'It's been the most honest thing between us,' he claimed, and counter-accusation simmered through every word.

'You've got that right. But I want more honesty than straight-out l.u.s.t. Best for me,' she mocked. 'All you've ever cared about is what was best for you. You didn't care about my feelings nine years ago and you haven't cared about them now...trapping me with your sister...not allowing anything to run any way but yours.'

His face tightened as though she had physically slapped him. He shook his head. When he met her gaze again, his eyes were bleak, no longer fired up to fight her. 'I did think it was best for you, Barbie,' he said quietly. 'You were a very special person. Too special to let your life be so singularly focused on me. At sixteen, there was so much more for you to discover, to explore.'

His calm reasoning flicked raw wounds. It felt as though he was the wisely objective adult explaining something to a child and she was no longer a child. She hadn't been a child for many, many years. Stung unbearably by this lack of emotional involvement with her, she picked a flaw in his condescending logic and lashed him with it.

'If I was so special, why didn't you ever look me up, Nick? After I'd had time to discover what you thought I should discover.'

It didn't sting him. He shrugged. 'Life happens. You moved away. I got involved with business.'

The flat statements goaded her further. 'The truth is you never gave me another moment's thought until I entered your life again.'

'No, that's not true.' He dragged in a deep breath and grimaced as he sighed. 'I can't change the past. I am sorry you were so hurt by my decision. I know I didn't handle it well.'

The old devastation of that night came flooding back...the need to show him, to see appreciation and understanding in his eyes. Only it wasn't there. He'd decided it couldn't be. She searched his eyes now, wanting evidence of feeling for her, some caring warmth, even the heat of desire. There was not so much as a spark in them...dull, lifeless, defeated.

'After that...' he went on, his voice softer, a sadness in it that galvanised her attention, freezing her resentments. 'Well, I thought your life would have grown a long way away from me. And it has. Too far for me to reach you. I wish it were different...but there is no second chance.'

He reached into his shirt pocket and brought something out, his gaze dropping to it as he turned it over in his hand. A watch! An old watch! Barbie's heart lurched as recognition hit her. Surely she was mistaken. It couldn't be the watch she'd given him...

'Take it,' he commanded gruffly.

She did, in a daze of disbelief, turning it over to see. There on the back was the tiny lamb she'd had etched on it-the silent promise to follow him anywhere. He had kept it all these years...

'I may not have looked for you, Barbie, but I never forgot you.'

Before she could even lift her head, or think of a word to say, he stepped around her, opened the door, and walked out of her life.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

ONE more chance...

Barbie willed it to be so as she carefully sprayed the silver glitter over the long gleaming waves of her hair. It was important to get her appearance absolutely right...as well as everything else. The fairy princess had to work real magic tonight. This was going to be the most critical performance of her whole life. Any possible future with Nick hung on it.

Surely he would realise it was hope driving her, not vengeance. Yet as she put the spray can down on her dressing-table and her gaze fell once more on the gift watch he'd returned to her, fear gripped her stomach. Had she killed hope...rejecting his explanations, rejecting his inner angst over her motives, rejecting the s.e.xual attraction between them, rejecting everything he was?

She picked up the watch and rubbed her thumb over the etching of the tiny lamb for luck. She had meant what it had once promised-to follow him anywhere. If only she had carried that through this time-trusting instead of judging so badly-the terrible outcome with Nick might have been avoided. Following him tonight had to work. Had to.

She slipped the watch into her handbag. Nick had kept it for nine years. He hadn't thrown it away. Maybe it would act as a good-luck charm, not letting Nick throw her away tonight.

Her mirror reflection told her she was as ready as she was ever going to be. If she made a total fool of herself, it didn't matter. It was impossible to lose more than she had lost, and if she won... Her heart quivered at the thought of having Nick look at her again as though she was the most desirable woman in the world to him.

She took a deep breath and set off on the journey that would settle her future with him one way or another. Leon Webster had picked up Sue two hours ago so the party for Nick's mother should be in full swing by now. Her appearance would be as much a surprise to them as it would be to everyone else, and Barbie could only hope Sue would understand.

Confiding in her friend might have triggered quarrelsome discussions and to Barbie's mind, there was nothing to discuss. Only this action could give her another chance with Nick. And she had the excuse that Carole Huntley had asked her to come and sing. If Nick didn't respond...well, she could leave straight afterwards and the performance should have no bearing on Sue's involvement with Leon.

The mended fairy wings and magic wand had already been carefully placed in the car, along with the music she needed. Barbie double-checked she had everything before settling herself in the driver's seat. From Ryde to Pymble was a relatively easy trip, yet it seemed nerve-rackingly long to Barbie, having to concentrate on traffic lights and being in the right lanes for turns.

When she finally reached her destination it was to find the cul-de-sac crowded with parked cars. To her deep relief, there was enough s.p.a.ce left on the Huntleys' driveway to get her car off the road and close to the house. It blocked other cars from leaving but that was of no concern right now.

