beautiful
women.
The leashed savagery in Lincs voice sent a chill over Hollys skin.
That isnt true, she said.
The hell it isnt. Take it from an expert. Linc smiled sardonically. Sandras a bitch, but
no one can say she isnt beautiful.
Ice condensed in Hollys stomach as she looked at Lincs face. It was the cruel face of the
stranger who had watched Shannon the way a cat watches a butterfly hovering over a blossom.
Predatory. Ruthless.
Beauty doesnt have anything to do with it, Holly said tightly. I know ugly women who are
mean right to the marrow of their bones, and beautiful women who are kind.
Lincs hand stroked Hollys face tenderly.
Youd see kindness in a rattlesnake,nin‡, he said in a soft voice.
Holly felt a curious melting in her bones. Once she had hated it when Linc called hernin‡,
little one, but now the word was as sweet and warm to her as his lips.
Kind Sandra, Linc continued, his voice different now, raw with remembered rage, kindSandra
swore she wasnt going to let her sisters baby girl marry the son of an alcoholic and a
whore. She called me a savage bastard who knew nothing about love.
Holly flinched at the hatred in Lincs voice.
So Sandra waited until I was at my stepmothers funeral, Linc said, and then she stole away
the only person who might have taught me how to love. You, Holly. Verykind of Sandra,
wouldnt you say? And so like a beautiful woman.
His voice was like a whip, and like a whip it stung. He looked as unyielding as he sounded.
When Holly spoke, her voice was ragged with Lincs pain and her own fear.
Its all in the past, Holly said, her voice almost pleading. Im not sixteen any more.
Sandra cant take me away again.
Lincs arms tightened, holding Holly against his body with a strength that left her aching.
Shed better not even try, he said flatly. Did she come here with you?
She stayed in Manhattan. Summer is a busy season for Sandra Productions. Everyone is
shooting the spring line.
Holly smiled at Lincs blank look.
Clothes, she explained succinctly. In order to have all the ad campaigns ready for spring,
they have to shoot in the summer.
Comprehension came. Lincs face drew into lines of distaste.
Yeah, I remember now, he said. Sandra makes her living selling tits and ass to magazines.
Linc!
He saw the horrified look on Hollys face.
Sorry, he muttered.
Holly was too shaken to say anything.
My God, she thought frantically.What am I going to do? How can I convince Linc that Im not
what he thinks Shannon is?
Linc saw Hollys pallor, sighed, and ran his hand roughly through his hair. Sunlight
gleamed off his naked arm.
I dont like models, he said finally. My mother and stepmother were both models. At least,
thats what they called it. Looked like something else to me. And it was.
Holly closed her eyes. She wished she didnt have to open her mouth and see her dream die
again. But she couldnt lie to Linc, not even in silence. Im a model, she said starkly.
What?
Im a model. Holly opened her eyes, expecting to see Lincs contempt.
Instead, she saw disbelief and amusement.
A model, he said neutrally.
Yes.
Linc laughed softly. Then he looked Holly over from her rumpled braid to her jacket
stuffed into wrinkled cotton pants. His eyes lingered on her sturdy, dirty shoes.
What do you model? he asked. Teddy bears? Swing sets? All-day suckers?
Anger snaked through Holly.
I didnt realize I was so unattractive, she retorted in a clipped voice.
His laughter vanished. He looked at Holly again, but this time his eyes remembered her as
she had been in his arms, her body changing with caresses, her naked skin glowing with
desire.
If you were any more beautiful to me, Linc said tightly, I would be afraid to trust
myself. Or you.
Being beautiful doesnt mean being untrustworthy. Beauty is just something done with
mirrors and makeup. I can be beautiful and still be worth loving!
Hey, hey, Linc said, hugging Holly against
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