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'Let me remind you, from tomorrow I a'

His eiveout?'

She felt s eyes but, however much he disapproved of her, she couldn't bear to stay here She had to get away, fro to watch hiet Annette back? It was none of Sian's business, but she couldn't believe those tere suited Annette was right out of his league—couldn't he see that? Annette herself had realised it, even if only at the last e to run away at the eleventh hour? Even then she probably wouldn't have gone if Rick hadn't rung her and galvanised her into flight

'OK,' she said flatly, staring at him and bewildered by his blindness about Annette They would have been a very ill-matched couple—why couldn't he see that?

He turned and walked out of the house and she stared after hiain I'ht, wide-eyed with shock How stupid! I'm jealous—but I hardly know the man, so why should I be?

Sheshe was sure about it—she'd be more on his level than Annette had ever been

Hot colour ran up to her hair How ridiculous, she thought, angry with herself What on earth ive me a second look!

Oh, but he has, her mind reminded her; he's lookedthe times when she had felt that powerful flare of attraction—or had she iined it? Had she wanted to believe he was as aware of her as she was of him? It was so easy to deceive yourself—wasn't that what Cass was doing over Annette? If he thought they could ever be happy together he was deceiving himself If Sian hadn't heard Annette's side of it already she would have been just as sure that e between Cass and Annette would be a recipe for disaster The two of them orlds apart Why couldn't he see that?

'Are we going yet?' Annette said huskily behind her, and Sian turned and hurriedly smiled reassurance

'Let's wait outside the house'

Cass drew up shortly after that, and they drove to the hospital to find it besieged by reporters and photographers who jostled each other to get pictures of the

Cass and Sian hurried Annette into the hospital, and the burly porters held the cla mob back while they escaped up to the heart unit Annette was in tears by then; Cass had his arrey eyes acidly reminded Sian that the mob outside were her people, she was one of the she could deny it This was one of those times when silence was the only defence

They found Rick in the waiting-room He came to take Annette away from Cass, his face jealous, resentful Annette cried harder at the sight of hi, her arms round his neck

'Oh, Rick, he isn't worse? Why can't I see hi to die, is he? Outside there are… they all shouted and tried to grabon? When can I see my father?'

Rick had both arms round her, his chin on her soft hair 'The sister says you can take a look at him, but he's under sedation, he won't know you're there He's OK, though, Annette He's going to be OK, in time Whatever happens, you ot to be very calm and quiet before you see him'