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Category: Erotica/Erotic Romance/Romance
Description: Recently divorced, overworked insurance executive Catherine Carrington badly needs a vacation. She's on her way to the Jetsetters' new favored island, Sardinia, for a much needed vacation, only to find her plans disintegrating under her feet. Suave Frenchman Winery Owner, Etienne Bertrand, witnesses Catherine's panic attack when her plans are changed, and he takes charge of her safekeeping, arranging transportation and the set of her life. He takes her to his palatial villa and into his heart. Catherine has never experienced the emotion and passion Etienne stirs within her, but as much as she loves him, how can she allow him to take over her life? And can he protect Catherine from his unbalanced sister when he refuses to believe the threat?
eBook Publisher: Champagne Books/Heat, 2007
Champagne eBookstore Release Date: April 2007

3 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [262 KB], ePub (EPUB) [304 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [228 KB], Portable Document Format (PDF) [816 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [251 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [332 KB], Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [265 KB], hiebook (KML) [665 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [379 KB], iSilo (PDB) [206 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [261 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [339 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [368 KB]
Words: 74563
Reading time: 213-298 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Portable Document Format (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Catherine's world shifted into slow motion. She screamed and it seemed that it went on and on. Just in time, she grabbed the banister or she would have tumbled down the whole staircase. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a black-clad blur of a figure running down the hall, away from the stairs.

The sudden stop nearly wrenched her arms out of their sockets. And then time reverted to normal and the sideway momentum that had saved her from the fall threatened to catapult her over the open banister.

Time stopped and she waited to sail over the heavy wood railing. She smacked against the solid oak Her ribs ached from the impact, and she hung on for her life.

Excited voices carried up from below. "Ho sentito un grido. I heard a scream."

"Oh my God, Catherine!" The voice was unmistakably Etienne's. He was beside her in seconds, strong arms around her waist and shoulders. "Let go, love. I have you. Let go."

Releasing her grip on the railing was the hardest task she'd ever forced herself to do in her life. If not for Etienne's encouragement, she would have clung forever.

"What happened?"

"Somebody pushed me."

"No. Who would do that?" he said. "Stay still. Let me make sure you didn't hurt yourself." His hasty exam was so professional that one might have thought he was a physician.

By then, the servants and everyone else in the villa were collected at the base of the stairway, waiting for details. What happened? they all whispered. Do you know what happened? Simone had come out of her suite and hovered over Catherine and Etienne.

"I'm okay now," Catherine insisted, not wanting to make a fuss. The danger was over; she just wanted everyone to go away so she could figure out exactly what had happened, and especially, how it had happened. She'd surely have bruises from hitting the banister, but otherwise, she'd show no outward effects. "Where's Aurelie?" she asked.

"I don't know," Simone said.

"Why? Do you need her?" Etienne said.

"Never mind."

"I'll take you back to your room. You can rest there."

"No. I want to be with you."

"I'll stay with you."

"I know, but I want the sunlight. Can I sit by the pool?"

"You can sit anywhere you want. God, you scared the hell out of me."

"I scared the hell out of me, too."

Simone took control from there, calling down to the household staff. "Everything is fine. Mademoiselle--" she started, then switched to the Italian title--"Signorina Carrington had a nasty fall, but she is fine now. You may all go back to your work stations."

The staff grumbled among themselves and drifted away.

"Where is Aurelie?" Catherine again asked.

"I don't know," Etienne said. "I'll check on her when I get you in a safe place. How are you really?"

"I'm alive. It feels good." Catherine said, laughing.

"It's hardly a subject to joke about," he grumbled.

"I totally agree. I'm fine now, if you can get me on my feet." She shivered. "I'm so cold."

"I'll get a shawl," Simone volunteered.

"You're so good to me. I'm glad you're my friend."

"Oh, baby," Etienne said when Simone left, "Thank God you didn't fall."

He lifted her as if she were an angel with her wings clipped, precious and fragile.

She loved him more than ever.