Chapter One

He paused at the head of the flight of wide-sweeping stairs, looking down into the hotel's crowded banqueting suite. It was a sea of men in black tie, women in rainbow evening dress. Chandeliers caught the glitter of jewels everywhere.

From his vantage point, like an eagle poised in its eyrie, Theo let his alert gaze systematically quarter the throng below, searching with steady purpose. Suddenly he stilled. Beneath the silk-smooth covering of his superbly tailored tuxedo, his tall, powerfully built frame tensed.

Yes, they were there! Both of them.

It was the woman he studied, and as he did so his jaw tightened.

She was dressed to kill. Of that there was no doubt. His expert eye looked her over. Medium height, with a figure both slender and generous - and very, very much on show. Blonde hair cascaded down her bare back in rippling waves. Her skin was pale, like an opalescent pearl against the thigh-length little black dress which dipped so low over the swelling orbs of her breasts that only their delicate tips were veiled by the clinging satin. Likewise, her pert little bottom was tightly, and barely, sheathed, while shimmering stockings covered her legs from exposed thigh to provocative black satin stiletto heels.

A perfect package. So skimpily wrapped. So tempting to unwrap.

She laughed, throwing her head back, letting that fabulous fall of hair ripple dow