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She restored ancient works of art and believed in idyllic love, the type of love artists captured on canvas. That one perfect moment, Charlie reflected as the plane taking her home to London banked over Venice.

But life was never that simple. She had lost her heart to Orlando Rossi, a man familiar with extreme wealth and power but a stranger to love. She had restored a painting for him that she saw as a legacy for the world, whereas he wanted to hang it in his fabulous hotel where only a privileged few would ever see it.

She and Orlando had parted on bitter terms, though her love for him would never die.

He was right—they came from different worlds, and she should have known better than to expect those worlds to merge and allow them to go forward into the future together.

* * * No one walks out on me! But she had. And now Orlando couldn’t rest. He called the airfield and told them to expect him.

* * * Orlando entered the lecture hall anonymously, shielded by a horde of students. He felt a rush of pleasure that Charlie could attract such a crowd.

He listened with rapt attention like everyone else as she talked. She was inspirational.

He watched the glowing faces of the students as they left the hall and knew she had fired them up. The only time he got a response from the wealthy and powerful guests who stayed at the hotel was if they had a complaint to lodge against his staff.

The moment he got close enough to attract Charlie’s attention, he told her, “You were wonderful.”

“Orlando...” She paled, and the world shrank around them. The students disappeared, sensing something big was taking place.

“Can we go somewhere?” he asked,

“Yes, of course.”

She took him to a tiny cubbyhole he supposed must serve as her office.

“What brings you here?”

“You,” he said simply.

“Orlando, I—”

He put his finger over her lips. She held his wrist away.

“No, Orlando. If you’ve got another picture for me to restore, I can tell you right away, I’m not interested.” Tilting her chin she stared him directly in the eyes.

* * * This was agony. She wanted him as much as ever. But Orlando’s sole reason for following her to England had to be because he refused to accept defeat, whether that was in business or his personal life. His world was different and there were no bridges.

“Charlie, you’re being selfish.”

That was only the first surprise.

“I changed for you,” he said, “but how have you changed for me? I admit I was shocked when I discovered how much the painting was worth, but if you’d stayed, we might have discussed alternative plans. You never gave me that chance. I’m asking for it now...”

It wasn’t hard to see why this fiercely handsome man enjoyed such success.

“You’re a consummate negotiator, Orlando.”

“No, I’m a man in love,” he argued, taking hold of her.

to be continued….



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