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eBook Category: Romance
eBook Description: Nathalie Mayer is thirty-four. On the surface she is an attractive, happy, single, successful woman running her own bridal business. Despite her line of work and her obvious delight in other people's weddings, including that of her twin brother, Nate. Nathalie has always declared that a settled relationship is not for her. There has only ever been one man whom Nathalie felt she could love. Evan Davies is back in town after a six year absence. Last time he was here, he and Nathalie had tentatively begun to take their friendship to a different level. Now he's home again and has the reason for his sudden departure from six years ago with him--his daughter, Polly. (Sequel to The Cinderella Substitute)

eBook Publisher: Moonlit Romance/Moon Glimmer
Fictionwise Release Date: May 2007

18 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [367 KB], eReader (PDB) [117 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [98 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [89 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [114 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [151 KB], hiebook (KML) [246 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [149 KB], iSilo (PDB) [81 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [102 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [134 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [137 KB]
Words: 30868
Reading time: 88-123 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Nathalie hurried over to the window as fast as discretion allowed, certain her eyes had played a trick on her. All around her, her brother's wedding guests chattered and circulated on the dance floor.

Nathalie's attention focused on the large picture window of the ballroom and the glimpse of the man she thought she had seen outside on the terrace.

"Nathalie, are you all right, dear?" Her mother's concerned tone snapped her out of her reverie.

"I'm fine, I thought ... never mind. I'll just go and get a drink." She picked up the front of her long, dark red velvet gown and headed towards the bar area. One of her brothers would be sure to know if the man she thought she'd seen in the garden was really here.

"Hey, little sister," Jerome--her older brother--called to her from the bar. Nate, her twin stood next to him. Dressed in their dark formal wedding suits, the family resemblance appeared even more marked than usual. Both men were tall, with black hair and piercing blue eyes. Jerome had a more devil-may-care appearance, Nathalie thought. He had a reckless edge, even in a wedding suit.

"You look flustered," Nate observed, looking at her warm cheeks.

"Dancing always makes me thirsty." She accepted one of the pre-poured glasses of juice which stood with the flutes of champagne on large silver trays all along the bar.

"Thank you so much for arranging all this for us today, Tali. Jenni and I couldn't have organised the wedding without you."

Nathalie smiled at her twin. "It is my job and I've enjoyed every minute. Although, a little more notice would have been nice," she assured him.

"Has Jerome told you he ran into Evan in town yesterday?" Nate asked.

Nathalie took a big gulp of her drink, pressing her fingers hard against the glass so her hand wouldn't betray the shakiness, which had just come over her.

"No, he didn't mention it." She was pleased her voice sounded cool and controlled, even if she didn't feel it.

"I met him outside the bank. I invited him to drop in to the party today if he had a chance." Jerome had a teasing look in his eyes as he watched her to see how she had taken the information. All of her brothers knew how she used to feel about Evan.

"When was he last in town? It's been a few years," Nate said, before placing his empty glass back down on the bar and allowing himself to be steered off to greet some more guests by his bride.

Six years, Nathalie thought to herself. All the time he'd been gone she'd only heard the barest snippets of information. She didn't even know if he had married or started a family in that time.

"Look who I just found outside!" Barnaby, Nathalie's youngest brother called from the doorway. The prickling of the hairs on the nape of her neck and an inner sixth sense warned her who she would see when she turned around.

"Hello, Nathalie."

The sound of her name spoken by Evan's cool, gravely voice sent little butterflies of excitement skittering around in her stomach. She struggled to take a breath. "Evan," she acknowledged.

She decided he hadn't changed much in the last six years. Except he had a man's frame now, broad-chested and broad-shouldered. Small lines crinkled at the corners of his bright blue eyes and his hair had been cropped in a new short style.

"Glad you could make it. Have a drink." Jerome passed him a glass of champagne.

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world. Where is the groom?" Evan looked around the crowded room.

"His bride spirited him off." Barnaby helped himself to a glass.

"We'll go hunt him down," Jerome offered. He and Barnaby walked away towards the dance floor, leaving Nathalie alone with Evan.

"So, how have you been?"

Nathalie swallowed. "Fine. Busy. You?"

"The same."

She felt the heat creep into her cheeks. This was ridiculous. She was thirty-four, not thirteen. He'd been gone all this time and he could still make her blush like a teenager.

"I guess now Nate's married, you'll be next." He took a sip of his drink.

"What gives you that idea?" His statement surprised her. There was no one serious in her life. She dated, yes, but there had only been one man she had ever given her heart to, and he stood in front of her now. Six years after he'd walked out of her life without any warning.

"You and Nate are twins--you always did everything together, and you're a beautiful woman, Nathalie. It seemed a natural assumption." He shrugged.

"How about you?" Her eyes darted automatically to his ring finger. She wondered where he'd been and what he'd been doing whilst he'd been gone. There were a million questions she longed to ask.

"I'm single. I was married for a while." His expression hardened and the sudden appearance of ice in his eyes sent a chill along her spine.

"Oh. So what brings you back into town?" She decided to turn the conversation to a safer subject. That way she could ignore the inconvenient feeling of sweet relief that had swept through her when he'd said he was single.

"I'm visiting family. I'm looking for a house to buy, as I intend to settle back here."

"I see." Nathalie dropped her gaze and took a sip of her drink. Her mind worked overtime at his news.

"Evan!" Her brothers returned with Nate and Jenni.

Nathalie took advantage of her clan's return to slip away and recover her composure. Meeting Evan had thrown her into a state of total confusion. Just an hour ago, she would have sworn she was so over Evan. Now, after seeing him again, she wasn't so sure. Nathalie never liked to feel unsure about anything.

If he moved back into town, it was inevitable she'd bump into him again. They had the same friends, had always moved in the same circles. He had been friends with her brothers for years as they had all grown up. How would she cope with seeing him all the time?

Her mother, slim and chic in her pastel blue dress, beckoned to her from the other side of the dance floor. "Have you seen Jenni?"

"She's in the bar with Nate. Evan Davies has just arrived."

Her mother's blue eyes--so like Nathalie's own--surveyed her shrewdly. "How wonderful. I'd heard he'd come back. Jenni will need to go upstairs and change soon. I wondered if you could go and help her."

Nathalie wondered why all of her family, except her, seemed to know that Evan was back in town. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she pinned a smile on her face for her mother's benefit. "Of course, I hadn't realised the time. I'll go and see if she's ready."

Her mother patted her hand, much the way she had used to when Nathalie had been a small child in need of reassurance. "Thank you, darling."