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CHAPTER ONE

‘KIM, I’ht step to take, I’h on your plate as it is; you know that’

‘I’ve no choice, Maggie, and you know that,’ Kim answered steadily

‘But…’ Maggie Conway stared helplessly at her friend as she ran out of words

‘Look, just be an angel and pick up Melody after school, okay? I shouldn’t be ht keepfor a while’

‘No probleie said unhappily

‘Thanks I don’t knohat I’d do without you,’ Ki

Ki about her last words as she left the coie’s spacious, open-plan apart Victorian house which had been converted into several self-contained flats

Maggie was an unlikely-looking angel, being as round as she was tall with a shock of vibrant curly ginger hair and freckles covering every inch of her skin, but an angel she was nevertheless, Kim told herself silently as she walked briskly to the bus stop How she would have got through the last two trauood humour she didn’t know

She reached the bus stop just as the bus drew round the corner and, once seated, stared unseeingly out of the , quite oblivious to the overt stare of the young, good-lookingopposite her who clearly couldn’t take his eyes off the golden-haired beauty on the other side of the aisle

Maggie had stepped in as unpaid childminder when the need arose—as it did frequently—confidante, stalwart friend, advisor and a whole host of other roles, Ki to come out of her relationship with Graham—apart froie

Grahahtened and her brown eyes narrowed for a hts away from the spectre in her mind

This wasn’t the time to think of Graha, she told herself fir her slender shoulders She understood the coing director of Kane Electrical was fierce, and she needed to be focused and clear from the outset

It was another fifteen minutes before the bus dropped her on the outskirts of Cae site which Kane Electrical occupied, and within fiveto the model-slim, beautifully coiffured receptionist that she had an appointment with Mr Lucas Kane at half-past two

‘Right’ The girl’s expertlyup of the tall, discreetly dressed woave a practised smile as she said blandly, ‘If you would like to take a seat for a moment I’ll tell Mr Kane’s secretary you’re here, Mrs Allen’

‘Thank you’ Kihtly under the scrutiny Her winter coat was a good one, but not new, neither were her shoes and handbag, whereas the receptionist’s expertly cut grey silk suit screaner label and her hair could only have been cut by one of the e

Still, she wasn’t going to let this girl or anyone else intimidate her, Kim told herself fiercely as she took the proffered seat and sank into inches of soft leather upholstery Shethe very latest fashion or have her hair styled by Vidal Sassoon but she was an excellent secretary, as her references confirmed

She raised her sht ahead, her hands resting in her lap and her knees deether, before a restrained commotion at the side of her—as a tall, dark e swept into the building—brought her head swinging round

Whether it was the receptionist’s less than tactful appraisal, or the fact that everyone on the periet his attention, Ki at the back of the personage in question with unated dislike