3minded! $f they knew" my

friends would want to #isit" to help" and you know how Lew is with new people and

chan)es to his routine! +e is happy and $'m happy #isitin) and doin) my #oluntary workwithout it bein) talked about all o#er town! $'#e had enou)h poor -anessm to last a

lifetime" thank you #ery much;

They resumed walkin)" Andy silent in a way that su))ested he didn't a)ree! &as she

bein) selfish" makin) it easier on herself" protectin) her cushy life5 After Stuart's death

she had wanted to confide in her friends" because Lord knows she'd felt so incrediblyalone and lonely! But then she had 9loria" who'd come from the same back)round" who

knew Lew! PlusAndy! Two of the best friends she could ha#e because" unlike her

,astwick friends" they'd known her when she was plain -anessa (ot4ur!

$t had been easier to keep the status 8uo" for so many reasons! &hat about now5 herpra)matic side wanted to know!

$ need to see the letter" she said with 8uiet resol#e! Before she made any decision on

what else to do" she had to see the e#idence!Andy nodded )rimly! And you need to set him strai)ht about me!

-anessa's whole system bucked in protest! She could actually feel her feet dra))in) on

the pa#ement as they neared the street where she'd parked her car!Perhaps $ can do this without e#en mentionin) Lew! Til say $ do #oluntary work at

Twel#e.aks! &hich she did! And we're workin) to)ether on a pro)ram!! !a new musictherapy pro)ram which $'m lookin) at fundin)! And that $'m interested in e0tendin) the

e8uestrian therapy facility!


15/82

This wasn't e#en bendin) the truth! She intended makin) a #ery si)nificant donation from

Stuart's estate" once it was finali4ed" to help with both of those pro)rams as well as

fundin) positions for adolescents from low3income families!Andy's frown looked uncon#inced! +e's lookin) for proof of adultery" -anessa! +e'll

ha#e you in#esti)ated!

And find out what5 That $ dri#e up to Le0ford two or three times a week" to a special3needs home where $'m listed as a #olunteer5

A home with a resident who shares your surname! Any in#esti)ator worth his salt is

)oin) to make the connection!idn't he e#er tire of bein) so calm and lo)ical and ri)ht5 Blast him! Because he was

ri)ht" and already her mind had leaped ahead to the ne0t correlation a professional

in#esti)ator2 or his ea)le3eyed employer2 may make!

Lew (ot4ur had mo#ed into Twel#e .aks the same month that his sister -anessa 8uit her

two waitressin) 7obs to marry Stuart Thorpe! The man who pulled strin)s to )et youn)

Lew into the place! The man behind the trust fund that paid all his bills!

A sick feelin) of fatalism settled o#er her as they stopped beside her car! ,#en beforeAndy spoke! The way $ see it" you ha#e two options" -anessa!

$ )et to choose my poison5+e didn't smile at her attempt at le#ity! +is calm" le#el )a4e held hers as he laid those

choices on the line! ,ither you let Thorpe in#esti)ate and risk him spreadin) nasty stuff

about why you keep your brother hidden away from your new society friends! .r you tellhim yourself and e0plain your moti#ation! There're your choices" -anessa! $t's up to you!

Three

>here wasn't any choice! Sittin) in her car" watchin) Andy's lopin) stride carry him off

toward the marina" -anessa knew e0actly what she had to do! Swallow her poison8uickly" before she had time to think about how bitter it would taste )oin) down!She du) her cell phone from her purse! Stared at the keypad so lon) that the numbers

swam before her eyes! Closed her eyes until the crashin) wa#e of dread passed!

This isn't about you" %s! Pra)matist lectured! Think about Lew! Think about howdisrupti#e and upsettin) this could end up for e#eryone at Twel#e .aks if an in#esti)ator

started han)in) around" )rillin) staff and residents!

She didn't ha#e Tristan's cell number" but she did ha#e se#eral ,astwick hotels in herphone's directory! +ow hard could he be to find5

1ot #ery" as it turned out!

.n her second attempt" the receptionist at the +otel %arabella put her strai)ht throu)h to

hissuite! She didn't ha#e a chance to second think" or to do any more than draw a deepbreath and silently wail" why the %arabella5 She preferred to think he'd ha#e chosen oneof the bi) chains instead of the tasteful %editerranean3style bouti8ue hotel whose

restaurant was amon) her fa#orites!Perhaps his secretary chose it! .r a tra#el a)ent! Business e0ecuti#es did not make their

own2

+ello!-anessa started so #iolently she almost dropped her phone!


16/82

By the time she'd reco#ered and compelled her heart to stop racin) and pressed the tiny

handset to her ear" he was repeatin) his )reetin) and askin) if anyone was there! +is

#oice was unmistakable" a deep" thick drawl colored by his years down under! That colormatched the sun3tin)ed ends of his rich brown hair" the deep tan of his skin" but not the

alert intensity of his eyes!

She felt a ripple of hot3cold response" as if those eyes were on her a)ain! Those eyes andhis mouth2

$t's -anessa" she said 8uickly" staunchin) that memory! -anessa Thorpe!Silence! $wasn't e0pectin) to find you in!/ou weren't e0pectin)!!! he murmured" sli)htly pu44led" sli)htly mockin)! And yet

you called5

$ thou)ht you mi)ht be out for dinner! $ intended lea#in) a messa)e! A different

messa)e to the one you left me with earlier5-anessa counted to fi#e slowly! +e knew she'd been spittin) mad when she ordered him

out of her house! And he knew why" blast him! She was not )oin) to let that cynical taunt

)et to her! She had to do this! For Lew! For Andy! For her own )uilty conscience! $ need

to talk to you!$'m listenin)!

