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CHAPTER ONE

Lena shot a final look at her reflection in the ically behind the side-curtain of the stage What she saw caused a wry sirl with luht nose and a soft full-lipped lets peeked beneath the exquisite lace of a bridal veil She looked like a Gainsborough lady, the dress a nificent confection in satin and lace The finale and Claude's piece de resistance of the charity fashion show

A shadow darkened her lustrous eyes; once, years ago, she had dreaown for a very special man, but not any more

Straightening her shoulders and plastering a slided down the catwalk Keeping her head high, her glance skimmed the illustrious audience The baronial hall appeared to be full Fluidly she , her smile for everyone and no one, then finally one last turn and she was retreating through the curtain and off stage to tumultuous applause

Lena sraphers outside the hotel, and with a few lithe strides sank gratefully into the back seat of the glea at the kerb

It was a beautiful August evening; even London sparkled in the red of the setting sun, the buildings tinged with pink and gold She straightened the close-fitting black dress over her thighs, and sighed One more performance for the benefit of an elderly couple, then—a sed at her full lips—Lena Lawrence would be no more Kathleen Lawrence Meldenton would resurface, hopefully as a designer and possibly as a businesswoman

'We have arrived, madam'

The polite words of the chauffeur brought her out of her reverie, and, looking out of the , she noted they had stopped outside a large elegant apart the Thames The chauffeur opened the door, but before she could say thank you the breath stuck in her throat as another voice, deep and ure of a man slid into the back seat beside her

'Hello, Katy It has been a long tih I'm not sure I like all thistanned finger tilted up her chin 'Youropen Is that an invitation to a kiss, Katy, darling?' the deep voice drawled, while glittering black eyes stared down at her with open amusement 'Or should I call you Lena?'

No one except her father had called her Katy in years, though she intended changing that after tonight Her heartbeat thundered in her breast as she looked up into the darkly handso her into the corner of the back seat of the Rolls

Jake Granton What evil trick of fate had brought him to this street at this precise er made her creamy complexion flush furiously

'Just what the hell do you think you're doing? Get out of this car irily

Then she was blushing for a totally different reason as dark eyes slid blatantly over her face, the gold hair tu around her shoulders, down to the soft swell of her full breasts, partially exposed by the sexy little black knitted cotton sheath dress Jake Granton's eyes lingered appreciatively on her breasts then slid lower to her thighs and the elegant curve of her long legs

The dress started under her arned for the youthful end of the fashion market, and she wished like hell she had not let Claude talk her into wearing it tonight