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She was exhausted Last night had been

Draining She really hadn’t the energy to deal with such a group at theA little bite She was so hungry

Nari lifted the cowl of her own cape against the winter’s breeze, turned and ht

She siht would corinned "Sexy!" he said

She had dressed in her costuht her downstairs to be presented to Anna Maria and Lynn

Nearly encased in blood-red vinyl, Jordan laughed ruefully, catching Anna Maria’s eye "I look like a hooker"

"No, no, no!" Raphael protested He shook his head, surveying her from head to toe "No, no, add the sweep of a cape, voila, you look like a comic strip heroine! Now, the boots, the boots are the perfect addition"

"Give her a whip and chain," a deep voice said dryly, "and she can tame lions" Startled, Jordan looked across the rooainst the wall She hadn’t noticed hi fro at various places around the shop Now he stepped forward, studying her with the sah assessment as Raphael, yet somehow, his studious appraisal seenor, it is terrific!" Anna Maria said

"Terrific, yes," he agreed The way he looked at her, she felt almost naked "But I rather had the impression that Miss Riley didn’t want to appearobvious this evening" A slight smile curved his lips

"In this outfit, she will only be missed by the completely blind" Jordan had indeed wanted to ative remarks caused her to be co at the nape of her neck

She looked at Raphael "I think you’re right" She stared at the tall stranger "It’s definitely me I’ll take it"

"Molto bene!" Raphael said He stared at Ragnor with a puzzled look

Ragnor shrugged, idly running a hand over the black velvet cape hanging where he stood "I merely hope that the police will be out in force It is indeed sexy Provocative, onethe velvet and then fell fro, Miss Riley" He inclined his head toward her, kissed Anna Maria on the cheek, and left the shop

"Strange!" Raphael said as the door closed

"Maybe it is too"Jordan murmured

"It is too perfect!" Lynn announced "This is Carnevale, Jordan, and you do not look tooanything

Except for terrific"

Jordan glanced at her watch, feeling guilty about Cindy "I think I’d best get back to the hotel But I ear it"

"Nothing to fear," Anna Maria said, "we’ll all be there, and we’ll protect you froave Jordan a sense of unease She shook it off "Good, as long as I can be in the e"

"I’ll walk you back," Raphael offered "The Square will be crazy now, so crowded"

"I’ll be all right?"

"I don’t mind, and I have a costume to deliver to the Danieli"

"Thank you then"

In the dressing room, she wondered if she shouldn’t have taken the tall blond man’s advice

"Hooker," she told her reflection in the ed into her street clothing Downstairs, she found Raphael carrying a garer than he was "Andiamo!" he told her cheerfully

"Have no fear; we’ll find you right away!" Lynn called as she left the shop

"Stay close behind h!" Raphael said

She s close behind He did kno toa pathway through those still in streetwear, as well as the es,hiain found herself amazed by the elaborate and intricate beauty of so many of the costumes, amused and awed by all that she saw, and once more in love with the city of Venice

They passed the basilica, and crossed the bridge froe’s Palace to the Danieli, where they parted in the busy lobby Raphael kissed her on the cheek "You will outshine theht," he promised