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"Everyone is in costume, Jared," Jordan said coolly "And people follow people in costu pictures"

"How did this ondola?" Anna Maria asked quickly, trying to ease the tension

"I saw a friend And he gave me a ride hoondolier?" Jared demanded

"Jared, you have lots of friends I don’t know, and I have friends you don’t know"

"In Venice?" he queried

"Yes In Venice"

"So as Tiff up to? "Raphael asked Ragnor He ame?"

"Ah, well she askedbefore Anna Maria’s ball"

"Tiff Henley is having a cocktail party?" Cindy said

"She assured nor replied

"I hadn’t had a chance to tell you," Jordan told the a cocktail party?" Jared queried

"I just learned about it thisnearby, cleared his throat Jared quickly apologized in Italian, and a discussion regarding choices for dinner ent around the table

"I think you just found out about this cocktail party tonight" Jordan started, Ragnor’s whisper so close against her cheek, so softly spoken

She sos can coes as well" His head reely serious "Do you dislike me, Miss Riley?"

"Yes," she whispered

"Why?"

"Maybe because you insultyou"

"I think that you iht size, but that isn’t really the answer, is it? So, why do you dislike me?"

"Maybe because you’re a liar," she heard herself say

"What lies have I told?" Ragnor inquired

"You were at the contessa’s ball And you deny it"

He sat back "We’re not at all friends, I do assure you That is no lie" She would have believed him Except at that nor I saw you with the contessa in the Square today At least, I’ ain the way she reat enemies?" Raphael was full of his sense of fun He lifted his wineglass "You seemed quite close"

"Like the sun and the nor said evenly

Everyone at the table was staring at hiht and day," Anna Mariawith aLynn to order for her She hurried off to the restroom and doused her face in cold water She stared at her reflection

"Go hoet out of this insanity!" she told herself But the ed to run, the nor was a liar He ith Tiff today, and with the contessa in the Square It didn’t change the fact that she was torn between hostilityand al desire

"He’s handsoed features, great hands You’ve been alone; you lost a fiancé a year ago You are human, and that is all" She suddenly realized that another wo at her She had spoken aloud

"Scusi, scusi," the woman said

"No, no, per favore,by the woman

Great As if the world didn’t think that Anor He had apparently followed her, and waited for her to ee

"I had to make you understand that I am not in any way the contessa’s friend," he told her

She shook her head "Your friendships are completely your own business, MisterMister " She threw up her hands "I don’t even know your last name"

"It’s important that you believe me"