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“Because we had sex?”

He leaned down and kissed her on the tip of her nose “Because we have once again established an area of our relationship that is nothing but beautiful”

“I won’t let you seduce e,” she said vehemently

“Are you sure about that?” he asked, his wandering hands noreaking havoc with her breathing

She didn’t answer and he laughed, pulling her froether and save time”

CHAPTER EIGHT

ALEXANDRA had been worried Diain, but he was as good as his word They were dressed in record tientle rat-a-tat-tat sounded on the door

“Mother,” she breathed

Diave her a sharp look He cut the connection abruptly and crossed the room to open the door Cecelia Dupree stood on the other side, looking fragile and quite lovely in her pale pink Moschino suit

“You must be Xandra’s h the door

Alexandra had to stifle a groan at his slip of the tongue Heron Alexandra, for once forgetting the social niceties “So, this is what you do when you’re living high as Xandra Fortune Have you no sense of decorum at all? You’re in New York nohere you are known as Alexandra Dupree What do you think New Orleans society will say when they discover you’ve spent the night with soed voice “Think of your sister The scandal could adversely affect Hunter’s business dealings”

“I sincerely doubt Hunter’s business associates care one way or the other about the behavior of Madeleine’s pregnant sister, as for New Orleans society…I’ out an ad in the paper Why should anyone back home know?” Or care, she asked herself silently Her mother lived in such a rarified ht and functioned

“You are a Dupree,” her mother said as if that should explain it all “Yet, by the look of this,” she said, waving a newspaper in Alexandra’s face, “you have cootten that fact How could you allow this sort of infore?”

Alexandra put her hand out toward Cecelia “May I see, Maes”

Cecelia flung the paper toward Alexandra with an absolutely surprising lack of restraint When Alexandra saw the headline and pictures, she understood why One picture was of her and Di the restaurant they’d had lunch in yesterday The other was of her and Di at each other at Chez Renée The headline read, “Greek Tycoon and Lover Reunite: Does Petronides Now Believe the Baby is His?”

With a sense of i dread, Alexandra read the article She was named as the fa Alexandra Dupree The writer speculated as to the reason for her dual personas and the effect her pregnancy had had on Dimitri’s scuffed plans to marry Phoebe Leonides Dimitri’s denial that he was the father was quoted, apparently having been overheard by the enterprising photographer or someone who’d been with him

The writer went on to say it appeared Dimitri now accepted his role as father and ended the article with a pithy coe between them

Alexandra felt sick and she , Dilass of water to rinse herher into his arms and carried her back into the ently on the cream colored sofa

“I’ht moro mou?”

She couldn’t take it in She couldn’t even look at herhow furious and disappointed in her Cecelia was bound to be She’d spent years living two lives to protect her mother from embarrassment and possible scandal, only to have it all torn apart with one sleazy newspaper article “Dimitri, they know…Everyone knows about us, about the baby, about Xandra Fortune”

He laid his finger against her lips “Shh All will be well You must trust me Nohat do you want to eat?”

“Dry toast and maybe a little fruit”

He shook his head, his expression wry “That is not sufficient sustenance for you and the baby I will order your dry toast, fruit and some food besides, I think”

“Why ask me if you plan to do what you want anyway?” she asked petulantly, glad to focus on so than the newspaper article