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Chapter One

“So, do tell Who is this woman who’s stolen your heart?”

Dah his veins How had she found out? Had he been that obvious? He’d never confessed his secret to anyone Certainly not to her

Offering a polite sether in feigned ignorance “Whatever do you mean?”

She s merrily, every bit the saucy minx he knew her to be, for she’d been a friend for years As of late he’d yearned for so much more with her She was the only woman who ever mattered in his life “Come now, Damien You’ve been in a dreadfula special lady?”

He frowned She couldn’t be further from the truth Indeed, the special lady she spoke of existed

But he was looking right at her, though she hadn’t a clue

And she never would

“I apologize for my somberher lush lips Herall sorts of things to his body with that ested to a lady of her station

And he was so far beneath her station he had no right to even think of such wicked acts

“Oh, do stop acting the proper gentleman It’s just me” Celia shook her head, ard tendrils of dark brown hair brushing against her flushed cheeks Pretty rounded cheeks he longed to kiss Caress with his fingers Whisper sords against…

“Indeed So I shall treat you like the pesky little sister and tell you to shove off”

She laughed at his grouchy state to rise within hi he’d be able to stave off for all these torturous years

But he couldn’t endure it any longer Every tie to tell her how he felt was too strong He’d alo, cla his lips shut before the words tumbled out

To slip would be disastrous An act he ht never recover froh Call him silly, slap hi