$ meant" in person!$n the ne0t beat of silence she could almost feel his stillness" that hard3ed)ed intensity

fi0ed onher from fifty3odd miles away! Ridiculous" she knew" but that didn't stop a ti)htfeelin) of apprehension from )rippin) her stomach!Tomorrow5 he asked!

&ith a full schedule of committee meetin)s plus a trip to Le0ford to see how Lew was

doin) after today's dramas" her only free hour was first thin) in the mornin)! And the idea

of in#itin) him to her home" or arran)in) to meet for breakfast somewhere else" causede#ery cell in her body to scream in protest! Breakfast meant strai)ht out of bed! Breakfast

also meant a lon) ni)ht of worry and endless opportunity to chan)e her mind!

Toni)ht would suit me better! -anessa closed her eyes and tried to block out how badan idea this mi)ht turn out to be! o you ha#e plans5

$ ha#e a dinner reser#ation downstairs!

$'m sure they will hold your table!$'m sure they would" he countered! $f $ asked them to!

She sucked in a breath" but she couldn't suck back her sharp retort! Are you deliberately

tryin) to anta)oni4e me5$ don't think either one of us has to try! o you5

.kay! So he wasn't )oin) to make this easy" but that didn't mean she would )i#e up! Are

you dinin) alone5&hy do you ask5 &ould you like to break bread with me5

$ would like" she enunciated" after un)rittin) her teeth" to speak to you! $f you're dinin)

alone" $ thou)ht that may pro#ide an opportunity without intrudin) on your plans!Another pause in which she could almost hear him si4in) up the implications of her

re8uest! Then" he said" $'ll ha#e the restaurant add another settin)!

*ust a chair" she said 8uickly! $ won't be eatin) so please don't wait for me! $'ll be there

in an hour!


17/82

$ look forward to it" duchess!

Tristan had drawled that closin) line with a liberal dose of mockery" but he did lookforward to -anessa's arri#al! -ery much! +e couldn't wait to see how she e0plained her

rapid turnaround from )et out of my house to = need to talk! +e could ha#e made it easy

on her by chan)in) his dinner bookin) and meetin) her downstairs in the loun)e bar orthe more pri#ate library! +e could ha#e offered to dri#e out to her house" to sa#e her the

trip into town!

But after witnessin) her rende4#ous at .ld Poynton" knowin) she'd rushed helter3skelterto her lo#er ri)ht after scoffin) at the letter's alle)ations" he was in no mood for makin)

anythin) easy for -anessa!

So! She wanted to talk! %ost likely to spin a story concocted durin) that intense seaside

heart3to3heart! +e couldn't ima)ine her confessin) but she mi)ht attempt to e0plain awayher secret meetin)s with lo#er boy! &hiche#er way she played it" he was ready!

This time she wouldn't catch him unawares! This time he would keep his hormones on

ice!

Resistin) the ur)e to check his watch" he poured a second )lass of wine and pushed his

dinner plate aside! +e'd re8uested a table at the end of the terrace" where" in secludedpeace" he could pretend to en7oy the food and the shimmer of reflected moonli)ht off the

darkened waters of the Sound! &here he wouldn't be scannin) the door for the distincti#e

shimmer of moonli)ht3blond hair!Still" he sensed her arri#al se#eral minutes later! &ithout turnin) he knew her footsteps

and felt the 8uickenin) of anticipation in his blood! &hen he started to rise from his

chair" she wa#ed him back down! +er warm smile was all for the waiter who fussed o#er

seatin) her2 not opposite but catercorner to him!So madam" too" can en7oy the #iew!

She thanked *osef and while he took her order for some ridiculous froufrou coffee"

Tristan kicked back in his chair and tried not to notice that she still wore the same pinksundress!

Because she hadn 't yet )one home5 Because she 'd spent all this time at .ld Poynton!!!

doin) what5.nly walkin)5 .nly talkin)5

The 8uestions2 and the possibility in the answers2 snarled throu)h him" sharp and

mean! For a lon) moment he continued to stare at her" waitin) for *osef to lea#e! &aitin)for her to

acknowled)e his presence! &aitin) for the impulse to ask those 8uestions to pass so he

could speak with some ci#ility!+e took a sip from his #ery ci#ili4ed sau#i)non blanc! Traffic bad5

She'd been fussin) with her purse" settin) it 7ust so on the table" but she looked up

sharply!/ou said an hour!

+a#e $ held you up5 +er e0pression was polite" her #oice as cool and dry as his wine!

$f you ha#e another appointment" you should ha#e said when $ called! $ didn't mean2

%y only appointment is upstairs" with my bed! $t's been a lon) day!


18/82

Across the table" their )a4es met and held! Comprehension flickered in her eyes" like an

unspoken wince of sympathy! $'m sorry! /ou must ha#e started the day yesterday" on the

other side of the world!

And didn't that seem a lon) time a)o5 +e should ha#e been wiped out but instead he felt

ener)i4ed! By her presence" by her pro0imity" by the subtle drift of her perfume in thestill ni)ht air! But mostly by the promise of another skirmish in their on)oin) battle!

$'m sure you didn't come here to talk about my lon) day! And there was somethin) in

her eyes or in his primed3for3combat blood" that pushed him to add" .r my current needto )et hori4ontal!

1o! She answered without pause" without droppin) eye contact" without respondin) to

his deliberate pro#ocation! $ didn't!

So! &hat do you want5$ want to see the letter!

Tristan arched an eyebrow! /ou don't belie#e it e0ists5

$s there any reason $ should5

$'#e flown ten thousand miles today on the stren)th of it!So you say!

Rockin) back in his chair" he met the steady challen)e of her )a4e! $f the lo#er doesn'te0ist and the letter doesn't e0ist" why are you worried5

o $ look worried5 /ou're here!

