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CHAPTER ONE

‘I’M NOT even going to get to first base, am I, honey?’

Eloise’s luscious lips parted over even white teeth in a stunning s with aold hair swaying gently around her slender shoulders, and not being able to stop herself, she laughed out loud at the exaggerated woebegone expression on her companion’s face

‘I knew it When your luck is out, it’s out,’ Ted Charlton stated in his deep Areat companion, and we can still talk—more than I could ever do with my ex-wife, that’s for sure’

Ted had told her over thedivorced for the third tier man, and Eloise felt sorry for him Probably about fifty, he was no Adonis, but his personality and wit more than made up for his homely appearance

‘You certainly can,’ Eloise teased hih school’

‘Heaven forbid—I a you’

Bravely she reached out and placed her hand on his ar life I hope I have even half as much fun’

‘A beautiful talented girl like you, the world is your oyster It gives the old ego a boost simply to be seen out with you, and if I can help you in any way I can, I will’

It wasn’t a cast-iron contract to invest in KHE, the jewellery design company she shared with her two friends, Katy and her husband Harry, but it was alht happily

‘That’s very kind of you’ She beamed at her companion She had never dined with a prospective investor in her life, and she would not have been doing it now, except Katy—as seven and a halfwell Harry, who looked after the business side of things, wanted to stay at hoed a dinner with Ted Charlton, and so Eloise had been railroaded into taking his place

‘Not kind; it’s just co; in a few years I can see KHE jewellery boutiques in every capital in the world’

Eloise laughed out loud ‘Now you’re exaggerating’ She was glad she had taken Harry’s place; the evening was a success and the relief was enormous, both business-wise and personally…

She hadn’t wanted to co were not her scene The fli was not hers, but Katy’s Eloise’s preference was for casual trousers and baggy shirts, but surprisingly Ted Charlton had somehow put her at her ease, and she was a herself

‘Maybe,’ Ted said, rising to his feet ‘But how about you to take a chance on my old bones and dance with me? We can leave the business details until tomorroith your astute Harry around to dot the i’s and cross the t’s’

For a split second she hesitated; then, rising to her feet, Eloise took his outstretched hand ‘Sure thing, Ted,’ she said in an appalling atte as they moved around the small dance floor in each other’s arms

Marcus Kouvaris leant back against the bar, a glass of whisky in his hand, and slid his other hand into the pocket of his trousers The stunningly attractive blonde at his side i her s, sensuous s would end—in bed… Nadine was a top model and a more experienced sexual athlete he had yet to meet: and he needed the relief Marcus took a sip of his whisky and frowned

He’d spent a great deal of the past twelvea protective eye on his Aunt Christine, his late hter Stella, who had their perive theic death of their husband and father, Theo Toumbis, in a car crash Unfortunately it had seriously curtailed his sex life, and celibacy was not his style