‘THAT’s Stephanie Stewart — walking into the ballroom now.And there’s my father rushing over to her.I can’t believe Daddy is making such a fool of himself.She’s young enough to be his daughter,for heaven’s sake!’

The waspish comment caused Alexander Di Cesare to turn his head and follow Jennifer Grainger’s gaze across the ballroom to the blonde who had just walked into the room.His first thought was that the woman looked nothing like he had expected,and his eyes narrowed as he lifted his glass to his lips and savoured a mouthful of vintage champagne while he studied her.

When Jennifer— younger daughter of his friend and business associate James Grainger—had phoned him and sobbed that her father was involved with a ‘bimbo’, he’d pictured a brittle bleached blonde wearing some skimpy outfit that revealed acres of overly- tanned flesh.Stephanie Stewart was certainly blonde,but she bore no further similarity to the image in his head.

Her slender figure was emphasized by her silk dress:an elegant,floor-length navy sheath that moulded her breasts and skimmed her flat stomach and the gently curve of her hips.Her delicate oval face was dominated by huge eyes,although he could not make out their color from this distance,and her mouth was wide and full and deliciously tempting,coated in a pale pink gloss.Her hair was swept up into a chignon,leaving her long,slender neck exposed,and the ornate diamond necklace she was wearing was almost as eye-catching as the woman herself.

She was beautiful,Alexander conceded,irritated by his reaction to her.The last thing he had expected was to feel physically attracted to a woman he had good evidence to suggest was a callous gold-digger with her sights set on james Grainger’s fortune.

Jennifer snatched a champagne flute from the bar. ‘Look at her-she’s all over him,‘ She muttered disgustedly,downing half the contents of her glass in one gulp.

Alexander reminded himself that Jennifer was eighteen now,and entitled to drink alcohol.Over the years that he had been friends with the Graingers he had come to regard her as a little sister,and he frowned at the stark misery on her face.

Across the room Stephanie Stewart was smiling warmly at james as she reached up and brushed a speck of confetti from his jacket.The gesture spoke of an unusual level of intimacy between employer and employee,and Alexander’s jaw hardened Initially he had dismissed Jennifer’s claim that her father was besotted with a woman half his age.Jame Grainger was one of the shrewdest businessmen Alexander had ever met.and for the last eighteen months had been grieving the death of his adored wife.It was impossible to imagine him starting a relationship with any woman—especially one who was the same age as one of his daughters.

Nevertheless,Alexander had requested a report on miss Stewart from one of his many contacts,and he had been sufficiently concerned by what he’d learned to cancel a trip to the US and fly to England to attend james daughter’s wedding,

The marriage of Earl Grainger’s eldest daughter,Lady luciana,to the Right Honorable Liam Havistock had taken place in the private chapel on the Grainger estate, followed by a sit-down meal for family members and close friends at a nearby hotel.Now another two hundred guests had arrived at the Royal Cheshunt for the evening reception,and Stephanie Stewart was one of them.

Jennifer watched her father lead the beautiful blonde onto the dance floor,and then rounded on Alexander. ‘You see ! I’m not imagining things,’ she said angrily. ‘Stephanie seems to have bewitched my father.’

‘If that’s the case,then we will just have to find a way to release him from her spell, piccola,’ Alexander murmured softly.

Jennifer stared at him. ‘But how can we?’ Her face clouded. ‘I thought Daddy had bought that necklace for me,’ she choked, lifting her glass to her lips to take another long sip of champagne.

Frowning,Alexander glanced at the diamonds around Stephanie Stewart’s swan-like neck.

‘Daddy bought all the bridesmaids one of these,’ Jennifer muttered, fingering the string of pearls at her throat, ‘but when I was tidying his study—‘she flushed faintly ‘—I found the diamond necklace and thought he was going to give it to me.I am the chief bridesmaid,after all,’ she added sulkily. ‘I couldn’t believe it when he said it was for Stephanie, in thanks for her work on Luciana’s flat.’