$rritation flared in her eyes but before she could respond" *osef arri#ed with her coffee!She smiled up at the youn) waiter" her annoyance instantly concealed by an e0pression as

warm and friendly as when she'd opened the door that afternoon! Then Tristan cleared his

throat and the subtle reminder of his presence wiped all the warmth from her face!

,0actly the same as when she'd found him on her doorstep!$ am here" she said ti)htly" to see this letter! $f it e0ists!

.h" it e0ists" duchess! Same as your lo#er! Turnin) the wine)lass with his fin)ers" he

waited a second before continuin)! A little youn)" isn't he5

A frown marred the smooth perfection of her face! *osef5 Lo#er boy! At .ld

Poynton!+ow do you!!! +er #oice trailed off and her eyes widened as the inference took hold!

/ou followed me this afternoon5

$nad#ertently!

/ou accidentally followed me5 For fifty miles5.ne shoulder lifted in a ne)li)ent shru)! $ took a wron) turn! /ou sped by! $ thou)ht it

mi)ht be interestin) to find out who you needed to see in such a )odfire hurry!

-anessa stared across at him with a )rowin) sense of horror and #iolation! 1ot the chillshi#ers of earlier" when she'd thou)ht about bein) spied on" but a hot wa#e of outra)e!

Because he'd done this! 1ot some anonymous stran)er" but this man! Sittin) beside her

and passin) this off as if it were a bi) fat nothin)!For a lon) second she had to fi)ht the urse to hurl somethin) at him! The closest

somethin) washer cinnamon mocha macchiato" untouched and still hot enou)h to doserious dama)e! The need steamed throu)h her" curlin) her fin)ers so ti)htly around the

coffee cup's handle" she was afraid it mi)ht crack under the pressure!


19/82

1ot )ood" -anessa! 1ot cool! 1ot restrained! 1ot )racious! 1ot any of the thin)s she

lo#ed about this lifestyle she'd adopted!

Throu)h sheer force of willpower she loosened her )rip" but she couldn't risk speakin)for fear of the words she mi)ht hurl in lieu of the physical! She couldn't e#en look at him"

in case that fired her ra)e anew! To remind herself of the #ery public #enue and her #ery

ele)ant surroundin)s and the #ery real need to )ather some restraint" she looked past hisshoulder at the restaurant and the other diners!

,#en on a Tuesday ni)ht the %arabella's celebrated restaurant was close to capacity" the

crowd an e#en mi0 of well3heeled tourists and business suits and ele)antly dressed locals!%any she reco)ni4ed: se#eral she knew well enou)h to call friends! Frank Forrester" one

of Stuart's old )olfin) buddies" tipped his sil#er head and winked broadly when he cau)ht

her eye!

Smilin) back" she breathed a silent si)h of relief that Frank's company didn't include hiswife! Thelast thin) she needed was elia Forrester saunterin) o#er to flutter eyelashesand flaunt her latest chest au)mentation at the new man in town! And if elia were

present" she would notice Tristan! She would saunter and flutter and flaunt because that's

what elia did in the presence of men" despite the husband she )a#e e#ery appearance ofdotin) on!

&hat's the matter" duchess5 Afraid you'll be seen with me5Tristan's soft drawl cut throu)h her reflection" drawin) her attention back to him! &hen

her )a4e collided with his2 sharp" steady" the rich ocean blue darkened like ni)ht on the

water2 she e0perienced a brief pulse of disorientation" almost like #erti)o!1ot at all" she replied crisply" shakin) off that weird sensation! &hat was the matter

with her5 &hy did she let him )et to her so easily" in so many ways5 &e are here to

discuss business" the same as these )entlemen2 she spread her hands" indicatin) the

sprinklin) of suits around them 2 and the real estate reps o#er by the door!&hen his )a4e followed hers" takin) in the company" -anessa's heart )a#e a tiny bump of

disco#ery!

She'd hit upon the ideal se)ue back to Andy and this afternoon's meetin) and theridiculousmisconception about an affair! $ don't mind bein) seen with you" Tristan" shesaid in a smooth" e#en #oice" while her insides ti)htened and twisted o#er where this

con#ersation mi)ht lead! $t's no different from two people meetin)" say" at the shore" totalk business!

/our meetin) this afternoon was business5

Liftin) her chin" she met his sardonic )a4e! $ do #oluntary work at a facility for the

de#elopmentally disabled up near Le0ford! Andy works there as a counselor!And you meet him" about your #olunteerin)" at the shore5 After hours5

1ot usually! She moistened her lips! Chose the ne0t words with careful precision!

Andy isn't only a work associate" you see! &e )rew up in the same nei)hborhood" wentto the same school! +e's a )ood friend and we do meet after hours" sometimes" and not

always to talk about my

#olunteerin)! 9i#en his profession" Andy is a )ood listener!And today2 this afternoon2 you needed to talk! To #ent" she corrected!

About me! &ho else5

+e didn't counter for a tick" and there was somethin) in his e0pression that started a

drumbeat of tension in her blood" a beat that slowed and thickened when his )a4e


20/82

dropped to her lips! id you tell him about our kiss5

The intimacy of his words washed throu)h her" at first warm and stron) with remembered

sensations and then all wron)! .ur kiss denoted sharin)! A lo#ers' kiss" hushed withre#erence and sweet with romance" not imbued with bitter disdain and the bite of an)ry

words!

She shook her head! That wasn't a kiss!1o5

$t was a power play" and you know it!

A note of surprise flickered in the darkened depths of his eyes! &as it really so bad5As far as kisses )o" it fell a lon) way short of )ood!

