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He walked across the terrace, putting his e out his hand to shake that of thetowards his—the town’s mayor, with his wife

Wasn’t it a !

He introduced the raphs were taken, and they shuffled indoors as the next guests arrived An actress and her boyfriend, fresh from Cannes

She was looking as exquisite as ever! Was she showing at Cannes?

He listened to her reply as they too swung round for pictures Over her shoulder David signalled Augusto and Marie-Isabelle’s arrival

Matteo felt grim determination clutch at his heart There was no reason to feel anxious about this and every reason to feel confident All the signs were there—this was the delicate first step in talks towards aforward But it was the old-fashioned way Private talks to build the relationship, get the cheiven clearance to tidy up the deal

He watched Augusto Arturo exit the car, saw the care the oldwhile she adjusted her dress, offering her his aran the slow climb to meet him

And then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the flash of so that was burned deep on his subconscious His heart thundered His groin tightened

He turned back to see Augusto and Marie-Isabelle, heads down, still cli his head to the left to see David His assistant’s face had changed froin to flash and felt a wave of interest pass over hiure in red

He turned now—fully stared And there between two security guys, eyes fixed, wearing the same cherry-red, wide skirted dress, was Ruby?

He stalled for a second, frauests and cameras, on the cusp of the most important moment of his business life His heart crashed into his throat Not another woman come to make a scene? Not now Surely?

But there was noit was her, and in a split second he read the situation The two security were doing their, job checking to see if she elcome or not, but they stood back respectfully, awed by her bone-deep beauty, her consue

As if the rest of the world had dissolved he saw her she looking at hie, and he knew so

In a second David was at his side ‘You want me to take care of this?’ he whispered as he slipped behind his shoulder