If only he hadn’t decided to employ an interior designer as part of Luciana and Liam’s wedding present, he would never have met her,’ Jennifer continued dolefully. ‘Luciana thinks Daddy is lonely, and just wants someone to talk to, but she’s been so wrapped up in the wedding that she doesn’t understand what a hold Stephanie has over him.’

Jennifer drained her glass and held it out to the Barman to refill it. ‘Oh, Alexander, I don’t know what to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if Stephanie has set her sights on becoming the next Lady Grainger. Daddy has been so unhappy since Mummy died,’ she said thickly. ‘I couldn’t bear it if she hurt him.’

‘She won’t, piccola, because I won’t allow her to.’

Alexander caught the shimmer of tears in Jennifer’s eyes and a hard knot of anger settled in his chest. He had known Jennifer and Luciana since they were children,when Lilly and James Grainger had welcomed him into their home on his frequent business trips to England. He had been saddened by Lilly’s untimely death from cancer, and understood the raw grief of the family she had left behind. He felt protective of Lilly’s daughters— and in strange way of James too,as the older man struggled to come to terms with the loss of his beloved wife.

He took another sip of champagne, following James and Stephanie’s progress around the dance floor while he considered what he knew of her. She was twenty- five, and single since her divorce two years ago.

‘THAT’s Stephanie Stewart — walking into the ballroom now.And there’s my father rushing over to her.I can’t believe Daddy is making such a fool of himself.She’s young enough to be his daughter,for heaven’s sake!’

The waspish comment caused Alexander Di Cesare to turn his head and follow Jennifer Grainger’s gaze across the ballroom to the blonde who had just walked into the room.His first thought was that the woman looked nothing like he had expected,and his eyes narrowed as he lifted his glass to his lips and savoured a mouthful of vintage champagne while he studied her.

When Jennifer— younger daughter of his friend and business associate James Grainger—had phoned him and sobbed that her father was involved with a ‘bimbo’, he’d pictured a brittle bleached blonde wearing some skimpy outfit that revealed acres of overly- tanned flesh.Stephanie Stewart was certainly blonde,but she bore no further similarity to the image in his head.

Her slender figure was emphasized by her silk dress:an elegant,floor-length navy sheath that moulded her breasts and skimmed her flat stomach and the gently curve of her hips.Her delicate oval face was dominated by huge eyes,although he could not make out their color from this distance,and her mouth was wide and full and deliciously tempting,coated in a pale pink gloss.Her hair was swept up into a chignon,leaving her long,slender neck exposed,and the ornate diamond necklace she was wearing was almost as eye-catching as the woman herself.

She was beautiful,Alexander conceded,irritated by his reaction to her.The last thing he had expected was to feel physically attracted to a woman he had good evidence to suggest was a callous gold-digger with her sights set on james Grainger’s fortune.

Jennifer snatched a champagne flute from the bar. ‘Look at her-she’s all over him,‘ She muttered disgustedly,downing half the contents of her glass in one gulp.

Alexander reminded himself that Jennifer was eighteen now,and entitled to drink alcohol.Over the years that he had been friends with the Graingers he had come to regard her as a little sister,and he frowned at the stark misery on her face.

Across the room Stephanie Stewart was smiling warmly at james as she reached up and brushed a speck of confetti from his jacket.The gesture spoke of an unusual level of intimacy between employer and employee,and Alexander’s jaw hardened Initially he had dismissed Jennifer’s claim that her father was besotted with a woman half his age.Jame Grainger was one of the shrewdest businessmen Alexander had ever met.and for the last eighteen months had been grieving the death of his adored wife.It was impossible to imagine him starting a relationship with any woman—especially one who was the same age as one of his daughters.

Nevertheless,Alexander had requested a report on miss Stewart from one of his many contacts,and he had been sufficiently concerned by what he’d learned to cancel a trip to the US and fly to England to attend james daughter’s wedding,

The marriage of Earl Grainger’s eldest daughter,Lady luciana,to the Right Honorable Liam Havistock had taken place in the private chapel on the Grainger estate, followed by a sit-down meal for family members and close friends at a nearby hotel.Now another two hundred guests had arrived at the Royal Cheshunt for the evening reception,and Stephanie Stewart was one of them.

