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‘Please don’t worry aboutthe last button on his jacket ‘I’ boy I can take what they dish up and shole’

He winked He smiled He put one hand on her shoulder Her delicate, silken-skinned shoulder He stepped a little closer and watched as her eyes did that widening thing that women always did—usually just before he leaned in for his first kiss

And wouldn’t a kiss be the perfect way to start his evening with Ruby? Those gorgeous lips, that ivory skin, her lustrous hair Hadn’t he been tempted from the moment he’d seen her? Hadn’t she shown that she was tempted too?

This could turn into the perfect night after all

Oh, yes, he thought, and the stirring and hardening in his groin were now very obviously happening There was only one thing left to do

‘But ither head

He paused inthe move swiftly He’d been rebuffed Well, well, well

‘What my mother feels is no concern of yours or anyone else’s,’ he heard himself say ‘I wish people would leave well alone’

Colour rose like a scarlet tide over her cheeks and he instantly regretted his sharp tone

Daossipy type And she was only being kind And, worst of all, she was right He knew his mother had been hurt by the press, and he knew he had no one to blame for that but himself

But why couldn’t people worry about their own lives instead of raking all over his?

He reached out a hand—an involuntary gesture—but sheher way back through the cabin He watched her walk carefully, the red satin billowing out above her calves, swishing gently with each step, until he was alht

And then the plane burab at the nearest chair and held on to it for two long seconds He could tell she was holding herself in pain She didn’t utter a sound

He rushed to her

‘Are you OK?’

‘Perfectly, thanks,’ she said, keeping her eyes ahead and fixing that sain

‘I saw you stumble there Is it your injury? I know that’s why you’re not dancing at theOK?’

She raised her eyebrows and flicked hilance He deserved that