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‘It really is a good cause, Vaughan And with the best will in the world one auction isn’t going to deliver the equipment the ward needs Surely a bit of publicity can only do you both soood?’

‘Leave it, Ahan warned, but the bit was between her teeth now and she refused to relent

‘No heart and flowers, I promise But surely a mention is deserved Saht’s efforts’

‘You’ve been speaking to hiripped her arlass

‘Of course I’ve been speaking to hiive’

‘Just a couple of lines?’ Vaughan checked ‘Maybe a brief description of the type of equipment they need?’

‘Done!’ A it in—the perfect touch to the perfect article But Vaughan’s hand was still on her ar free, she turned to him ‘Relax, for heaven’s sake’

‘I ahan hissed

Sa the for, while si the a few cocktails han stood stock-still, his body rigid with tension, alike a jackhammer in his cheek Amelia just smiled wider

‘Oh, cohter it will shatter You’re going to be fine up there Anyway, it’s for a good cause, remember?’

‘You really think that I’ to hers, his headonly she could hear his words ‘You really think that I’e?’

Bewildered, she shrugged ‘Vaughan, if you don’t want me to put this in the article you only have to say—’

‘Ae, and his hand was back in place on her ar her around to face hiave a h ‘I’m sure you do Is that why you didn’t wear a bra?’

Startled eyes asp in her throat as she stepped back, atteht She was coht was bea as Sahan Mason to take the floor

But Vaughan wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry His features were severe in the white heat of the spotlight, his voice a threatening caress, his eyes dragging over her décolletage She felt as if she were naked, her nipples sticking like thistles in her dress So acute was his stare that she could al them, feel the inappropriate stir of her own arousal as the room looked on—and surely theybetween her legs, the twitching contractions of early arousal? If ever she had hated hi back at him, as she willed it to be over

‘Don’t play withboys, because as you know they don’t always follow the rules’

And he couldn’t have cheapened her more, couldn’t have made her feel more like a whore—as if she’d dressed deliberately provocatively to entice hi on the door when she should have been getting ready Worst of all, she had no choice but to take it, no choice but to force a smile as he took the microphone and with effortless ease worked the room, his clipped tones such a contrast to Sam’s needy ones

Yet it had the desired effect Serious bidding was taking place, and she watched, burning with indignation yet dripping with lust, as bidding han succeeded where others would surely have failed

Well, he wouldn’t succeed with her

The microphone was barely back in its stand, the sain, as A to get to her roohan was behind her, calling her back

‘It isn’t finished yet’

‘Oh, but it is, Vaughan—for ant, so certain all any woer, but her lips were pale, so taut she could barely get the words out without hissing ‘I was right about you all along—you haven’t changed a bit, you’ve just learnt to be more discreet’