Jennifer watched her father lead the beautiful blonde onto the dance floor,and then rounded on Alexander. ‘You see ! I’m not imagining things,’ she said angrily. ‘Stephanie seems to have bewitched my father.’

‘If that’s the case,then we will just have to find a way to release him from her spell, piccola,’ Alexander murmured softly.

Jennifer stared at him. ‘But how can we?’ Her face clouded. ‘I thought Daddy had bought that necklace for me,’ she choked, lifting her glass to her lips to take another long sip of champagne.

Frowning,Alexander glanced at the diamonds around Stephanie Stewart’s swan-like neck.

‘Daddy bought all the bridesmaids one of these,’ Jennifer muttered, fingering the string of pearls at her throat, ‘but when I was tidying his study—‘she flushed faintly ‘—I found the diamond necklace and thought he was going to give it to me.I am the chief bridesmaid,after all,’ she added sulkily. ‘I couldn’t believe it when he said it was for Stephanie, in thanks for her work on Luciana’s flat.’

If only he hadn’t decided to employ an interior designer as part of Luciana and Liam’s wedding present, he would never have met her,’ Jennifer continued dolefully. ‘Luciana thinks Daddy is lonely, and just wants someone to talk to, but she’s been so wrapped up in the wedding that she doesn’t understand what a hold Stephanie has over him.’

Jennifer drained her glass and held it out to the Barman to refill it. ‘Oh, Alexander, I don’t know what to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if Stephanie has set her sights on becoming the next Lady Grainger. Daddy has been so unhappy since Mummy died,’ she said thickly. ‘I couldn’t bear it if she hurt him.’

‘She won’t, piccola, because I won’t allow her to.’

Alexander caught the shimmer of tears in Jennifer’s eyes and a hard knot of anger settled in his chest. He had known Jennifer and Luciana since they were children,when Lilly and James Grainger had welcomed him into their home on his frequent business trips to England. He had been saddened by Lilly’s untimely death from cancer, and understood the raw grief of the family she had left behind. He felt protective of Lilly’s daughters— and in strange way of James too,as the older man struggled to come to terms with the loss of his beloved wife.

He took another sip of champagne, following James and Stephanie’s progress around the dance floor while he considered what he knew of her. She was twenty- five, and single since her divorce two years ago.After university she had worked for top London design company, where she had gained a reputation as a talented designer, and she had recently joined her brother’s property development and design company, spectrum.

Almost certainly Stephanie’s move to spectrum would have meant a drop in her salary, but the Lady had expensive tastes and Alexander was curious to know how she had afforded her recently purchased new car and spent two weeks at an exclusive holiday complex in Mauritius—not to mention her penchant for designer clothes. The dress she was wearing tonight was from a well-known fashion house—although not his own,Alexander noted—and he was sure it would have been out of price range. Someone had bought it for her— and Alexander had a good idea who that someone was.

He knew that James Grainger travelled to London every week to meet Stephanie. Did she persuade him to take her shopping for clothes and jewellery? Or had she seen the diamond necklace and hinted that she wanted it?

But shopping trips were one thing—investing a huge sum of money in Stephanie’s brother’s company was quite another, Alexander mused grimly. A month ago spectrum Development and Design had been facing bankruptcy,but at the last minute James had put vast amount of money into the company to save it from collapse. Alexander knew for a fact that James’s financial advisors had been strongly against the deal, but James had refused to listen.

Sexual attraction could make a fool of even the most astute man, Alexander acknowledged bitterly. His father had proved that when he had married a woman half his age. Monica had caused Stefano Di Cesare’s downfall, both professionally and personally, and—even worse—the vacuous actress with her surgically enhanced figure had engineered a rift between Alexander and his father that had not been resolved before Stefano’s death.

He had been in his early twenties when his father had remarried, Old enough and mature enough to want Stefano to be happy, but still grieving for his mother, who had died less than a year earlier.Dio, he had tried his best to like Monica, even though his instincts had warned warned him she was an avaricious slut. But his instincts had proved right,he thought grimly, and now they were warning him that Stephanie Stewart was another Monica, playing on the emotions of a vulnerable older man.

