CLAIMING THEIR BRIDES

n a rhythm that was supposed to soothe, although she knew nothing was going to lift the de

the baby she didn't have. Stillborn. She wished she'd died with it. The ultimate escape. Pr

nbearable. She'd managed to get a packet of contraceptive pills from a pharmacy in Kings Cross, lying about leaving her prescriptio

have the law after her in no time flat, getting custody. Everything within her cringed

t the doorway, holding

un into financial difficulties, having sons who needed helping throu

id catch a flash of sympathetic concern in the housekeeper's eyes. More than anyone else, Marian Keith saw

an at the door...' 'You know I can't see vi

ting to the Walt Disney m

n a poisoned apple when she'd married Gary Chap

sistent. A Mist

erked back to the housekeeper. 'Who?' she a

s name was

times had she looked for him then, hoping he'd turn up, wanting to be with hi

st d

sight of him, no contact with him. Too late

ursery, holding out the envelope. 'He's waiting at the door. He

er, curious to see what was inside. She only half removed the glossy sheet of pape

it hidden. For several moments her mind froze in sheer terror of the

I tell him, M

at the door...prepared t

d no c

ther see

ir and made the only decision that might save her from Gary's rage.

y. 'Are you sure

Dear God! There was no way out. But better to stop this from going public and take the p

she said with far more c

f wary acquiescence

e anyone knowing about it and Ric Donato knew. She shrank from facing the knowledge in his eyes-dark eyes-like dark brown velvet, she had once thought, caressing her, making her feel... She shuddered, automatically trying to shake off the memory.

at it was all about,

powder room to check her appearance. Make-up almost hid the discolouration around her eye. Carefully drawn lipstick minimized the puffiness of her mouth

f covered the bruise around her wrist. Nothing showed except...she put on a pair of sunglasses-p

to be fobbed off, either, though why he had come...Lara took a deep breath in a desperate attempt t

ear that was making mincemeat of her stomach. He was already there, standing under the sails th

ifully designed and tailored suits as he cared to own- a man who had the power to broadcast her private secrets to a gossip- hungry world. Over the years

g enough to dip over the back of his collar, remembering a much younger Ric D

ki

been between them

ad to know where she was at now. Shame curled around her heart, squeezing unmercifully. How had her lif

lo,

aze. She stared at his mouth-a full lower lip and an emphatically curved upper one. Sexy and se

y, wooing the romantic soul she'd had then. If only she could go

herself to say with

ken at the airport and sent to my Sydney Agency thi

leaded in a frantic rush, unable to

fact, I've just called my executive assista

rice was.' He shook his

'I don't understand. Why

mouth quirked into an ironic grima