Ran From Him Read Online Free PDF

the clutches of an enthusiastic sales woman. In fact, the woman was also the small boutique’s designer, and she insisted that she had the perfect dress for Cate.
    What’s more, she was right.
    When Cate saw herself in the mirror, she smiled. The heavy cream silk gown with its pattern of scarlet roses was a dream to wear. It slid sensuously over her skin and its scooped neckline and full swirling skirt draped and clung to her figure. Her image reminded Cate of the gypsy girl she’d seen in the penthouse mirror that morning.
    But this gypsy girl had married the king.
    “Perfect. You wear it exactly as I imagined it.” The designer beamed. Then she held up her finger in an aha moment of memory, and plunged into the back of the shop. She re-emerged with a matching silk purse.
    Cate couldn’t resist. She thought of the hotel bill she saved by staying with Daniel, and whipped out her credit card. Then she followed the designer’s advice and found matching high heels in a shoe shop four doors away.
    The three inches of extra height would make her taller than Rob and distinctly taller than petite bubbly Amie, but Daniel wouldn’t be dwarfed. And it was Daniel she’d be partnered with. Following the formal announcement of their engagement, Rob and Amie would have to pair off.
    It was strange to think of Daniel as her partner.
    If her dad had had his way, she and Daniel would have been six years married. Maybe they’d have had kids. Probably, we’d be divorced , she decided cynically. Still, something in her stirred at the thought of tangle-haired blue-eyed imps giggling and trusting in her love, and in Daniel’s.
    She shook her head to clear it of silly dreams and focussed on her surroundings. Since her feet were tired and she’d wandered further than she’d intended, she caught the free city bus. Its wide loop through Perth showed her both old favourite places and the changes of six years.
    By the time she stepped off the bus near Daniel’s apartment building, she regretted the years away. For all of its changes, Perth was home as Sydney could never be, and part of her longed to come home.
    She walked into the penthouse, and tensed.
    From the kitchen came the sound of running water and the click of a lid. Daniel was home.
    “Good timing.” He emerged from the kitchen. “I’ve just put the kettle on to boil. Would you like a cup of tea?” He noticed, but didn’t comment on the shopping bags she carried.
    “Thanks, I’d love a cuppa. White with one sugar.” She could be casual, too. She wouldn’t explain her change of mind about staying in the penthouse. Probably he’d peeked into her room and knew by her backpack that she’d return; hence, his lack of surprise. Or did he just expect that people would naturally follow his orders? “I’ll put these away.” She swung her shopping bags and walked away with would-be jauntiness.
    Afternoon tea with Daniel?
    She took her time unfolding and hanging up her silk dress, trying to slow her quickened pulse. Her nerves tingled with anticipation and she resented every tingle. She didn’t want to be brought alive by the challenge he presented.
    “You’re here for Rob’s sake. Nothing more.” Any entanglement with Daniel would be self-destructive. Never again would a man control her life. She had to remember that Daniel’s power was a threat.
    She walked back to the living area feeling wary and tense.
    He lounged on the yellow sofa with their tea in mugs on the coffee table in front of him. His eyes were hooded as he watched her skirt the coffee table and sofa, and sit opposite him in the single safety of a leather recliner.
    “Four hours until dinner,” he said. “Three hours before you need to start getting ready.”
    “I bought a book to read,” she said, forestalling any offer to entertain her or arrange her time. The book was a current affairs commentary and she placed it on the table so he could read the title.
    “I also bought a book. Yours. But I