She fumbled with the fairy wings, fumbled with the wand, fumbled with the tape recorder. It was a major effort getting the necessary items out of the car without dropping them, even more difficult to position the wings to slide into their slot on the back of her dress. She wished she had Sue to help her, but even now she felt it was wrong to involve her friend in what was-as Sue said-her private business.

Having settled the wings properly, and fiercely focusing her mind on carrying through what she'd determined to do, Barbie managed the walk down the front path without mishap. The party noise seemed to be emanating mainly from the back of the house, which, she told herself, would make her entrance easier. Silently reciting her set speech about being a hired professional act, she rang the doorbell and hoped whoever answered the summons would accept her explanation without question.

What if it was Nick?

Her heart stopped with the shock of that thought. Dizziness clouded her mind. She stood in a state of total paralysis until the door opened and she was faced with a blessed miracle.

Carole Huntley.

'Barbie...?' she queried in astonishment.

Words rattled out. 'I've come to sing for your mother. You asked me... I can fit it in after all and I thought...you said it would be something special for her...'

'Oh! What a lovely surprise!' Carole instantly enthused. 'I'm so glad you could make it. And coming from some other professional engagement...' Her eyes were busily taking in the fairy princess costume. 'You look wonderful, Barbie.'

'It's all right then...'

'Fantastic!'

'Will you put the music on for me, Carole?' She held out the tape recorder. 'All you need do is press Play.'

'Of course.'

'Are they all downstairs?'

Carole's vivid blue eyes sparkled with conspiratorial pleasure. 'Wait here a minute and I'll herd everyone into the family room. Where Stuart's party was, remember? We can make it the same kind of surprise you gave the children.'

Relief poured through Barbie. 'That would be perfect, Carole.'

An anxious frown suddenly appeared. 'I'll pay you for this, Barbie. I never meant to...'

'No. Please...let's just do it. If you leave this door open a bit so I can come in when I hear the music...'

Carole hesitated a moment. 'Well, we can talk about it afterwards. Can you stay?'

'Yes,' Barbie said with a hope and a prayer.

'I'm so glad!' Her smile was all delight. 'Five minutes maximum to get everyone in place and quieten them down. Just slip in and close the door behind you when the coast is clear and you can be at the head of the staircase ready to make your entrance when the music starts. Okay?'

'Fine! Thanks Carole. There'll be two songs and "Happy Birthday" is second, so don't think you've got the wrong tape.'

'This is fabulous, Barbie. Mum's going to love it.' Excitement beamed from a wide grin. 'I'm off to set the scene.'

Luck was with her, Barbie feverishly a.s.sured herself as she waited, hearing Carole ordering around everyone inside, footsteps obeying her bidding, heading downstairs, the party noise lowering to a mood of expectancy. She peered around the door, and seeing the coast was clear, carefully manouevred herself into the foyer. Her fingers gripped the fairy wand hard as she wished for more luck, all the luck in the world.

It was quiet below.

She stepped to the head of the staircase and willed her legs not to start trembling on the way down. She swallowed hard to moisten her throat. The music started, providing the right backing for her voice. She took a deep breath. This was it! No retreat. The cue came...and she sang, pouring all the hope and longing from her heart and soul into the words...

"'Somewhere over the rainbow...'"

Never had her voice been so true, so powerful...but Barbie didn't know it. She sang because she had to, and she walked down the stairs with all the majestic dignity of a fairy queen on the mission of a lifetime, not hearing the mutterings of surprise and appreciation, nor the hush settling as she descended to where the party guests were gathered.

Carole had obviously ordered them to circle the family room and those standing across the open entrance to it shifted aside to give Barbie a clear pa.s.sage. Furniture had been moved back against the walls, probably to leave plenty of s.p.a.ce for dancing. The centre of the room was completely empty.

As Barbie glided past the circled guests, she saw Nick's parents, Judy and Keith Armstrong, seated in armchairs at the far end. Beside them stood their family, Nick and a grown-up Danny near their mother, Carole and presumably her husband next to their father. All of them-except Nick-were smiling broadly, enjoying the surprise.

Barbie did her utmost to block his grim look out of her mind as she proceeded to the centre of the room, though she was conscious of her heart skipping into a faster beat. She couldn't let fear unfocus her. The song had to be sung without falter. She caught sight of Sue, and it was some relief to see her friend nodding approval and giving a thumbs-up sign.

Would Nick accept that after the most dreadful, damaging rain, a rainbow could appear, and he was the dream she was chasing tonight?

Barbie's whole being pleaded for that outcome as she halted and faced his mother to deliver the last poignant lines of the song, starting with the fantasy promised in the word-"'If...'" pouring faith and hope and optimism through her voice, needing to reach him, offering the chance-another chance-if he wanted to take it. She spread out her arms in a gesture of giving, willing him to understand, and the last line was a cry to him, if only his heart was open enough to hear it.

Loud applause erupted after the final note faded into silence. Judy Armstrong's face was crumpled with emotion, smiling through tears. Keith pa.s.sed her a handkerchief, nodding benevolently at Barbie. She smiled back at both of them and risked a quick glance at Nick. He was not smiling, but his head was c.o.c.ked to one side, his eyes narrowed on her, and his expression had subtly changed to a weighing look.