+e rocked back in his chair" his e0pression trickily hard to )au)e! Then he shocked the

de#il out of her by lau)hin)2 a low" la4y chuckle that stayed on his lips and tin)led

throu)h her body like the sparks of a slow3burnin) fuse!+ere's where $ should say" $ can do better!

To which $ would reply" you won't e#er )et that second chance!

Treacherous territory" %s! Pra)matist warned her! She'd challen)ed him before! $n the

keepin) room today" for e0ample" and e#en before today's first face3to3face confrontationthey'd employed words to cut and thrust" in terse e3mails and messa)es deli#ered #ia their

respecti#e attorneys!But this #erbal sparrin) held a different ed)e!

This came in the shadow of lau)hter" with a la4y smile and a dan)erous shot of pleasure

because -anessa sensed that" finally" she had mana)ed to surprise him in a positi#e way!That shouldn't ha#e pleased her 8uite so much! She should ha#e felt repelled by the

prospect of another kiss" a real kiss" with no a)enda other than e0plorin)2

1o! She 7olted upri)ht" appalled that she'd been starin) at his lips! That she'd allowed themarine3scented air and the witchery of a full moon to lure her from her e#enin)'s task!

1o more" %s! Pra)matist admonished! 9et to the point and )et out of here!

Andy is not my lo#er! +e ne#er was! +e ne#er will be! She laid it on the line in aresolute rush! $f he is named in that letter" $ think it's only fair that he should know!

There are no names!

Can $ see51ow5 +e showed his hands" palms up" empty! 1ot possible! $t's in my lawyer's

hands!

/ou didn't waste any time!

/ou had your chance this afternoon" when $ came to your house! $t was you whosu))ested we deal throu)h our lawyers!

/es" she remembered! She also remembered what had made her so spittin) mad that she'd

kickedhim out without seein) the letter! Blast him and her own sorry self for not askin)o#er the phone! She could ha#e sa#ed herself the dri#e and the a))ra#ation and the )ossip

she'd no doubt started by meetin) him in this public place!

Ti)ht frustration prickled at the back of her throat" but she lifted her chin and ruthlesslysho#ed that emotion aside! Could you please arran)e for a copy to be sent to my lawyer's

office tomorrow5

First thin)" he replied with surprisin) compliance!

Prepared for their usual slan)in) match" -anessa stared at him throu)h narrowed eyes!


21/82

&hat was the hitch5 &hat an)le was he playin)5 +e held her )a4e for a lon) moment"

steady" blue" )uileless" and there was nothin) left to say!

1othin) left to do" e0cept )et out of there before she started trustin) his word!Fine! &ith a brief" decisi#e nod" she reached for her purse! A shadow fell across their

table! And Frank Forrester's distincti#e lon)time smoker's #oice rasped throu)h the

silence!Sorry for the intrusion" but $ couldn't lea#e without sayin) hello to my second fa#orite

blonde!

9i#en my rusty old ticker2 he tapped a thin hand a)ainst his chest and winked 2 $don't put off till tomorrow!

Althou)h Frank often 8uipped about his a)e and his heart condition" -anessa couldn't

#oice her usual li)hthearted reproach! 1ot only because he'd interrupted her )etaway"

either! 6p close he looked a decade older than his years" frail and sli)ht and stooped!Smilin) up at him" she only hoped her shock at his appearance didn't show on her face!

/our company is ne#er an intrusion" she assured him! And because it was the )racious

thin) to do" she added" &ould you care to 7oin us5 For coffee or a ni)htcap5

1o" no! $'m on my way home! Can't dally! But he made no mo#e to lea#e and his )a4e)linted with )enuine interest2 or curiosity2 as it ed)ed toward her companion and

back!As much as she'd ha#e liked to" -anessa couldn't i)nore the hint! Tristan" meet Frank

Forrester! Frank" this is Stuart's son! From Australia!

/ou don't say5 Frank shook his head slowly" his )a4e beetlin) in on the youn)er man'sface! /ou'#e )rown some since $ last saw you" lad! /ou were a weedy youn) beanpole

then! $t must beat least fifteen years!Twenty" Tristan said! And he was on his feet" shakin) hands! Bein) clapped on the

back in the male #ersion of an embrace!&elcome back to ,astwick" lad! &elcome home;

-anessa blinked with surprise! She hadn't considered they mi)ht know one another"

despite the former bank president's lon)time friendship with Stuart! And as for thewelcome home2 the concept of Tristan belon)in) here in ,astwick was almost as

unsettlin) as seein) him in her home that afternoon!

Suppose you're here on business" Frank mused! /ou started up a telecom" didn't you5+eard you'd turned it into one of the Pacific's ma7or players!

$'m surprised you'#e heard of us!

Frank made a )ruff sound! /our father was a proud man! +e wasn't abo#e crowin) your

successes!

$f this came as a surprise to Tristan" he didn't show it! 1o shift in his e0pression" no

acknowled)ment" no mention of his father! *ust a smoothly offered" $ recently sold outof the company" as it happens!

/ou don't say!

$t was an attracti#e offer!%ade a killin)" eh5

Tristan's smile came 8uick and une0pected" its impact a de#il of awareness that settled

low in her belly! She had to force herself to concentrate on his words! 1ot the sharp line

of his 7aw or the cur#e of his lips! 1ot the sudden recall of those lips a)ainst hers" but his


22/82

words!

+e's sold his business! oes that mean this trip is open3ended5 That nothin) will pre#ent

him stayin) in ,astwickfor as lon) as it took5Are you askin) as a friend or a banker5 he asked!

