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Her palms dampened as she contemplated what she was about to do

Bastille Day was her swan-song in Paris and she wanted to see it out in style Last night she had danced with the thousands at the official party in the Place de la Bastille Thisthe traditionalthe Champs Elysées, and paid her respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior under the Arc de Triomphe She had lunched in the Latin Quarter and strolled home across the Île de la Cité

But she had done it all alone, while at every turn she had been confronted by couples of one kind or another…lovers oblivious to those around the heat or strolling hand in hand, parents running after their children, ood time…

And noith late afternoon drifting into evening, she was feeling defiant

She picked up her bag and checked herself in theto watch thearound her long thighs, and adjusting the strap on the filly showed off the exquisite, embroidered, French lace, strapless bra she wore beneath—all bought in an expensive fit of madness the previous day

Then, at the lastout the door, she snatched up a lightweight wrap to throw across her bare shoulders, a security blanket in case her courage failed her

She walked across the street and straight into the interior of the narrow, rectangular bar, exchanging a casual ‘bonjour’ with the pair behind the high, polished counter The object of her obsession had skewed his seat against the dark-panelled wall and now sat facing out into the roos stretched out and crossed at the ankle, so Veronica confidently chose the s the chair sideways to sit doith her back against the opposing wall

He took a s of his beer, frowning down at his newspaper, see her when everyone else had turned to watch her settle at her table, but she had seen—and felt—the lightning-swift appraisal he had accorded her when she had crossed the periphery of his field of vision A woman as tall as she was always attracted at least one look

His eyes were dark She added that to the list of things she knew about hiht hand to also tick off the fact that he wore no wedding ring A little of the nervous tension holding her spine rigid relaxed, and she crossed her legs, slanting the their short ti of poses

When the waitress sauntered over Veronica was ready with her order She would have actually liked a thirst-quenching beer, but didn’t think that that would project the i what he’s having,’ ht have been an ice-breaker However, at the ranite than ice Whatever he was reading in the paper was putting a scowl on his face It wasn’t L’Equipe, which she had seen hiering weekly tabloid, so it probably wasn’t si knocked out of a tournament

‘Un Kir, s’il vous plaît,’ she murmured to the waitress

The chilled glass was placed before her a few minutes later accompanied by a friendly burst of rapid French Veronica spread her hands, palm up, with a rueful smile

‘Excusez-moi, mais je ne comprends pas,’ she said carefully, in her phrase-book French

‘Ah! Anglaise,’ the girl instantly pounced on her accent

Veronica shook her head, setting fiery sparks dancing in the graduated layers of red-brown hair falling thickly down to her shoulders on either side of her central parting