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  Her heart swelled with emotion, and she sighed deeply.

  She felt Jack step behind her and wrap his arms around her. His bare chest brushed her back. “Did I rush you?” he asked in a low voice that did delicious things to her nerve endings.

  She smiled and turned in his arms. “Yes and no. I loved you for years when I was invisible.”

  He shook his head. “You weren’t invisible. I was blind. Remember? You helped me see again.” He kissed her, and she felt the sweet passion immediately surge between them.

  He pulled back. “We could have waited if you’d wanted a larger wedding.”

  “We had a perfect wedding,” she insisted. “Your mother was wonderful to allow the use of her garden again so soon after my birthday party.”

  “Some women would not be excited to see their stepdaughter pull out a bubble-making machine at the reception.”

  Amanda chuckled. “You did not marry one of those women,” she told him, lifting her hand to his strong chin.

  “Thank goodness,” he murmured. “Isn’t it time you were in bed?”

  Her heart pounded at the look in his eyes. “Why?”

  He cocked his head toward the sky. “It’s my wish.”

  “Oh,” she said. “I’m a big believer in wishes.”

  He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, then followed her down. His body was warm and strong. He made her feel secure and aroused at the same time.

  “You heard me that night I was wishing on a star, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “When you wished I would be as crazy for you as you were for me.”

  “I believe I said ‘someone.’”

  “You meant me,” he told her, and she completely identified with his possessive tone. “It was easy for me to make that wish come true. As your husband, it’s my job to make your wishes come true.” He tugged the strap of her gown down with his teeth and blew his breath over her bare nipple. “Any other wishes?”

  Her bones melted. “I wish you would kiss me.”

  He did, thoroughly.

  “I wish you would love me forever,” she said breathlessly.

  “I will,” he promised.

  “And when we get back to Minneapolis,” she said, sifting her fingers through the hair on his chest. “I wish you would make love to me on your desk.”

  Jack’s eyes glinted with green fire. “Consider it done.”

  “But tonight I wish you would let me make you a little crazy,” she said.

  He rolled them both over so that she lay on top of him. “Now, you’re making my wishes come true.” His eyes made love to her. “But you’ve done that from the beginning.”

  Fortune Family Tree

  Find out what happens

  when wedding planner Mollie Shaw

  finally meets Gray McGuire in

  THE GROOM’S REVENGE

  by Susan Crosby, coming only to

  Silhouette Desire in May ’99.

  And now for a sneak preview

  of their love story,

  please turn the page.

  No one will ever believe me, Mollie Shaw thought, shaking her head in disbelief. Gray McGuire, the high-tech wizard from the Silicon Valley was here. In her flower shop. He’d materialized from her dreams.

  His blue eyes were startling against his Californian tan, his dark brown hair shiny and thick. The turquoise polo shirt and khaki pants he wore fit his body perfectly, showing off a well-toned physique, one that didn’t look like he spent his days behind a desk.

  Standing in front of her counter, her hands clasped, she was content to watch him. Afraid if she did something wrong, he would disappear in a puff of smoke. He’d certainly hightail it out of there faster than she could say, “You’re the man of my dreams. Literally,” if he caught a glimpse of the newspaper photograph of him she had taped to underneath her counter. She had even been talking to his picture when he’d arrived.

  She continued to wait as he set some wind chimes moving then listened to the tinkling sounds.

  She didn’t want to hurry him, but she was more than a little curious about why he was there. Well, technically she was flabbergasted. But she was really, really curious. If this were a fairy tale, he’d be pulling a glass slipper out of his pocket now and trying it on her foot—and it would fit.

  “It’s a nice shop,” he said at last. “You’re also a wedding planner.”

  “How do you know that?”

  He pointed to the left. “There’s a sign in your window.”

  “Oh.” She smiled, feeling a little sheepish. She’d thought maybe he was her soul mate, after all—that he could read her mind. “I’m just getting started. You know the Fortune family, right? I’ve heard them speak of you.”

  “You’re friends with the Fortunes?” he asked, his expression impassive.

  “My good friend Kelly married Mac Fortune, and I pulled the event together for them. Then I was invited to do Mac’s sister Chloe’s wedding to Mason Chandler in a few months. One of those fairy tale, princess weddings, with all the trimmings.”

  “The kind of wedding you’d like for yourself?”

  She shrugged. “It’s fun to plan, but it wouldn’t be in my budget. My father’s been gone since before I was born. My mother passed away last year.”

  Gray lifted his gaze in a flash when her words registered. Been gone? What did that mean? Was her father dead? “I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you. Now,” she said glancing up at him, “what can I do for you, Mr. McGuire?”

  “First you can call me Gray. I’m a little surprised you know me.”

  She fussed with a plant. “The Fortunes have spoken of you.”

  “But you recognized my face.”

  “I saw you on the news yesterday. What brings you to Every Bloomin’ Thing?”

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  “I hope I’m misunderstanding your meaning,” Mollie finally said, her face growing red.

  “Strictly business,” he said gently before they were interrupted by a tiny, white-haired lady who’d come to get the church flowers.

  Gray listened to the exchange between the women as they discussed the flower arrangements for church on Sunday. The conversation made him reconsider how far to involve her in his plans. He’d intended to align himself with her against Stuart Fortune. But this young woman seemed to live in a sheltered world that could not possibly have prepared her for launching a vendetta that would turn her into a media darling. Especially one born of an old scandal he would bring to light.

  Mollie Shaw was a crucial component of Gray’s plan to make Stuart Fortune’s indiscretions and thievery public. But now that Gray had met this innocent young woman, how could he involve her?

  How could he not? Justice must be rendered.

  “I’m sorry for the interruption,” Mollie said.

  He looked around. They were alone again.

  “You have a proposition for me?” she prompted him.

  He had to rethink this. “I have to go. I’m expected somewhere else in a few minutes,” he said, glancing at his watch, then heading for the door.

  “Will you be back?”

  Her words stopped him. There was something in her voice. A hopefulness he couldn’t ignore. He didn’t know what would happen next. He had to analyze—

  “Please do come again,” she said softly.

  He should resist the temptation of her vulnerability, which whispered to his conscience first, then somewhere deeper, bringing light into the darkness of his plans—his need for vengeance. Instead he said, “I’ll be in touch,” over his shoulder as he moved to the door again.

  ISBN : 978-1-4592-5808-2

  THE SECRETARY AND THE MILLIONAIRE

  Copyright © 1999 by Harlequin Books S.A

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