My Beautiful Public Wife

ing. She had to walk three blocks virtually on her toes in the trendy shoes, silently cursing the designers who dictated fo

oyce which was double-parked outside her destination. Easy for some, she thought, her mind instantly zinging to Jordan Powe

o, she was a red-

ere by himself…if he b

ste of hi

There was no point in crossing

night for her. At least this outfit should not take an

rs. When he caught sight of her, his jaw dropped. The gorgeously gowned woman with the perfectly styled blond hair who had lost his attention turned to

Jordan

broke into a

jig that would have rivalled the

red incredulously, his usual ap

he woman

Ivy realised, though beautifully prese

pecting…it’s Sacha’s daughter, Ivy Thornton. Come on

ike a farm gi

it but he wa

from the last exhibition un

impact of Jordan Powell’s presence to

red meeting her before. ‘I don’t think you met my mother last time,’ he continued, stepping around the woman

lue eyes, too, but they had a touch of frost in them, probably caused by the sheer number of women

stepped forward and offered her hand.

?’ she asked, deigning to acknow

have my mot

at do y

out. She might look like a high-fashion

a nod of dismissal before she received one. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I’ve

Powell repeate

moothly to hook his arm around Ivy’s, pouring charm into a wi

her heart started another wild jig.

the gallery owner and they were off, Ivy’s feet blindly

e was wearing, the hard muscular arm claiming her company, the confident

to talk much last time, and I’m b

as coming on to her, even after she’d said straight-

n for a start,’ he

th my appearance at that showing so I’m try

our shade of hair,’ he declared.

ling happily flattered that Jordan Powell was attracted to her, delighted that her dress-up effort had paid off. Yet, despite the charismatic sexiness of the man, she was in

nd turned to face him, her eyes focussed on burning a hole throu

amused. ‘Yes and no,’ he replied with a grin. ‘I speak

respond to the heart-kicking grin. ‘And since I’ve

e dampened his a

tered, her breasts tingled, and while her eyes still warred with the seductive twinkle in his, she was acutely aware of wanting to e

r how handsome you are?’ she asked with lofty c

quirk. ‘I stand corrected on how

in w

self with the p

ing discontent. Nevertheless, Ivy couldn’t bring hers

. And Henry, who’s a snob of the first order, not welcoming

hed eyebrow. ‘Care to ex

ful,

not to reveal how she kne

d said, ‘From what I observed last time we met,

me. Wealth is a drawcard so it’s difficult to know if anyone actually likes you.

you who grabbed me. I di

reshing, Ivy. Please allow

sire to have him at her side, at least for a little while. ‘Well, my mother will be impressed if I ha

Ivy was short in these high-heeled platform shoes, b

s talking to a couple who appear i

hover nearby until she finishes w

ou whether she’s free or

r the top in this outfit,’ she said worriedly. ‘The aim was to

like the cou

t form of glamour, anything less offends their sensib

s though you stepped right off

d

rdo

im as she explained. ‘Saw a photo of these clothes,

said, amused by her amu

you don’t think I

at

! I’ve got you to protect

d to be

spirits, despite knowing his track record with women. It wouldn’t hurt to enjo

all except for the curly hair. No one would pick them as mother and daughter. Sacha Thornton had grey eyes. Her hair was dark brown—almost black—and cascaded over her should

to the couple. The expressive gesticulation halted in midair as Ivy—linked with Jordan

e outcome of her pushing—first Henry, then Jordan Powell and now her mother totally agog. Heather would be dancing around and cl

diculous,

do with

dn’t reflect who

ily wear it tonight for the

mile at the prospective buyers. ‘You must excuse me now.

tion to her. The couple looked, their eyes widening at what they obviously saw as a

the painting,’ her mother went

d swept over to plant extravagant kisses on her daugh

! I’m so thrilled that you’re

ttishly. ‘I do hope this means yo

he answered, oozing his charm again. ‘We hav

s anything that

the connections. She understood that this was what tonight was about for Sacha Thornton, not catching up with a daughter who didn’t share the sam

verything,’ her mother pleaded pret

swered obligingly. ‘Good

e steered her into the adjoining room which wasn’t

Sacha never felt like a real mother to me. I was

ame for he

ort to come to events th

e wh

ion. Whenever I wanted bo

taying the wee

N

y n

I’d rathe

h is

red kilometre

farm’s website gave it away and he might have read it

e a drive la

She gave him an ironic grimace. ‘You whisked me off before I could g

of his jacket pocket

list in the brochure, determined on deflecting his physical effect on her. ‘Right!’ she

ngly falling in with her direction. ‘Very pl

icker on it indicating a sale, so somebody had liked it. ‘O

drawled in a seductive tone, compe

at fired up a host of primitive desires. She had lusted mildly over some movie stars, but in real

ime flirting with me,’

r do,’ he declared, grinning as

tag along in my wake, you’ll have to look properly

of them, will you h

ped her foot. As it was, she glared at him in high dudgeon. ‘That

ent in his confidence gave Ivy a wild rush of satis

would please you to have y

y,’ she retorted fiercely. ‘She doesn’t need me to sell myself to have a successful exhibition.’ Her ch

n apology. ‘I

k that all you have to do is offer your little

onic twist. ‘I wouldn’t c

an image of his naked body bloomed in her mind. ‘I don’t care how big they are,’ she insisted v

o go. It would be the most sensible solution to the warring urge ins

dly with her being discarded