CLAIMING THEIR BRIDES

ied herself producing a print o

the question

h to get dates with wo

coming too conscious of how pleased the women were with what he could provide. They didn’t kn

wned apartments in London and New York —prime properties—as well as in Sydney, with a magnificent harbour

tolen to impress Lara f

Why remind himself of frustration…defeat?

er really esc

ab him back to that time and place when being with Lara Seymour had seemed more importa

knowing he was going to act on it. Kat

ncts insisted on the precaution. ‘L

e unusual commands. ‘What sh

te the best price you can.’ He threw her a look of reckless determination as he he

ask without any further questions,

looked to him as though Lara was in a bad situation with Gary Chappel. The photo h

her had been a victim of it—dying from ruptured kidneys when Ric was only a kid. He’d been too little to protect her, getting beati

iving in that

d no rights in this matter. Nevertheless, he couldn’t ignore it. His heart burned with the need to act. And in

et kid anymore.

ass in

o burn any

e could more than

ani suit this morning, more for meeting Mitch

d to be. Johnny Ellis had, as well, going platinum on quite a few of his country and western songs. Even after a

them had

g themselves more outside the relationship than in it after a while. The three of them probably understood each o

or the Eastern Suburbs. The envelope containing the photograph was on the passenge

city when Gary Chappel had acquired the fifteen million dollar mansion on the harbour foresh

erable in private. It had seemed to him she was blessed with everything…and still unattainable as far as he was concerned. No point in man

s he butt

armed life was askew. What did he hope to ach

y to the

him, but Ric knew he wouldn’t rest easy unt

ell. Determination made him endure the long wait for the door to be opened—not by Lara, but by a middle-aged woman. The perm

to visit Mrs. Chappel,’ he decla

ving visitors today,’ came the totally uncomprom

‘Please give this to Mrs. Chappel and tell her Ric Donato has

well

and closed the door

the photograph. She would be afraid of what use he might make of it. Fe

ong he di

y as…something he co