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Why hadn’t she done more to win Paul’s affection? Her parents hadn’t liked her answer It wasn’t that she didn’t like Paul, in fact he’d turned out to be a really nice guy, but first of all he was totally ss for him

"But he’s the perfect man!" her mother had protested

"I don’t care if he’s the only man! I don’t love Paul and he doesn’t love me!"

"That’s iht kind of ht kind? Didn’t you mean to say rich?" She’d pivoted, ready to leave But her father had snatched her elbow and jerked her back

"You, young lady, will listen to your h with your ideas of a career and independence No er "If you don’t find a suitable man within the next six months, I’ll find one for you Do we understand each other?"

Tara was still reeling from her parents’ medieval expectations She would present theht now, as she swept her gaze over the handsome waiter, she found him more than suitable He was positively perfect: handso class And ht she shivered again, and this time not because of her soaked dress She wasn’t exactly thewo twenty-five soon, she’d only had three lovers in her life Somehow she knew Jay had a lot more experience, and not only because he was a few years older than her--in his early to uessed Maybe he could teach her a few things and help her beand experienced in bed And even if she couldn’t learn anything from him--even if her secret fear was true and she just had no talent when it came to sex--what did ithim, she would royally piss off her parents, and that was all she cared about right now To stick it to theround and not cave into their demands like her older sister had

No, she wouldn’t otif--then it would be to a ood husband material and hom she could produce pretty babies

Involuntarily, she ran her eyes over Jay again Short dark hair, strong brows, and a square chin, coht nose, and chocolate brown eyes flecked with gold Her parents would definitely find him unsuitable as a husband--purely based on his bank account, of course--but, oh boy, would they make beautiful babies

Tara bit her lip Crap, she shouldn’t even be thinking so even with her parents

"Having second thoughts?" Jay’s voice suddenly pierced her thoughts

She lowered her lids by a fraction "I’ll go upstairs and get changed into souest, you know Anyway"

She didn’t knohy she even mentioned that fact Her parents had tricked her into accepting an invitation to spend a few days here; an invitation that had presu her and Paul closer She’d grudgingly accepted, because the alternative had been even worse: spending a ith the Willaht alonebreath, she smiled at Jay "Where do you want me to wait for you once the party is over?"

He looked away andup right now"

He was right: fa staff were now ushering people toward the exits Clearly, after the e incident, the Gilberts had no intention of continuing to entertain the guests And Tara couldn’t blame them Whether there was any truth to what the drunk had spouted about Paul’s girlfriend didn’t even ossip

Jay pointed to the pool house "I’ll be waiting for you over there when you’re ready"

"I’ll be quick"

Tara rose froot two steps before she spotted her parents standing on the terrace, searching the crowd herding up the steps and into the house For a second she froze

"Crap!" she cursed and swiveled

Jay still stood where she’d left hi?"