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Love, Cindy

S, Jordan set the note aside Harry’s was a short walk past the Doge’s Palace and along the ay Crowded?very crowded at night She liked Harry’s and was in a mood for the crowd that would be there The bar was always busy, and during Carnevale, she was certain that the ould be very long, except that Jared would have made reservations, and he knew the people there well She looked forward to a nice night with her cousin and his wife

She glanced at her watch; she had plenty of ti into her bathroo sure that the water was very hot Stripping down and slipping into a bathrobe, she called room service for a pot of hot tea

She threw open theas she waited, looking out to the bustling calle and canal Venice was already co back into the room, she switched on her television and atte to find out if there was anything going on in the city that ht have upset Sal somore A knock sounded on her door She absently bade, "Come in!"

A cheerful waiter arrived with her tea The tray was adorned with little cookies as well She thanked the rooned her bill, and made certain to lock her door when he left

Cup of tea in hand, she went into the bathroom and slipped into the tub She closed her eyes The water was hot and wonderful She thought about rising to look through the vaain

Why?

It would just get her going again Tomorroith luck, Federal Express would find her and she’d have another book on the subject Eyes closed, steaht

She was going to wear the wicked new heels she’d gotten in Charleston just before leaving, and the backless black cocktail dress She was going to get a little buzzed,out on pasta

She was so relaxed that she didn’t knohat suddenly startled her

She sat up in the tub, frowning, looking around, wondering what had so suddenly drawn her fro

She rose fro the bathroom, she walked into the bedroom and saw instantly that she had left theopen The cool night air was drifting in, battling with the heater Wind and whispers see her

She closed the

She was still cold

Jordan gave herself a shake, walking around the room She looked into the closet, then under the bed, and then felt like a fool There was no one in the room Yet she still felt the same sense of unease

The bath was ruined

She was definitely not getting back into it

Nor did she feel coer to leave

Too early to meet Jared and Cindy

But never too early to take a walk over to Harry’s and buy herself a drink

She dressed quickly, barely touching up herher hair with no more than a lick and a pro pleased, she’d filled the Jacuzzi tub with scented crystals, and sank in She hadn’t been expecting anyone, and she considered staying in the tub She onderfully relaxed And the idea of getting up, toweling off, walking down the stairs and answering the door to just anybody was not pleasing

The brass knocker sounded again

It occurred to Tiff that it ht just be hih in the street, even if he had seemed to be in a hurry

Maybe, just rabbed her robe Since it was silk, it clung to her war She still had a nice enough figure Well, all right, it wasn’t exactly hers

well, yes, it was She’d paid for it; it was hers!

So thinking, she pulled the towel fro down the stairs

Thank God for the plush carpet lining! Her daht off marble! She could have slid down the stairs, her obsession leading straight to her deo!

"Hold your shorts on!" she called, rocketing to the door

She should have looked out the little peephole, put in by the current owner, but by the time she reached the door, she was in far too much of a hurry

She threw open the door to a wo cloak