Frank chuckled! $'m an old man! Retired" didn't you know5

.nce a banker" always a banker!Suppressin) a smile" -anessa looked away! Apparently she needed her own mantra< once

a brute" always a brute! *ust to remind herself what lurked behind that slow" charismatic

)rin!/ou'll ha#e to come for dinner one ni)ht" Frank su))ested! $f you're in town for more

than a day or two!

That depends2 she felt the )lancin) touch of a sharp blue )a4e 2 on my business!

Are you stayin) with -anessa5 ,#en better! &hy don't you both come5Stayin) with her5 $n her home5 +er heart did a little stumblin) hitch as their eyes met! !

?@ way!

They both spoke at once!

+e's not stayin) with me" actually!$'m stayin) here! At the %arabella!

.bli#ious to the sudden tension in the air" Frank du) around in his 7acket until heunearthed acard! +e pressed it into Tristan's hand! ,#en more reason to 7oin us for ameal" lad! Call me when you know your plans!

They said their )oodbyes and Frank started to lea#e! Then he stopped" one hand raised" asif struck by a sudden notion! +e turned back! $s that polo do this weekend" -anessa5

$t's on Sunday" yes! But $ don't2

Perfect; Frank spoke o#er the top of her ob7ection! &hy don't you 7oin us5

Polo5Tristan sounded dubious and Frank nodded sympathetically! amn sissy sport if you ask

me" but my wife seems to like it!

Champa)ne" celebrities" studly Ar)entinean players! .f course elia liked the polo!-anessa did not" particularly" but Sunday's match was a fond3raiser for ,astwick Cares"

one of her fa#ored charities since it dealt with at3risk youth! The kind of place she and

Lew mi)ht ha#eneeded" had their li#es taken a sli)htly different turn! So" no" shecouldn't not )o to the polo match" althou)h the idea of sharin) the same luncheon tent as

Tristan and elia made her stomach pitch!

,#erybody will be there" Frank continued! 9reat chance to catch up! Ain't that ri)ht"

-anessa5Somethin) sharpened in Tristan's )a4e as it fastened on her face! A sense of purpose that

she instantly reco)ni4ed for what it was< he would )o to the polo match" all ri)ht! And he

would use the opportunity to 8ui4 people about her!That's ri)ht" Frank! Anybody who's anybody will be there! She smiled" but the effort

felt as forced as her 7o#ial tone! 6nfortunately that means all the in#itations were

snapped up months a)o!Frank wa#ed that away with a tremulous hand! elia will rake up a ticket if need be! Let

me know" lad!

&ith a sinkin) heart" -anessa watched his unsteady meanderin) departure! elia could

wan)le an e0tra in#itation if she set her mind and her saccharine3sweet charm and Frank's


23/82

checkbook to it! There was nothin) -anessa could do without appearin) petty or

#indicti#e" and ri)ht now all shewanted was escape! But as she )athered up her purse shefelt Tristan's focus switch to her!The instant she turned into the sharp cast of those blue" blue eyes" she knew what was

comin) ne0t! Like a frei)ht train barrelin) throu)h the ni)ht" she saw the oncomin) li)ht

and couldn't do a thin) to di#ert the wreck!&ho is elia5 he asked" ri)ht on cue!

Twenty years a)o" when Tristan left ,astwick" Frank had been married to his first wife!

1ow -anessa would ha#e to e0plain the new" youn)er" recently ac8uired model and hewould draw the ine#itable comparison! -anessa had heard it all before! She and elia

were not kindred spirits2 as elia had wanted to belie#e when she first sailed into the

choppy waters of ,astwick society2 but they had both impro#ed their financial and

social status immeasurably when they married si)nificantly older men!She could not speak for elia's moti#es" but she had married Stuart for his money! $t was

the one fact Tristan had )ot absolutely ri)ht!

Four

elia is Frank's current wife!+is current wife5 Tristan asked! +ow many %rs! Forresters ha#e there been" e0actly5

elia is the third!

1ot unusual in a place as affluent as Fairfield County" with men as wealthy as FrankForrester! .r Stuart Thorpe! +as she been the current %rs! Forrester for lon)5

elia and Frank met at this same charity polo e#ent last summer! She was workin) as a

freelance 7ournalist" $ belie#e" and she chose to feature Frank in an article on business

leaders who'd retired here on the )old coast! They married soon after!Alerted by the measured choice to her words and the defensi#e tilt of her chin" Tristan

narrowed his eyes! Lo#e at first si)ht5$s that so hard to belie#e5$ ha#en't met elia! /ou tell me!

/ou know" that's ne#er come up in con#ersation" she countered coolly! $'m not that

close to elia and" frankly" $'m not comfortable discussin) her!Tristan studied her for a moment" his interest pi8ued by the words and the attitude!

.b#iously she )ot alon) fine with Frank!! but not his wife5 +e had to wonder about that!

And since she was tuckin) her dinky little purse under her arm with a note of $'m3about3to3lea#e finality" he mi)ht as well wonder out loud!

$s there somethin) $ should know about her before $ start makin) social en)a)ements5

+e )estured toward the door" indicatin) she should precede him! &ariness clouded her

)reen eyes and her mouth ti)htened sli)htly because" naturally" she'd ha#e liked to walkaway! Alone!

Too bad because he intended seein) her to her car! And )ettin) a response to his 8uestion

about elia! $s there a reason you're not close5 he persisted after they'd cleared thetables and were crossin)the restaurant foyer! She wasn't e0actly dawdlin) but he kept upeasily" a hand low on her back steerin) her toward the ele#ators! Because $'d ha#e

thou)ht you would ha#e plenty in common!+altin) abruptly" she turned to him! 9reen sparks flared in her eyes! on't presume too


24/82

much" Tristan! /ou'#e ne#er met elia! And you only think you know me!

