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CHAPTER ONE

‘DO YOU mind if I join you?’

A shiver of recognition ran down Bella’s back as the man with the husky Latin American voice lifted the latch on the stable door and walked in There was only one h security in Her Majesty’s backyard: the Guards’ Polo Club in Windsor Nero Caracas, known as the Assassin in polo circles, played off ten, the highest ranking a polo player could achieve, and enjoyed privileges around the world others could only drea the field of play, and had lusted after hi could have prepared her to be this close to so much man

‘So this is Misty,’ he said, running an experienced palm down the pony’s shoulder ‘She looks smaller close up—’

‘Appearances can be deceptive’ Racing to the defence of her favourite pony, Bella forced her hands to go on oiling theshe was as acutely tuned in to danger as they were and, though the mare seemed calm, Bella was on red alert

‘The match starts soon—’

And? Bella thought, still polishing As trainer and one of the coaches of the British team, she knew only too hen theteam, who should be elsewhere?

Nero’s reputation preceded hiht he could drop in and his sranted with one eye on the tientinian team No such luck The Assassin could yield to the Ice Maiden on this occasion And he did, but with a warning glint in his eye ‘I need to speak to you about Misty,’ he said, running another appreciative glance over her pony

‘This isn’t the ti only when their stares clashed that she was running the sa to do with it Her points of reference were in her head And all the better for staying there, she thought, having taken in Nero’s dark tan, close-fitting white breeches, plain dark polo shirt, ard curls catching on his ferocious black stubble, not tohis hard-muscled calves It was safer, certainly

‘As you wish,’ he said

When he dipped his head, one professional acknowledging another, she saw the steel of challenge in his eyes Nero Caracas was hardly the most sensible enemy for a woman in Bella’s precarious financial position to make The recession had taken a deep bite out of her resources and the polo world was too small, too incestuous to take chances You failed in the eyes of one, you failed in the eyes of everyone But she wouldn’t fail, Bella told herself fira?’

Nero’s lips pressed down ‘No,’ he said with a shake of his head ‘I think Misty would benefit fro ridden by a man who really appreciates her—’

‘I can assure you that the captain of the English team appreciates Misty—’

‘But does he ride her in a way that brings Misty pleasure?’