A slow flush crept up Darcy's thick neck toward his face. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

"Of course you do." Alex's fingers became talons in Darcy's flesh. "You were in the car, knocking boots with that sweet little chippie who isn't your wife. Tammy, as I recall. Remember?"

Darcy swallowed heavily. His ruddy complexion had gone a pale, pasty white. He flicked his muddy brown gaze toward Pansy, who appeared to be haggling with Martin over the price of one of Rivka's prints. Darcy's tongue flickered out from between his lips to lick them nervously.

"Don't tell Pansy," he whispered, almost pleading. "She'll kill me. Or divorce me, which would be worse. She'd take everything."

"I won't tell Pansy." Darcy recoiled from Alex's smile as though a snake had twisted itself across his face. "Not if you do exactly what I tell you."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Come with me. I just want you to make a few announcements."

n.o.body recognized her, Sarah realized as she pa.s.sed within yards of Rivka without her sister noticing. A secret smile bloomed across Sarah's face. Only Darren and Lance knew she had decided to come as Cleopatra. What fun she would have when Rivka discovered Sarah's new look!

She debated about finding Alex first. No, she'd go greet her sister. If the evening went as Sarah planned, once she spoke to Alex there would be no time to congratulate Rivka on the opening success of The Gallery on Second. She had better tell her now.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Sarah lifted her chin up just as haughtily as her sister's.

Rivka stared at Sarah for a long moment. "Sarai?"

Sarah burst into laughter. "I thought I could fool you. Guess not."

"It was your perfume." Rivka reached for Sarah to give her a hug. Sarah stepped forward, meeting a solid obstacle with her toe. From beneath Rivka's skirt, Mick let out a loud yelp.

"Sorry." Her fur-clad brother-in-law emerged from under Rivka's gown.

"What happened to Bo Peep?" Rivka asked. "Not that I'm complaining because you look fabulous!"

"Well, aren't we all just a bunch of queens." Darren joined them.

He looked gorgeous. His form-fitting red gown glittered with sequins. Sarah checked his legs, just to be sure. Yes, he wore nude stockings.

They bussed each other's cheeks, careful not to smudge their carefully applied makeup. Darren then held her at arm's length to see her better. Lance nodded approvingly.

"Girl, you got it goin' on! When Mr. Gorgeous sees you..."

"He's here?" His parking s.p.a.ce had been empty when she arrived.

"He went to check out the food." Darren leaned close to whisper to her. "Go find him, honey."

Sarah took a deep breath and tried to quell her nervous excitement. "I will."

"You will what?" Rivka rapped poor Mick on the head with her fan again. He scowled, rubbed the sore spot, and ducked back beneath her gown.

"I'm going to find Alex." Sarah waited for her sister's response.

Rivka only smiled. "I'm glad, Sarai."

They hugged again, crushing Mick between them. He didn't complain, but bore it stoically. Sarah bent down and kissed his cheek for his patience, then was off into the crowd.

She had just wiggled her way past a group of people costumed as a cruise ship when the music stopped. The DJ, who had set up his portable dance floor and other equipment in one corner of the room, began asking everyone in the gallery for silence. Curious, Sarah followed rest of the crowd as people began moving toward the small platform Rivka had planned to use to display sculptures. It was bare at the moment, making it the perfect place for someone to stand and make announcements.

Which was exactly what someone was doing. Two someone's in fact; one dressed as a rather rumpled Julius Caesar. Sarah's stomach lurched. It was William Darcy. The other, the one who made her breath catch in her throat, was a handsome Mark Antony. Alex.

"Attention, everyone!" Alex had commandeered the DJ's microphone. The room quieted at his command, a ma.s.sive feat since the place was jammed full. "My fellow Roman here has something to say."

Alex handed the mike to William, who took it between two fingers as though it were covered in slime. The man she had once thought moved the sun and stars didn't look well, Sarah decided with mean satisfaction. Sweat had broken out on his brow, wilting his laurel leaves.

"Friends, Romans, countrymen," William began, and the crowd laughed appreciatively. "I have something to say."

William fell silent, casting a look of desperate disgust at Alex. Alex merely nodded stonily, directing William to the crowd. William cleared his throat.

"It has come to my attention that, by my words and actions, I have brought pain to a certain person here tonight."

The crowd murmured. Sarah's heart jumped. Boldly, she began pushing her way to the front of the throng. She wanted to see this from up close.

"I just wanted to apologize." William sounded strained. Sarah caught sight of a scowling Pansy and repressed a chuckle. William's wife looked ready to kill him. "Many of you tonight have had the pleasure of viewing the paintings in the gallery's Bold Room. As you may know, those paintings are all of Rivka Delaney's sister, Sarah Lazin."

