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There weren’t thatthe invitation against my palm My eyes peeled for her That had to be why Dahlia sent ne and I picked up one of the flutes and downed half the glass, trying to quellfor my turn There was no one else behind me

The line of people in front of lass dropped out of ht into the event It was her

Rachel stood in f

ront ofoff her conversation with the people who’d been in line ahead of me

There was another woman beside her, an older woman, but eous My heart thundered and I was a little lightheaded Just as beautiful as I re and here she was in the flesh Right in front of htened and it was hard to breathe

Her hair was up on top of her head in an intricate set of braids and twists with a feisps trailing down, fra her face The body she’d always hidden under her work clothes was on full display Her dress hugged all her curves, curves I’dSoht her attention

She turned her head in my direction and her face paled I don’t knohat reaction I expected, but it wasn’t the look of abject terror I took a step forward and she took a step back, bu into the woman beside her

“Rachel, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost” The wo doith so?” Rachel shook her head The other wo there and extended her hand

“Hello, welcome I’m Michelle Darren-Halston, so lovely of you to join us, Mr…” I shook her hand, unable to form words Rachel Darren was Rachel Halston I’d seen her naether?

“Killian Thorne,” Rachel said, without taking her eyes from mine The woman, I can only assume was herto figure out as happening I was too

“Mr Thorne,” hermy hand in hers “Welcome and we’re so happy you could be here to join us We have the silent auction going on and then the live auction a little later At the table downstairs, you’ll be able to get your paddle with your nu”

“Rachel, would you like to show hilers”

Rachel’s head whipped around and she shook it vigorously

“It’s okay, sweetheart, I’ve got it” Her ht her in lasses now and it seemed she was still as unsteady on her feet in these heels as she had been before She righted herself quickly and smoothed down the front of her dress The navy dress shiht of the museum

“It’s been a long time, Rachel,” I said into her ear She shivered and a sood to see that I hadn’t lostto let her get away this tiain I wasn’t theto prove that to her