Alexander had huge respect for James, and over the years they had done business together they had become close friends. But the similarity between the Earl’s and his own father’s situation could not be ignored. Stefano had also been lonely widower, flattered by the attention of a pretty young woman—surely James Grainger had more sense than to lose his head to a blonde sex-pot?

Across the room, Stephanie Stewart was laughing with James, her lovely face animated and her eyes sparkling as they shared a private joke, seemly oblivious to the other dancers around them.

Jennifer stared at them for a moment, scowling. ‘She was married to the brother of one of my friends, you know,’ she muttered, ‘ Linda told me how she blantantly targeted Fabian once she knew that he was a successful businessman earning a fortune in the city. Apparently Fabian realised he’d made a mistake soon after they married— when Stephanie moaned about his long working hours but was happy to spend his money. But when he tried to end their relationship, she told him she was pregnant—presumably to make him stay with her.’

‘So she has a child?’ Alexander queried sharply.

‘Oh, no,’ Jennifer replied. ‘ Fabian divorced her, and I don’t know what happened about the baby. Linda thinks Stephanie may have made up the story about being pregnant, but it didn’t work. As I said, Fabian insisted on a divorce, and Linda thinks he’s well shot of her.

‘Daddy’s latest idea is to have Ditton Hall completely refurbished,’ she said dully, ‘ Even though Mummy loved it the way it is. And he’s going to ask Stephanie to design it. Daddy says that we have to accept Mummy’s gone and move on, but I couldn’t bear it If Stephanie moves into Ditton Hall, I’d have to move out and live on the streets or something.’

The idea of spoilt, pampered Jennifer living rough was laughable, Alexander caught the note of real misery in her voice and his anger intensified. The young girl had been devastated by her mother’s death, and was understandably hurt and dismayed by her father’s relationship with Stephanie Stewart.

His mouth compressed into a hard line as he moved lithely towards the dance floor, tugging Jennifer after him, ‘ your father would never do anything to upset you, and he certainly wouldn’t want you to leave Ditton Hall,’ he reassured her. ‘Now I think it’s time you introduced me to the lovely Miss Stewart.’

Stephanie glanced at James Grainger and frowned when she noted the greyish tinge to his skin. He looked drained, she thought worriedly. ‘ After this dance I think you should sit down and rest. You must have been on your feet for most of the day, and you know what the doctor said about getting too tired,’ she told him firmly.

James chuckled, but did not argue with her. ‘ Yes, Nurse, You sound as bossy as my wife— and that’s saying something.’ His smile faded and a flash of pain crossed his face. ‘Lilly Would have been in her element today, organising everything. She’d have loved it.’

‘I know,’ Stephanie said softly. ‘ But you’ve done a wonderful job with this wedding. Luciana looks so happy, and I’m sure that niether of the girls has guessed.’ She bit her lip and then murmured, ‘But, James, I really think you should tell them— if not now, then after Luciana and Liam get back from their honeymoon.’

‘No.’ James Grainger shook his head fiercely. ‘ Eighteen months ago they lost their mother to cancer. There’s no way I’m going to tell them I’ve been diagnosed with the same disease.

Not yet anyway,’ he added, when Stephanie opened her mouth to argue. ‘ Not until I’ve seen the specialist again and discussed my prognosis. I don’t want to worry them unnecessarily. Jennifer is only eighteen, and she’s too young to have to deal with any more traumas. Promise me you won’t say anything to the girls or anyone else? ‘ he pleaded.

Stephanie nodded reluctantly. ‘Of course I won’t, if that’s what you want. But I’m coming to the hospital with you on Friday. The chemotherapy made you so sick last time.’ She paused before adding hesitantly, ‘ I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that Jennifer isn’t happy about us meeting—especially now you can no longer pretend we’re discussing my designs for Luciana’s flat. If she knew your trips to London are to the hospital...’

‘No,’ James insisted again. ‘ she’d be scared witless anyway, ‘ he added cheerfully, ‘ I’ve told her I’m meeting you to discuss ideas for refurbishing Ditton Hall.’

