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The dreained that she could still taste Colin, a heady exotic flavor that she craved to this day It had been years since she’d been plagued with such recollections She’d thought they were fading, that perhaps sheFinally

Why now? Was it because she had agreed to proceed with the wedding? Was Colin’sthat the love of her life not be set aside?

Amelia closed her eyes and sahite mask above shamelessly sensual lips

Montoya

His kiss had le as well From head to toe and everywhere in between

She had to find him She would find him

"What does he say?"

Colin refolded the missive carefully and tucked it into a drawer of his desk He looked at Jacques "He believes Cartland is leading a group ofyou back alive" Jacques walked over to theand brushed the sheer panel aside to look down at the front drive

The town house they occupied was a rental in fine shape It was a short distance froh away to ensure that no one would find them noteworthy The distance also allowed the followed or not, which Colin had been just a few nights past The night he had danced with and kissed A the day," Jacques said, turning back to face hi hunted on all sides"

Shaking his head, Colin closed his eyes and leaned into the back of his chair "It was foolish of me to seek her out that way Now I have attracted St John’s attention, and he will not rest until he knohy I displayed such interest in her"

"She is a beautiful woman," Jacques said, his voice laced with a Frenchhts

"Yes, she is"

Beyond beautiful Dear God, hoas it possible for a woreen eyes framed by sooty lashes An imminently kissable rown All carried with an air of latent sensuality that he had always found alluring

He could adoaded by his hope that he would see her and find his attraction unfounded Perhaps absence had made his heart too fond Perhaps he had embellished her memory in his mind

"But that is not why you love her," Jacques reed, "it’s not"

"I have rarely seen a woh I watched her as you did, she did not take note of my interest, only of yours"

That was his fault, he knew Repeated glimpses of her profile had only whetted his appetite to see her directly Look at ed silently Look at me!

And she had, unable to resist when folloith such ravenous attention

The eye contact had cut hi across the distance between the Jacques spoke of That longing elicited a primal response in him to deliver it, whatever it was that she wanted Whatever she needed

"You could take her from the other man," Jacques said

He knew that, too Had felt the wavering in her as they had danced and then again when they had kissed

"I wish I’d never followed Cartland that night!" Colin growled, the frustration inside hi would be different"

She would be in his bed norithing and arching beneath hi the wanton he sensed aiting just beneath the surface In hisout his name, her satin skin covered in a fine sheen of sweat

He would push her beyond reason, take her body places she never knew it could go

"The twists in our lives happen for a reason," Jacques said, returning to the desk and sitting across from hi France, yet I was destined to follow you here"

Colin pushed the lewd iood rave"

"Monsieur Leroux saved the life of my sister and with her, the life ofhis murderer has not paid for the crime"

"And hoewarmth to his hard features "I would like to kill hie With me as your only witness, you would find it extremely difficult to prove your innocence"

Colin said nothing to that Jacques had already helped far beyond what he had any right to ask

"So he ed "I will take what pleasure I can froarner that confession"

Nodding, Colin looked toward theNight had fallen hours ago Shortly, he could leave and make discreet inquiries in his efforts to find Cartland before the man found him But first, he would need some rest "I will retire for a few hours, then set out and see what I can discover Soue, to be sure I just have to find him"

"Perhaps you should contact the man you worked for here," Jacques said carefully "The one who directs Quinn"

Colin had never ed a word or correspondence All coh Quinn, and as far as Colin knew, Eddington was unaware of the identities of theunder Quinn There would be no way to prove that he was a confidant "No That is not possible," he said grimly "We do not know one another"

The Frenchman blinked, apparently so taken aback by the news that he lapsed into his native language "Vraiment?"

"Truly"

"Well, thenthat rules out that course of action"

"Yes Unfortunately, it does" He pushed to his feet "We will talk more when I awake"

Jacques inclined his head in agreement and waited until Colin had left the room Then he moved to the desk, where he opened a drawer and pulled out the white halfany balls orpossession of the mask betrayed its sentimental value Jacques had watched his new friend with Miss Benbridge and knew the woreat deal

So he would watch her when he could and keep her safe, if possible If God was kind, Jacques would finish his task, Cartland would have his comeuppance, and Colin would have the woman he loved