Romance of a Lifetime Read Online Free PDF

the most beautiful cities in the world. What a pity it was slowly sinking into oblivion.
    Although at this moment in time that wasn't apparent; Venice was everything Beth had eyer heard it claimed to be. And more.
    She had been slightly sceptical about her mother's choice of Venice as her second port of call, romance being the last thing she wanted to feel. But Beth had felt the magic of the place the moment she stepped out of the airport in search of the water taxi that would take her to her hotel. It was everything she had ever thought it would be, bustling, overcrowded, over-commercialised, and yet somehow the mystique and magic of the place managed to captivate the senses in spite of this.
    Her hotel, the Danieli, had done a lot to add to the charm of her visit; her mother had really spoilt her with her choice of Her hotel, the Danieli, had done a lot to add to the charm of her visit; her mother had really spoilt her with her choice of hotels this time. Of course, Beth had heard of the Danieli before this visit, knew it had once been a beautiful palace owned by the Danieli family, the building itself magnificent in construction, the decor and furnishings chosen accordingly.
    And to add to the charm of the place Beth's room overlooked the lagoon, the view from her balcony one of the bustling activity on the water itself as it entered the Grand Canal. Beth had spent the first couple of hours after her arrival just sitting on the balcony watching the toing and froing of the water traffic, amazed at the variety of craft, from the numerous gondolas to a cruise ship that somehow navigated the narrow water.
    She had finally ventured out of the hotel in the afternoon, crossing the bridge close to the hotel before she realised that the people gathered on the bridge were actually looking at something. A step back had revealed the famous Bridge of Sighs.
    Beth could hardly believe it. There was history wherever she looked, the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Square just around the corner.
    It was all too much at once, numbing the senses, and Beth decided she would be better waiting until the following day before exploring further, so she started back towards the hotel, pausing to look at the stalls of the street-vendors. Here were the usual tacky touristy things that could be found at any seaside town in England, and yet even this was merely another added charm to Venice.
    But the bride and groom stepping into the gondola were, Beth felt, taking the romantic image of the place too far!
    The bride wore a floating white gown, her veil long and trailing behind her, her hair dark, herface achingly lovely, the groom dark and good-looking, having eyes only for his bride as the wedding party waved them on their way down the Grand Canal.
    'Beautiful, isn't it?' drawled a mocking voice.
    Beth closed her eyes as she swayed, but the gondola bobbing up and down with the bride and groom gazing ecstatically into each other's eyes was still in front of her as she opened her eyes, the noise of chattering people still bombarding her ears.
    And yet she had heard that voice, she knew she hadn't dreamt it. She didn't even know why she had felt that initial surprise; she was being hounded, she knew that now.
    She was perfectly in control by the time she turned to face Marcus Craven, calmly looking up at him as he stood so relaxed and handsome, one hand thrust casually into the pocket of the black trousers he wore, the short-sleeved cream shirt revealing the olive tone to his skin where the shirt was unbuttoned at his throat. He looked strong and very male—and magnetically alive!
    'Actually,' Beth drawled drily, 'I was just thinking it was overplaying the romantic image of Venice just a touch too much.'
    His eyes gleamed with shared amusement. 'You don't seem surprised to see me.'
    She arched blonde brows. 'Should I be?'
    Inside she was furious at being in his company once again, all sorts of questions and suspicions filling her mind. What was he doing in