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'You're not taking,' said Clare huskily 'I''

'Oh, but I am I wantthat the last six ht have made you more comfortable in the musical milieu, less of an outsider…'

'Well, yes, I suppose I am… a bit' She was puzzled by his diffidence, the hint of excitement

'Because you put your finger on it back there, when you iping the floor withand dealing, and a great friend, but he spends most of his time in New York He has a business to run and other temperamental musicians to look after I need someone on the spot— to see off the inevitable sharks, to help humanise my itineraries, to make my appointments and help write ainst the Press, to host parties for ain Does that sound challenging enough, do you think?'

'Oh, David, you don't have to bribe ht

'It's no sinecure, Clare,' he warned wryly 'I' to do If you don't want to take it on, that's fine, but sooner or later I'll have to employ a personal assistant I'm an artist, for pity's sake, I shouldn't have to lower myself to such sweated labour!'

It was such a perfect ihed 'I suppose I could do it on a trial basis…'

'The job, yes The e in Chicago Will you come with me? Or would you rather wait?'

This was said with such loaded patience that Clare couldn't resist 'Well…'

He sighed 'I suppose we've waited this long… a little longer won't kill me' His eyes slitted as he murmured provocatively, 'At least the critics will approve; while I burn for you, so does my music New fire, they call it…'

Anna's quoted words

'You're not leaving this country without a ring on your finger' Clare slid her arly within his hard eh his forht to make this a platonic mar… for the sake of your art'

'The hell ill,' he growled against her satiny throat, one hand plunging into the pale gold of her hair while the other discovered the thinness of her dress He stroked the shape of her, his fingers sliding against the silk, the silk sliding against her skin, exciting theers atso careful all this time not to put pressure on you… I nearly exploded with joy Love ht…'

'I do, David, I do'

He groaned, bunching the thin stuff of her dress in his fist, pulling it so that every dip and hollow of her body was outlined to his longing gaze His sh it's nice to know But you're right, we can't celebrate our love on bare boards and dust sheets Now, if the Steinas here…' He took wicked pleasure in her blush, but she was equal to the challenge