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An Excerpt From: REBOUND

Copyright ANN BRUCE, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

A whisper of cloth against cloth. Her eyes flew open and she froze. Her heart leapt. Ice clinked. She whirled around and a shadow detached itself from a recessed doorway. Large and looming, and oddly familiar. She stumbled back a step, tried another but the stone railing halted her retreat.

Here. The voice was male, low and rough like it hadn’t been used in a while. There was the faintest hint of a drawl. He was a long way from home. More ice clinking. You look like you need this more than I do.

A breeze molded the shift dress to her body, making her realize just how thin the silk was. She crossed her arms over her chest, swallowed. He started to move closer. When she edged sideways, slowly because sudden movements didn’t seem smart, he stopped.

If you want to be alone, I can leave, he offered, even though she’d been the one to intrude on his privacy. He reached for the door behind him, turned the knob.

Wait. Her heart was suddenly pounding as if it was trying to break through bone and flesh. Hearing the breathless quality of her voice, she told herself it was the brisk walk from the ballroom. She took a breath. I’m the one who should leave. You were here first.

He cocked his head, silent. She felt his scrutiny and suddenly hoped for another breeze to cool her skin.

If you promise no inane chatter, he said finally, we can share the space.

She nodded, not trusting her voice. He took a step...