For a moment the inherent challen)e in her words was secondary to the impact of her

nearness! She'd turned into his usherin) arm" so swiftly that the swin) of her hair brushedhis arm and shoulder! Se#eral strands had cau)ht a)ainst his dark 7acket" and when he

inhaled2 a 8uick flare of his nostrils" a sharp suck of air2 he breathed her delicate floral

scent and the combination rocked his brain and libido with di44yin) temptation!+e knew better than to touch but he did it anyway!

&ith his free hand he lifted those ro)ue strands from his 7acket and coiled them around

his fin)ers! +er hair was as fine and silky soft as he'd ima)ined but surprisin)ly cool"unlike the flush of heat in her throat and the softenin) of her full lips!

Completely unlike the bolt of ener)y that crackled in the air as their eyes met and held!

$s that a challen)e5 he asked!

She blinked slowly" as if lost in the moment and the dan)erous #ibration pulsin) betweenthem! &hat do you mean5

To )et to know you better!

Behind them the ele#ator announced its arri#al! The subtle electronic distraction brou)ht

her head up and back" breakin) eye contact and forcin) him to release her hair! A couplee0ited the ele#ator" hand in hand and so absorbed in each other they'd ha#e walked ri)ht

throu)h him and -anessa2 or a herd of stampedin) buffalo2 if he hadn't backed out ofthe way!

1ot at all" she responded once they were alone a)ain! $t was a statement of fact! /ou

ha#en't met elia Forrester and yet you presumed a similarity between us!/ou're unalike5

&e are different! She held his )a4e! -ery different!

+e thou)ht she would say more2 it was there in her eyes" a darkenin) of purpose" a

fleetin)moment of )ra#ity2 but then she made a little )esture he interpreted as for)et3about3it and started walkin)!

+e cau)ht up with her in two strides!

$'m )oin) to take the stairs" she said crisply! Then" when he continued at her side" shecut him a sharp look! There's no need for you to accompany me!

$'ll see you to your car!

$ am #alet parked! There's no need!+e didn't ar)ue" he 7ust kept walkin)" not to be difficult or per#erse but to see her safely

to her car! $t was the ri)ht thin) to do! So was lettin) )o the sub7ect of elia Forrester2

he would find out the differences soon enou)h!

+e would make up his own mind!&hile waitin) for her car" they made stilted small talk about the hotel and its first3rate

ser#ice and" when her %ercedes Cabriolet appeared" about the car itself! Then" before she

slid into thedri#er's seat" came a moment of awkwardness" as she said )oodbye in astiffly formal way!

1ot )oodbye! Tristan dismissed the #alet with a look and met her eyes o#er the sports

car's low door! $ will see you at the polo match! Frank said e#eryone will be there2 $assume that includes you5

Please don't do this" she said in a rush of entreaty! Please don't use this as a #enue to

ask 8uestions about me!

This afternoon you didn't ha#e any 8ualms! $ recall you wishin) me luck! This


25/82

afternoon you cau)ht me by surprise!

The surprise of that kiss" of each touch" of their unwanted attraction" arced between them

in the tense stillness of the ni)ht! 1othin) needed to be said: it was all there" in theunspoken moment! As was the root of their conflict" the part that was no surprise! And

now you're su))estin) $ shouldn't ask 8uestions about you5

$'m askin) that you respect the pri#acy of others! She moistened her lips" and the sweetwarmth of her kiss licked throu)h his #eins a)ain! /ou said this was between you and

me" but it's not!

/ou will hurt others" if you )o around askin) 8uestions and startin) rumors and drawin)attention to our feud! Think about it" please! Think about doin) the ri)ht thin)!

Standin) so close" Tristan felt the candor of her appeal reach out and take a )rip! She'd

ne#er asked anythin) of him before" not so directly" not with a please that chased the

memory of her taste and the scent of her hair on a wild scramblin) scurry beyond hisblood and his male hormones to a closely )uarded place beyond!

$ am doin) the ri)ht thin)" he assured her!! !and reminded himself! $'#e ne#er doubted

that!

For a brief instant he thou)ht there was more" a response or another appeal" and deep inhis )ut he hoped for the latter! A please" Tristan that was only about them and had

nothin) to do with their conflict! But then she pressed her lips to)ether and 7ust beforeshe slid into the dri#er's seat" he )limpsed somethin) else deep in her eyes" somethin)

that shifted like a darkenin) shadow!

&hate#er was )oin) on with her" he would find out!Steel coated his resol#e and his #oice as he watched the )lossy #ehicle )lide from

beneath the hotel portico onto the street! $f you ha#e nothin) to hide" duchess" then why

that appeal5 &hat do you ha#e to fear5 And who the hell are you protectin)5

A block away from the %arabella" -anessa e0pelled a soft )ust of held back breath!

Finally she was able to breathe and think a)ain2 two basics she had difficulty with in

Tristan's company! And now she was functionin) at somethin) like normality" the ti)ht"sick feelin) she'd e0perienced earlier returned with a #en)eance!

Toni)ht had been a complete waste of time! +ad she really thou)ht she could sit at the

same table and pretend he hadn't turned her world on its head with his arri#al and hiscondemnation and his hot3blooded kiss5

1ot a kiss" she reminded herself #ehemently" and a fat lot of )ood that did; Rollin) her

shoulders and )rippin) the steerin) wheel ti)htly did not halt the rush of heat" either!

,#en now" all these hours later" she could still feel the si44le!&hat was that about5

The sad part was" -anessa didn't know! She'd ne#er e0perienced anythin) like this

before! ,#er! 1o boyfriends" no stolen kisses" no illicit make out sessions! 1othin) butwork and carin) for Lew and then a whole new world of opportunity throu)h her

friendship with Stuart Thorpe!

