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Still, his body reacted to the hunger in her kiss She tasted sweet and so dare for the deception he was carrying out

But then he remembered that Copeland Hotels would finally be his—or at least under his control He would be a force to be reckoned ide Not bad for a man who had been told that his sole ambition should be not to “screw up”

Carefully, he pulled her away and gently offered a reprimand

“This isn’t the place, Ashley We should be going Carl is waiting for us”

Her lips turned down into a momentary frown before she looked beyond hiht smile on her face

He shook his head as she greeted his chauffeur, her hands flying everywhere as she spoke in rapid tones Carl grinned The rinned as he handed Ashley into the car By the time Devon made it over, Carl had already reverted back to his somber countenance

Devon slid into the backseat with Ashley, and she immediately moved over to nestle into his side

“Where are we eating tonight?” she asked

“I planned so special”

As expected she all but pounced on hi with excitement

“What?” she demanded

He smiled “You’ll see”

He felt more than heard her faint huff of exasperation and his s in Ashley’s favor was that she was extraordinarily easy to please He was unused to women who didn’t wheedle, pout or complain when their expectations weren’t met And unfortunately, the woh expectations Expensive expectations Ashley seemed happy no matter what he presented her with He had every confidence that the ring he’d chosen would meet with her approval

She nestled closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder Her spontaneous demonstrations of affection still unbalanced him He wasn’t used to people ere so…unreserved

William Copeland felt that Ashley needed soht Devon fit the bill Devon would never know

When theyher to restrain soh her entire life with her eet her hurt

A few ot out to open the door Devon stepped out and then extended his hand to help Ashley from the car

Her broas creased in a thoughtful expression as she stared up at the building

“This is your place”

He chuckled at her statement of the obvious “So it is Come, our dinner awaits”

He ushered her through the open door and into a waiting elevator It soared to the top and opened into the foyer of his aparted

The lighting was low and roround and the table by theoverlooking the city had been set for two

“Oh, Devon, this is perfect!”

Once again she threw herself into his arer than herself It did funny things to his chest every tied him

Extricating hiuided her toward the table He pulled her chair out for her and then reached for a bottle of wine to pour thelass

“The food is still hot!” she exclaimed as she touched the plate in front of her “How did you e it?”

He chuckled “My super powers?”