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‘We’re here,’ he said, raking his fingers back through his hair ‘And they’ve seen us’

Cathy glanced at the sudden cool mask which had replaced the dark passion on his face ‘You don’t sound very…keen’

He should have been irritated by her intrusive observation—but the appeal in her wide blue eyes meant that he was uard for once, just a little? This little chanificance to any confidences he ht share with her—and if she tried, he would merely point out her error so that she would not repeat it ‘I’dlove to you,’ he admitted softly

And that one olden look which accoh toon air as the car door was opened for them

‘And so would I,’ she whispered shyly, but her la tojewels, their skin faintly tanned, pah her How could she possibly compete in her cheap little chain-store dress when they all looked like expensive birds of paradise?

Unco hall, where every table setting seemed to contain a whole canteen of cutlery—but at least she’d helped out at enough formal banquets at the hotel to knohich was the correct knife and fork to use

Picking at her un to eat before they, too, followed suit Hoearing that ht She found herself seated in between two very wealthy landowners ouldn’t have given her a second glance if she’d been changing their duvet cover

But Xaviero had, hadn’t he?

Cathy sed He ht have taken her to bed and shecould detract from the fact that he had wanted her, just the way she was And she had wanted him In fact, if only he really were that man in deni here, having to endure these stilted conversations They could have been snuggled up under their own duvet—ether

‘I’m sure I’ve seen you so to her

Cathy felt her heart begin to pound with trepidation ‘I…I don’t think so—’

‘Good heavens—you’re not…’ The man pushed his scarlet face closer and frowned ‘You don’t by any chance work at Rupert Sanderson’s hotel, do you?’

Cathy froze and looked across the table in alarolden eyes fixed on her Obviously Xaviero had heard every word and atching her, waiting to hear what she would say

For one teet if she told the truth That she was the cha and that she’d tugged Egyptian cotton sheets over the Prince’s king-sized bed before letting him make love to her on it?

She realised that the landoas still waiting for her answer and she looked into Xaviero’s eyes as if seeking an answer there and, to her astonishave her a slow smile

‘Yes, Cathy works locally at the hotel—and has kindly agreed to be uide while I’ that the redhead who had been flirting with hi the little chahtfully, his eyes narrowed, as he realised that he had not done Cathy justice ‘It helps that she’s very beautiful, of course,’ he added softly

Cathy felt the rush of colour to her cheeks at the faint ripple of surprise this remark produced—before the chatter resuh she was pleased that Xaviero had come to her rescue, she wished he hadn’t felt the need to tell a blatant lie like that

Under hisstare she noticed the fractional dilation of his eyes Saw the way the tip of his tongue had touched one corner of his lips as if deliberately reht to her earlier And suddenly she didn’t care if he’d lied about her being beautiful When he looked at her like that, she actually felt beautiful Just as she’d felt when he’d gazed down at her naked body as if he couldn’t quite believe his eyes

Was she alone in feeling the tension which fizzed across the table between them? Was he aware that every time his lips curved into a slow and speculative s of desire at the pit of her stomach? The impatience to be alone with him and aith these people who fawned over every word he said The woeously—but she was the woman he had chosen to be his lover!