&hy him5 She thumped the steerin) wheel with one fisted hand! &hy did it ha#e to behim5

Toni)ht" unfortunately" she'd witnessed an une0pected side to her nemesis! Smilin) in the

moonli)ht" challen)in) her o#er his kissin) techni8ue" charmin) and at ease with Frank

Forrester" showin) her to her car like a )entleman!


26/82

She )rowled low in her throat and thumped the wheel a)ain! And what are you )oin) to

do about it" duchess5

+earin) the silent 8uestion in his dark chocolate drawl did not help her mood offrustrated dis8uiet!

1othin)" she muttered" but that response hun) o#er her like a dark3shadowed

indictment of her failure toni)ht! She shifted in her seat and reconsidered! .kay! Aboutthis unwanted attraction" she would do nothin)!

But that wasn't her real problem!!!

She still had no proof of the letter's #alidity" and he belie#ed he had )rounds to steal hersecurityand Lew's future away from her!Paused at an intersection" she checked for traffic! own the street to her left stood the

offices of Cartwri)ht and Associates" a place she'd come to know oh so well in the past

two years! The place where she should ha#e taken the news of Tristan's arri#al andalle)ations this afternoon!

As Stuart's lawyer and now hers" *ack Cartwri)ht was one of the handful of people who

knew about Lew" and ri)ht now she could do with his clear head and lo)ical approach!

She checked the dashboard clock and winced! Althou)h *ack and his wife Lily were closefriends" they were e0pectin) their first baby in a month's time and callin) this late felt like

an imposition!1ot that she wasn't tempted!!!but" no! First thin) in the mornin) she would call and

arran)e a meetin)! The earlier the better!

After sleepin) poorly -anessa was up and dressed before dawn" but she mana)ed to holdoff callin) the Cartwri)ht home until se#en o'clock! Then she kicked herself because *ack

had )one into the office already! She e0chan)ed small talk with Lily for all of si0 seconds

before the other woman picked up on the strain in her #oice! $s e#erythin) all ri)ht"

-anessa51o" not really! Tristan Thorpe's in town! &hich" really" was the sum total of her

problems! $ need to talk to *ack! $'ll call him at the office!

$ ha#e a better idea! &hy don't you come o#er here and ha#e breakfast with us5 Lilysu))ested! *ack will be home in an hour or so! +e went in early to brief an associate on a

court appearance because he's takin) the mornin) off! octor's appointment!

$s e#erythin) all ri)ht5Lily chuckled! As far as $ know" but %r! Protecti#e insists on takin) me" e#ery time!

-anessa didn't want to intrude on their mornin) plans but Lily insisted! And ri)ht on

ei)ht o'clock she was followin) her hea#ily pre)nant friend into the kitchen of the

Cartwri)hts' two3story colonial home! And it was a home" as bri)ht and cheerful andwelcomin) as the )lowin) Lily!

Lily was a recent addition to the circle of friends known as the ebs Club and -anessa

had felt an immediate kinship! Possibly because she" too" had )rown up in a tou)hen#ironment unlike the rest of the )roup who truly were debs! Lily" too" had stru))led to

fit into this pri#ile)ed society in the early months of her marria)e" but she and *ack had

worked thin)s out and now the happiness she deser#ed showed on her face!*ack's not home yet! Lily rolled her eyes but with a cheerfulness that said she didn't

mind! +er man would be home soon and that suited her fine! $ called to let him know

you were comin) o#er so he shouldn't be lon)! Can $ )et you coffee5 Tea5 *uice5

.h" please" you don't ha#e to wait on me! Sit down! And take a wei)ht off5


27/82

/es! ,0actly! For the first time she let her eyes rest on the other woman's belly and she

felt an unfamiliar twin)e of lon)in)" a reaction she hid behind a smile! Are you sure

that's not twins in there5Sometimes $ swear there are three! Lily paused in the middle of makin) a pot of tea!

+er

e0pressi#e blue eyes )rew dreamy! 1ot that $ would mind!.f course she wouldn't! +er down3to3earth honesty combined with her carin) nature and

a street3smart wisdom had made her a wonderful social worker and would make her an

e8ually wonderful mother!Lucky kids" -anessa thou)ht" and the pan) in her middle intensified!

So! Teapot in hand" Lily waddled across to the table and lowered herself carefully into

a chair! Tell me about Tristan Thorpe!

For once -anessa was relie#ed to brin) him into the con#ersation2 anythin) to stifle thisbi4arre attack of motherhood en#y! She had no idea where that had sprun) from" all of a

sudden! +e arri#ed yesterday! +e's stayin) at the %arabella! +e's e#en more a))ra#atin)

face3to3face!

/ou'#e seen him already5 Lily propped her chin in a hand" all ea)er3eyed curiosity!o tell!

&here should she start5 &hat could she say without )i#in) away the depth of herconfusion and conflict5 *ust sayin) face3to3face had brou)ht a )uilty warmth to her

cheeks" mostly because it put her in mind of mouth3to3mouth!

And hadn't that wild sensual memory kept her company all throu)h the ni)ht;There's probably no need for me to tell you anythin)" she said" recallin) one of the

other thin)s that had kept her awake! /ou will hear it all on the )rape#ine soon enou)h!

All5

$ met with him at the %arabella restaurant last ni)ht!/ou went to dinner with him5 Surprise rounded Lily's eyes! id anyone sur#i#e5

-anessa pulled a face! Barely! As luck would ha#e it" Frank Forrester happened alon)!

&ith elia51o" but he'll tell her that he ran into us! /ou know elia! She needs to know e#erythin)

that's )oin) on!

