just had to belong to the one guy

eling awning, starin

X COAST

mach kn

he hotels. J

se to guesthouse, but it was the same story

n have much left for fo

red through th

rm, polished, quiet. Some receptioni

ne night. She'd stay here one night, find som

went

ist greeted h

even

ve a room?

ed the keyboar

made Arabella'

much

ally all she had. She glanced down at her outfit-nothi

a Laurent mansion. Somehow, now, sh

e's something ch

ist shook her

time-and options. She handed o

y in return.

the key. She headed for

voice she dreaded.

ven have to

. He'd swapped his suit for a dark shirt and tro

Cheap clothes, hotel

ntly,"

noyed. "This

nd, fighting a headac

"You're no

rised," she muttered, and

closer. "You're

numbers-anywhere but him.

ou wore a we

. "Yesterday was a w

fore she could tell him not t

. "Do you stalk every woman y

hey vanish r

e developing a hob

vator h

runaway bride from before. She looked like she was trying to disappear into her clothes. Cheap

ork," he sa

ot him a lo

need

ed. "Have you b

ave

need your chari

ffer charit

ped into the hallway, and she

sk. "How much did she pay?

ed nervo

the r

shed forwar

at her. "I'm no

at do yo

tudying her.

ned. "Fo

ork. Tem

"You think I could

an work i

've never don

ll le

d her arms

d. "You ne

find a job so

But then, where

m, but didn't answer.

hort-s

conve

other to li

him. "What's

ca

always

head. "This

t tomorrow: Housekeeping coordina

ay. Her eyes widened

. "Becaus

m a long moment.

t or le

e had nowhere else to go. Here, at least,

dded.

ed, just a little.

l wo

oo

ed to w

d him. "Mr

oked

fore finally say

"Don't tha

eared dow

him-not even a little. But for the first time s

d to be

ing started w

staff. She didn't sleep well-the smallest noise made her shoot uprigh

me, and nobody sho

on clean clothes, a

. Within two hours, she'd juggled the reception schedule, fixed three bookin

d at her. "Where'

ned. "Here

ed. "You

polite smil

to

er to give up by noon. Instead, she looked like she

ident, even in he

g ordinary about

alked away, or at least tried

e lobby TV. Arabella carried a stack of

or the disappearance of Lauren

. On the screen was her face

year-old heiress is recovering from an emotio

hing around her tipped and blurre

oice behind her

e body t

mi

stood a few feet away, eyes

ed up-her face

r. Same eyes.

zation flickering there, not

dn't loo

en just stood at her side

aurent family has asked the public to report any

o her, and back. "You lo

files tight. "Lots

that

face him. "Are

o. Just... trying to

ha

powerful family in the country look exactly like the woman

art dr

t stoo

ther of them cared. Damien Devere

ut who she was, this fragile new start