Sweet Promise Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    Throughout the entire spiel on safety and emergency procedures Joanna kept her gaze trained on Sean and listened with only half an ear, torn between disgust and amusement as she watched him flirt.
    At last the drill was over, and the groups around the lifeboats began to break up. Sean raised his head and glanced distractedly in her direction. Joanna doubted that he could pick her out in the crowd, but when his gaze rested briefly on her, she smiled and turned back* toward the stairs.
    No sense tempting fate, she told herself as she melted into the throng. A blast from the ship's whistle and a slight movement underfoot told her that they were about to get under way. Joanna was tempted to stay topside and watch, but immediately dismissed the idea. Not that it really mattered now if Sean did spot her, except that she preferred to pick the time and place of their first meeting.
    * * *

    Joanna? Is that Joanna Andrews? Sean stared at the brown-haired woman's retreating form and frowned. No. No, it can't be. I must be seeing things.
    But even after the slender figure in the yellow sundress had disappeared from view he continued to search the crowds.
    "Do you see the purser anywhere?"
    Gloria Osborne's question finally penetrated, and Sean looked down, chagrined to realize that he'd gotten sidetracked. For Pete's sake, Fleming! Why are you letting your imagination run away with you when there's someone like Gloria around?
    "Uh, no. Anyway, he's probably got his hands full right now. Why don't I just go find the maitre d' and see what I can do?"
    "Do you think he'll be agreeable to changing seating arrangements?"
    "Sure. Why not? The cruise is just starting. It won't inconvenience anyone. I'll just tell him that we'd like to be seated at the same table."
    Sean smiled at the hopeful expression on Gloria's face. She really is a luscious creature, he mused. A knockout figure, a full mouth that begged to be kissed, slanting green eyes. And she was a redhead to boot. His gaze lifted to the bright hair, and he wondered idly if it were natural. Probably not. But then, who the hell cared? Gloria Osborne was just what he needed. A worldly, uncomplicated, sensual woman, one who could indulge in a light-hearted shipboard romance with no illusions or expectations.
    Reassured, Gloria toyed with a button on his shirt and gave him a sultry look from beneath her lashes. "Well, while you take care of that, I think I'll go unpack." She winked and stepped away, trailing her long crimson nails across his chest. "See you at dinner."
    Sean watched her go, his smile turning decidedly wicked as he admired the provocative sway of her hips. It had been a pure stroke of luck, meeting her as they had stood in line to get their boarding passes, he decided with satisfaction. For the next two weeks he wanted to clear his mind of everything and concentrate on relaxing and having a good time. With a woman like Gloria around, that shouldn't be too difficult.
    But suddenly Sean's smile faded, and he looked back in the direction the brown-haired woman had taken. Strangely, one of the things that had been on his mind lately had been Joanna. The changes in her had intrigued him and he'd thought of her often since that dinner last weekend at Claire and Matt's. Which, he told himself, is probably why you imagined you saw her.
    Of course, it couldn't have been Joanna.
    Hands in his pockets, Sean strolled slowly toward the purser's office.
    But it had sure as hell looked like her.
    * * *

    Joanna entered the dining room behind two couples who were obviously together. While they identified themselves to the maitre d' she adjusted the long full sleeves of her amber silk dress and casually scanned the room for Sean's dark head.
    The tight feeling in the pit of her stomach was a curious mixture of anticipation and dread. How would Sean react when he saw her? Funny. She hadn't really considered that aspect until now. He would be surprised, of course. That was to be