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PROLOGUE

Paris, France

IT SHOULD HAVE been the ht of her life

Elena Ricci swept her long blond tresses over her shoulder as she stepped backstage at the Paris fashion show that had just concluded She should be on cloud nine, but instead worries brought her feet back down to earth With a borrowed dias now returned to the jeweler and her crystal-ener, she was ready to call it a night

“Are you heading straight to the party?” a female voice called out behind her

Elena turned to find a young woht, Elena couldn’t put a na to pass on it”

“But you have to go,” the beautiful young wo black hair said “As the face of the line, you’re like the guest of honor Tonight is your night”

“I’m sure you’ll all have fun without me I’m just not up for a party”

“Ah, I bet you have other plans” The young woman flashed her an I-knohat-you’re-up-to smile “I’m sure he’ll be worth it”

He? There was no he The last guy she’d had thehad been a liar and a cheat Elena had sworn off men after that debacle Who needed the hassle?

“There is no guy,” Elena clarified

“Really? Then who’s thefor you at your station?”

Elena didn’t bother answering She just started walking If it was Steven, she was having security escort hiet out of her life And she’d meant it

When she neared her station, the man had his back to her “I told you I didn’t want to see you again”

The reet all your friends?”

Heat rushed to Elena’s face Before her stood the Earl of Halencia, Luca DiSalvo, her childhood friend “I’ht you were someone else”

“I think I feel bad for the other guy”

“Don’t He doesn’t deserve anyone’s sy co else—a warm sensation that set her stomach aflutter But she refused to examine the reason for her elated reaction

The truth of theaside her emotions when it came to Luca Their friendshipto risk it—even if it meant they would never be more than friends

He pulled back and smiled “That’s

better”

She looked deep into his tired eyes There was so him This wasn’t just a casual visit Luca didn’t do those For hi had happened—so

“What is it?” she asked “Is it your father?”