‘Yes,’ Stephanie said slowly, ‘I’m afraid that’s what’s upset her.’ But what could she do about the situation? Stephanie fretted she had first met James Grainger when she had been commissioned to design Luciana and Liam’s flat, and had quickly realised that beneath James’s friendly charm was a man teetering on the edge of despair at the loss of his wife.

Stephanie had sympathized with James, and understood his reluctance to burden his daughters with his misery when they were greiving for their mother. And so she had taken time to chat to him whenever they had met at the flat, and had gentlely encouraged him to talk about Lilly Grainger.

A deep friendship had developed between them. and James had confided in her when he’d gone for tests to determine if he had prostate cancer. Since the diagnosis she had faithfully kept his secret, but she had been unable to persuade him to reveal the truth to Luciana and Jennifer And now she had a feeling that Jennifer resented her friendship with James.

Sighing, she let her fingers stray to her neck, nervously checking the diamond necklace that hung like a heavy weight around her throat.

‘Stop fiddling with it. It’s fine,’ James chided her.

‘I’m terrified I’II lose it. I really think I should take it off and return it to you.’

‘I’ve told you, I don’t want it back. It’s a present,’

‘And I told you I can’t accept it’, Stephanie told him firmly, ‘ please understand. It must be worth a fortune, and it wouldn’t be ...appropriate for me to keep it.’

‘I just wanted to thank you for your support these past few months by giving you something special for your birthday,’ James said stubbornly, ‘I don’t know what I would have done without you.Lilly would have liked you,’he added gruffly.

The sadness in his eyes brought a lump to Stephanie’s throat,and on impulse she leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. ‘ I help because we’re friends, and I certainly don’t want you to repay me with expensive jewellery.’ She gave the older man a rueful look, Knowing that he would be deeply hurt if she insisted on returning the necklace. ‘But thank you—the necklace is beautiful and I’II treasure it.’

‘Daddy, you haven’t danced with me once this evening.’

At the sound of the faintly petulant voice, Stephanie glanced round, Her heart sank when she saw Jennifer Grainger staring sulkily at her. She quickly stepped away from James, feeling guilty that she had monopolised his attention, But as she swung round to walk off the dance floor she cannoned into a hard wall of muscle encased in silk—and when she lifted her head her eyes meshed with the midnight-dark gaze of Jennifer’s partner.

Her first thought was that she had never in her life seen a man like him. His stunning looks stole the breath from her body, and as his eyes Locked with hers she stood stock- still and simply stared at him, absorbing the impact of his perfectly sculpted bone structure and the dark olive skin stretched taut over his high cheekbones. His jaw was square, and hinted at an implacable determination to always get his own way, but his mouth was wide and sensual, and Stephanie felt a curious longing to trace the full curve of his upper lip with her fingers.

Awareness seeped through her veins until her body throbbed with a slow, deep yearning that began in the pit of her stomach and radiated out, weakening her limbs with desire that was shockingly fierce and utterly unexpected. The gleam in his ebony eyes warned her that he knew what she was thinking, and her face burned. Hopefully not exactly what she was thinking, she prayed fervently, and she hastily banished the fantasy of him carrying her off to the nearest empty room and making passionate love to her.

Tension coiled in the pit of her stomach, and heat suffused her whole body so that she was sure her face must be scarlet, He was exceptionally tall, sheathed in an expertly cut dark grey suit that emphasised his height and the width of his shoulders, and even when she stepped away from him, mumbling an apology, she felt overwhelmed by his powerful masculinity.

‘Forgive me, pumpkin, but I thought you were enjoying yourself with your friends,’ James apologized to his daughter. ‘Have you been taking care of my little girl, Alexander?’

‘Of course,’ the man replied smoothly. ‘But you know James, now that Luciana is married, and about to leave Ditton Hall, I think Jennifer feels in need of her papa.’ His accent was unmistakably Italian, his voice as rich and thick as clotted cream, but Stephanie caught his faintly reproving tone and James must have detected it too.

‘Come and dance with me, then, darling,’ he said jovially ‘Stephanie, do you mind if we swap partners? I have it on good authority that Alexander is an excellent dancer.’

An awkward silence followed,