Sarah had pushed her way to the front of the crowd. Behind her, a woman grumbled that she couldn't see over Sarah's headpiece, but Sarah didn't care. She didn't want to miss a word.

"I once told Sarah Lazin that I thought she was not only unattractive, but of less than average intelligence as well." The mouth Sarah had once found so handsome now pursed with anger. "I told her that by dating her, I was doing her a favor."

Some in the crowd gasped; others laughed. The laughter was different now, however. When William had begun speaking, they had been laughing with him. Now, as he obviously was aware, those who laughed, laughed at him.

"Jerk!" someone called from the back of the crowd, and this time more people burst into rude laughter.

"I wanted to say I was sorry." William was as stiff as any good soldier.

His fingers were white-knuckled on the microphone. Sarah had never seen him so discomfited. The Iron Prince was falling off his pedestal, and she felt a little sorry for him.

William cleared his throat. "Sarah Lazin is one of the most intelligent women I know. I broke up with her because she intimidated me. I wasn't man enough to handle her."

His last words came out in a strangled growl that sent shrieks of feedback bouncing from the speakers. His eyes spitting venom, William thrust the microphone back into Alex's hand. Glaring at the crowd, the fallen Caesar prepared to get off the platform.

"William!" Sarah's voice cut through the crowd like a knife through b.u.t.ter. She climbed the steps to stand between him and Alex. The crowd hushed.

"I always knew you were a snake, William." The microphone in Alex's hand sent her voice clear to the back of the room. "I didn't realize you were such an asp."

The silence that followed was broken by the sound of someone applauding. Sarah looked to see Rivka, in all her queenly glory, clapping wildly from her corner. Rivka was joined by Mick, then Martin. Soon the room swelled with the sound of people clapping, applauding her and laughing at the crestfallen William, face the color of fresh strawberries. He stumbled off the platform, grabbed Pansy's hand, and disappeared into the crowd.

Sarah turned to Alex as her heart thundered in her chest. He was smiling at her. She stepped into his embrace and didn't care that a roomful of people watched them. Feeling Alex's lips on hers was all that mattered.

"I'm sorry." She clung to him, mouth next to his ear. "I was stupid and afraid."

"It's all right." Alex held her shoulders. "I don't care. I'm sorry I didn't make you understand before how much I love you."

"And I love you. Nothing anybody says or does will ever change my mind."

"Kiss her!" someone yelled from the crowd.

"Antony and Cleopatra!" another voice called. "The perfect couple!"

She realized without embarra.s.sment that the crowd had heard their every word. She didn't care. She would shout her love to the rooftops, if that was what it took. She loved Alex Caine, and he loved her.

All at once, Alex fumbled with something at his waistline. Confused, Sarah watched as he pulled out a small velvet pouch. Dropping to his knees, Alex took her hand in one of his and the microphone in the other.

"Sarah Lazin, I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone. You are the reason I wake up in the morning. Without you, I have nothing. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

The swarm of party goers was roaring, or perhaps it was only the blood pounding in her ears. Sarah's knees trembled, and her fingers grew cold in Alex's hand. His hazel eyes shone at her, and his wonderful mouth smiled with such love she had to smile back.

There was only one right answer. "Yes."

As Alex slipped the diamond ring on her finger, the crowd's voice swelled as one, calling out congratulations and other well-wishes. Sarah didn't hear them, though. All she heard was her own name breathed from the mouth of the man she loved.

"I love you, Sarah." Then the shouts and cries of the other people in the room disappeared for her, because his was the only voice that would ever matter.

Megan Hart.

Megan Hart began her writing career in grammar school when she plagiarized a short story by Ray Bradbury. She soon realized that making up her own stories was better than copying other people's, and she's been writing ever since.

Megan's award-winning short fiction has appeared in such diverse publications as Hustler, On Our Backs and The Reaper. Her novels include every genre of romance, from historical to steamy futuristic SF. In addition to her short erotic fiction for the Amber Kisses imprint, look for her other Amber Quill novels: Riverboat Bride, Lonesome Bride, Convicted! and Love Match.

Megan's current projects include a fantasy series, a futuristic trilogy and a dramatic suspense novel. Her dream is to have a movie made of every one of her novels, starring herself as the heroine and Keanu Reeves as the hero. Megan lives in the deep, dark woods of Pennsylvania with her husband and two monsters ... er ... children.

Learn more about Megan by visiting her website: www.meganhart.com.

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