The phone rang at eleven thirty, just as Alex was getting out of the shower. Thinking it might be Rachel, he nearly tripped over his shoes getting to the phone, but the voice on the other end belonged to Jack Lawson, who was calling to confirm Alex’s appearance at the reception.“I was just getting ready to leave,” Alex told him.“That’s great, Alex. We’re all really looking forward to this event. See you soon,”“Event? What event?” Alex said into the phone, but it had already gone dead. This is ridiculous, he thought. I hardly even know Mrs. Friedman, I don’t know why they’re making such a big deal about it.He put the t-shirt and jeans he was going to wear back into the drawer and reluctantly put on a casual suit instead. Just before he left, he tried Rachel’s number once again. This time it wasn’t the service that answered, it was Karen.“This is Alex Bentley. Is

All week long, Rachel’s attempts to phone Alex were constantly thwarted by her demanding schedule. By the end of the week, the strain was becoming visibly apparent and not even the heavy television make-up was able to conceal the darkening circles of exhaustion under her eyes.By Thursday afternoon, Peter agreed a well-rested author would sell a lot more books than one who couldn’t keep her eyes open during an interview. After her signing event at Borders, the driver took her back to Prelude’s office, where Peter told her he was canceling her Friday and Monday appearances. He then practically ordered Rachel to spend the next few days resting. Rachel knew that rest was only one reason why Peter was being so generous. The deadline for the first draft of her second novel was approaching and, with her hectic promotion schedule, she hadn’t had the time or the energy to write a single word.It was close to seven  when she finally returne

Flashbulbs ignited the room, causing more confusion as the postal inspector started reading Alex his rights. Rachel forced herself through the crowd and onto the stage where she shoved her New York State Bar membership card into the face of a security guard trying to keep the press off the stage.“I’m Postmaster Bentley’s attorney, let me through,” she screamed over the noise. Seeing Rachel appear at his side, Alex got the second shock of the afternoon.“Rachel? What are you...how did you?”“Alex, I’ll explain later. Don’t say anything. What are the charges?” She demanded of the men who were leading Alex off the stage. But before she got an answer, she was approached by two other men who blocked her way.“Where do you think you’re going, miss?”An attractive man of about forty stood directly in front of Rachel. He had a warm smile, but his eyes were telling her she was de

Rachel only had a few minutes to speak with Alex’s attorneys before the proceedings began. In order to avoid running into Mark, Rachel entered the courthouse through a side door and made her way to the conference room where she suspected the defense team was briefing Alex on the case. Not bothering to knock, she opened the door and was immediately greeted by two hostile glares and one look of relief. Ignoring the attorney’s protests, she proceeded into the room, slamming the door behind her.“You don’t give up, do you Ms. Clark?” Dean hissed.“I have important information that will affect your case,” she insisted.“We have all the information we need. You’ll only get in the way. Jeff and I are going to represent Postmaster Bentley and that’s final.”Defiantly, Rachel pulled a chair out and sat next to Alex. She saw the worry on his face, motivating her to continued trying to convince his at

When Rachel first opened her eyes, the sight of a naked man in her bed startled her. Then she recognized Alex, and an overwhelming sense of serenity surrounded her when she remembered how his naked body felt pressed closely against hers all night long.She carefully got out of bed, went into the bathroom and gently closed the door. She turned on the sink and let the water run slowly so as not to disturb him. When she finished brushing the early morning haze from her teeth, she quietly picked her clothes up from a little pile on the floor and tip-toed into Karen’s bedroom to dress.Pausing in front of the full length mirror, she was amazed to see how well rested she appeared, in spite of having been up most of the night. She was not quite so amazed that Alex was still sound asleep, since he had been, quite definitely, up most of the night.Close to exhaustion for several days, Rachel felt miraculously energized. Though it was only nine in the morni