6nfortunately" yes!elia had really stuck her claws into Lily" for no apparent reason other than her

friendship with the ebs! That u)liness had e0posed a whole new side of elia Forrester

2 a side that turned -anessa ice3cold with an0iety when she thou)ht about2

+ey" what's the matter5-anessa blinked" and reali4ed that her worried frown had drawn Lily's 8uestion! She

started towa#e her friend's concern aside" then chan)ed her mind! .f all the ebs" Lilywould most likely understand!$ was thinkin) about how these people2 the elias of this world2 can tear a person

apart for no reason! A whisper here" a catty comment there" and before you know it

e#eryone is talkin) and wonderin)! She took a breath! +a#e you heard any rumorsabout me5

&hat kind of rumors5

.h" that $'m meetin) a man in secret! That $ ha#e been for years!

&here on earth did this come from5 Lily's eyes narrowed! Tristan5


28/82

+e says he )ot a letter" from someone o#er here2 she spread her hands to indicate

,astwick" their home 2 claimin) there is proof!

Somethin) flickered in Lily's eyes and she sat up strai)hten She opened her mouth" aboutto speak" but then her focus shifted" distracted by the sound of footsteps! As her husband

came into #iew her e0pression transformed" )rowin) bri)ht and soft and incandescent

with lo#e!Althou)h *ack )reeted -anessa with an apolo)y for his tardiness" it was a fleetin)

acknowled)ment of her presence! Because then he was smilin) at his wife as he leaned

o#er and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead and touched a )ently protecti#e hand to herstomach!

$t was nothin) and it was e#erythin)" a symbol of the intimacy of their small family circle

and a reminder of what she" -anessa" had ne#er e0perienced and could ne#er contemplate

for herself!Suddenly her throat felt thick with a desperate sense of yearnin)! $t was ridiculous"

hopeless" frustratin)! She didn't e#en want this lo#e" this coupledom" this family deal! She

had e#erythin) she wanted" e#erythin) necessary and important" and there was no room

or time or emotional ener)y left for anythin) else!So" $ hear that Tristan Thorpe is in town! *ack strai)htened" his e0pression smoothin)

into business professional! $t seemed that the news had tra#eled e#en faster than she'danticipated! $s he here to make trouble5

+e )ot a letter" Lily supplied" and her husband went #ery still! +is eyes narrowed on

-anessa! The same as the others5The!!! others5 -anessa repeated stupidly" and in the same instant it struck her what they

meant!

Two anonymous e0tortion letters had been sent se#eral months back" one to *ack and oneto Caroline (eatin)3Spence! She shook her head slowly" kickin) herself for not

considerin) this connection!

$ don't know! $ ha#en't seen the letter yet! +er heart beat hard in her chest" a thick pulseof dismay" as she looked from *ack's still countenance to Lily's worried frown and back

a)ain! As the full ramifications took hold! o you really think this could be the same

person5 That it mi)ht be the same man!! the one Abby thinks killed Bunny5

Five

>ristan had a breakfast meetin)" too! 1ot with his lawyer but with the pri#ate in#esti)ator

en)a)ed by his lawyer to look into -anessa's alle)ed adultery! The P!$! turned out to be a

retired cop who was punctual" professional and personable!

Tristan dismissed him anyway!+is decision was split3second" )ut instinct! Sittin) in a Stamford coffee house watchin)

the )uy demolish a towerin) stack of pancakes while he deli#ered the lowdown on his

snoopin) techni8ues" he pictured -anessa's face when she'd appealed to his sense of fairplay! Same as last ni)ht" he felt the )rip of her emotion as she looked him in the eye and

hit him with the reminder that this was between the two of them!

That didn't mean he'd chan)ed his mind" only his tactics!$nstead of employin) a third party to di) into her affairs" he'd take up the sho#el himself!


29/82

$nstead of arran)in) for the letter to be sent to her lawyer" he collected it and brou)ht it

back to,astwick! +is aim< to deli#er it personally!Turnin) into &hite Birch Lane" he pulled o#er to make way for a horse float and the needto brake and control his deceleration alerted him that he'd been dri#in) too fast! &orse"

he reali4ed that his haste was )eared by a different anticipation from his first #isit to her

home! ,d)y" yes" but colored by memories of her smile and her taste and the spark of afiery inner passion when she faced up to his hard3line tactics!

-anessa mi)ht look the picture of 1ordic cool but he'd seen her )ather that poise around

herself like a protecti#e cloak! %easured" learned" practiced2 whate#er" he knew it wasfake and he couldn't help wonderin) why she felt the need to adopt a facade! +e couldn't

help wonderin) what she was hidin)" and a frown pulled hard at his brow!

+e'd spent a )ood portion of the ni)ht wonderin) about her" uncomfortable with how

much he wanted to know! $t was an alarm and a warnin)!9et to know her" yes" but don't for)et why!

After the lumberin) trailer disappeared" Tristan continued at a more sedate pace! +e

allowed himself to )lance around" to take in the bi) homes set back from the road on

finely manicuredacrea)es! +is frown deepened as he contemplated Frank Forrester'sreference to comin) home!+e didn't feel any more sense of homecomin) today than yesterday" not e#en when heturned into the dri#e where he'd learned to ride a bicycle" not passin) the first tree he'd

climbed" not e#en lookin) out o#er the )rass where he'd first kicked a football!

All he felt was the same )ut3kick of bitterness and the keener ed)e of anticipation! +ehad to remind himself" a)ain" of his purpose!

+e wasn't here to see her" to #isit with her" to spar with her2 he was here to deli#er the

letter!

That didn't pre#ent the crunch of disappointment when the housekeeper2 9loria2opened the door and informed him" with )reat )lee" that %rs! Thorpe was out

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Jameson Bronwyn - The Bought-And-Paid for Wife

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