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"Besides," Damien says, "no tabloid will pay for a picture of one of them They want you And because of that--because of me--you’ve lost a level of privacy"

I shift in my seat to look more directly at him Is this the source of his concern? Was that what the telephone call was about? His lawyers warning him about some new picture of us that will appear on the cover of a half dozen h the last week, trying to think what i that it would cause Daotten hold of a half dozen shots of eants I’ve entered over the years Seeing rocery store checkout line had been a less-than-fun experience, but I’d taken about a eants had been open to the public and at least two of the else disturbing that could be printed aboutthat Damien and I have done in public that I’d be embarrassed for my mother to see And as for in private--well, if the paparazzi have pictures of us in private, they would have to be very brave indeed to face Damien’s wrath and publish them

But there is the balcony of the Malibu house

Every day I’ve stood naked and bound in front of that open door, and although Damien owns acres and acres, and the distant beach is a private one, surely a resourceful photographer could--

I can’t even finish the thought A wave of fear crashes over me, so palpable that I suddenly feel nauseated And despite the cold that seems to settle over me, I realize that my ar new, do they?" I say, trying hard to oes with being Daes of me splashed across papers and the Internet? Oh, dear God …

"It’s not like they’ve stepped it up a notch, right? Ilens at the balcony Have they?"

"Good God, no" His response is so fast and full of such astonishuess co to ht--" I break off, because I need to take another deep breath I realizeinto the flesh above rip and force h this; there’s nothing to get through except fear And besides, I have Da on to

"Nikki?"

When I speak, ht that since you brought up the paparazzi, that maybe that hat the call was about"

"Call?"

"Earlier," I say "At the house You looked so upset"

His eyes widen hat I recognize as genuine surprise "Did I?"

I lift a shoulder in concession "I doubt Blaine noticed But I know you"

"Yes," he says "Apparently you do But no, that call had nothing to do with those vultures"