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Damian nodded “We did, indeed” he said smoothly

Dawn leaned her head against her groom’s shoulder “We just knew you tould have a lot to talk about”

I don’t believe this, Laurel thought I’m trapped in a room filled with matchmakers

“Really,” she said politely

“Uh-huh”

“Na”

Dawn’s brows lifted “Sorry?”

“Na we’d have to talk about,” Laurel said pleasantly, even while a little voice inside her warned her it was time to shut up

The wo sound Dawn shot Nick a puzzled glance Gallantly he picked up the slack

“Well,” he said, “the both of you do a lot of traveling”

“Indeed?”

“Take France, for instance”

“France?”

“Yeah Daured you could clue him in on the best places to buy stuff You know, furniture, whatever, considering that you spend so much time there”

“I don’t,” Laurel said quickly She looked at Evan, sitting beside her, and she cleared her throat “I mean, I don’t spend half as much time in Paris as I used to”

“Where do you spend your time, then?” Damian asked politely

Where didn’t he spend his? Laurel made a quick mental inventory of all the European cities a man like this would probably frequent

“New York,” she said, and knew instantly it had been the wrong choice

“What a coincidence,” Daht a condominium in Manhattan”

“You said it was Paris”

“Paris, Manhattan” His shoulders lifted, then fell, in an elegant shrug “My business interests takehoht”

“Like the blonde who came with you today?” Laurel said sweetly

“Aunt Laurrr-el!” Dawn said, with a breathless laugh

“It’s quite all right, Dawn,” Damian said softly, his eyes on Laurel’s “Your aunt and I understand each other—don’t we, Miss Bennett?”

“Absolutely, Mr Skouras” Laurel turned to the dentist, as sitting openmouthed, a copy of virtually everyone else at the table “Would you like to dance, Evan?”

A flush rose on his face He looked up at Damian

“But—I ht”

“You thought wrong, sir” Dalinted in his eyes “While we’ve all been listening to Miss Bennett’s interesting views, I’ve had the chance to reconsider” He turned to Dawn and smiled pleasantly “My dear, I would be honored if you would desert Nicholas long enough to grant me the honor of this dance”

Dawn smiled with relief “I’d be thrilled”

She went into his arms at the same time Laurel went into Evan’s Nick pulled out Evan’s chair, spun it around and sat down He draped his arht remark about families and family members that diverted the attention of the others and set the

So ht with satisfaction as she looked over Evan’s shoulder Perhaps next ti to play ere certainly his usual games with a woman

Gabriella Boldini crossed and recrossed her long legs under the dashboard of Damian’s rented Saab

“Honestly, Dae for a limousine”

Dato the remark she’d already made half a dozen times since they’d left Stratham

“We’ll be at the inn soon,” he said “Why don’t you put your head back and try and get some sleep?”

“I a—”