Barbie's heart skittered with wild hope. She wasn't facing a steely wall of resistance. He was receptive. At least a little bit.

Carole called for quiet, waving her arms to warn there was more. The introductory chord for the next song broke over the hub-bub, bringing a quick silence. It was not the s.e.xy musical treatment Barbie had requested for Nick, more the sentimental traditional version of 'Happy Birthday,' and she gave it a lot of warm heart as she sang it to his mother, moving slowly forward, lifting the wand to release a sprinkling of magic glitter as she completed the song.

'Make a wish,' she softly urged as she bent to kiss Judy Armstrong's cheek and murmur her own personal, 'A very happy fiftieth birthday.'

'Thank you, Barbie,' she replied huskily. 'You've just made it extra special.'

'It's our song, Over the Rainbow,' Keith said gruffly. 'You sang it better than Judy Garland, Barbie. Wonderful to have you here.'

'My pleasure,' she mumbled, touched by his pleasure.

'Carole...' Keith turned and signalled his daughter. 'Play that music again. Your mother and I are going to dance to it.'

'Okay if I rewind the tape and play it again, Barbie?' Carole asked eagerly.

'Go right ahead.'

Stepping aside to allow room for Keith and Judy to rise from their chairs and take the floor, Barbie found herself lined up next to Danny who instantly caught her free left hand and squeezed it, drawing her startled attention to him. There was nothing shy in his face now. He grinned at her, his eyes sparkling the open appreciation of a mature young man who was very confident with women.

'Great singing!' he complimented, not the slightest trace of his old stutter marring his speech. 'Great homecoming for me, too, meeting you again, Barbie. You sure have grown into a stunner.'

And very desirable...

But it was the wrong man telegraphing that to her. She had never been interested in Danny. She wasn't now. Her gaze darted anxiously to Nick. Did he care that his brother was claiming her like this?

He was watching her, his eyes burning with questions that seared her soul. Why are you here? What do you want? How much is real? Is it hope or vengeance?

The music started again.

'How about dancing with me, Barbie?' Danny asked.

'No!' It was a hard, vehement negative.

Danny's head jerked in surprise to his older brother.

Nick glared at him, his whole body tense, emitting a fierce aggression. 'Not this time, Danny. Barbie is not yours to have. She never was. And I'm claiming this dance. Just step aside and go find yourself another woman.'

Danny gaped at him, stunned by the violent feeling he'd stirred in his older brother. He released Barbie's hand to raise both of his in an appeasing gesture. 'Hey, man! Take it easy! I was only...'

'b.u.t.ting in, as you did nine years ago, wanting all Barbie's attention.'

'h.e.l.l!' His face flushed at the memory. 'That's ancient history, Nick!'

'Not to me it isn't,' came the savage reply. 'Back off, Danny. Now!'

'Okay! Deck's clear. Your play,' Danny babbled as he backed off, still wide-eyed and red-faced at his older brother's hostile reaction.

Nick stepped forward and scooped Barbie into a dance hold, his eyes blazing into hers, commanding acquiescence. Her heart catapulted around her chest as the arm encircling her waist pulled her closer, very firmly possessive in its strength of purpose.

'Hold it right there, you two!' Sue's voice whipped in. 'I'll take that.' She s.n.a.t.c.hed the wand out of Barbie's hand. 'Leon...' She pa.s.sed it to him. '...I've got to remove the wings and hook up the train of her dress so nothing gets torn.' Which she proceeded to do at lightning speed, Leon standing by to be handed the wings as well as the wand for safe-keeping.

'Sue's right. No more damage,' Leon admonished them.

'You can dance now,' she granted them. 'Or fight. Or carry on like lunatics if you must.'

'Are you quite finished?' Nick growled, the tension flowing from him wrapping around Barbie and holding her still and silent, everything within her tautly aching for positive responses from him.

'Quite!' Sue a.s.sured him. 'Leon, now that we've rescued the fairy princess costume, let's get out of the danger zone.'

'I'm with you, babe!'

Off they sailed in happy harmony with each other-twin souls who knew how to order their world, leaving Barbie and Nick to sort out whatever needed sorting in their very private business.

Her hand now freed of the wand, Nick took it, interlacing his fingers with hers to seal his grip. 'Tell me this is no game, Barbie,' he demanded, the intensity of his gaze brooking no attempt at deception.

'It's no game, I promise you,' she answered fervently.

His parents twirled past. 'Are you two dancing or what?' his mother asked in amus.e.m.e.nt.

Rather than draw more curious and interfering attention, Nick pushed his feet into dancing, gathering Barbie closer as he moved her to the slow beat of the song. She was acutely conscious of his thighs brushing hers, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressing against the warm wall of his chest. Her heart seemed to be thumping in her ears. She barely heard the music.

He bent his head beside hers and she heard the words he spoke, although they were barely above a soft murmur. 'Are you holding out a new start for us?'

Did he want it?