Laura emerged from the car to the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi, pasting a sunny smile on her face as she slowly made her way up the red carpet towards the entrance. The last place she wanted to be that evening was at a party. Laura had received the call at three that afternoon that Kelly had become violently ill and they needed Laura to take her place. This was normally something that Kelly thrived on because she loved the spotlight and all of the attention. Laura of course hated it and it worked well between the two of them that Kelly should be the one to attend these events.

While she was hating every second of being at the mercy of the press, her escort seemed to be enjoying all of the noise and attention. Todd Sebring was a major star of film and loved being the center of attention. He had looks that could kill and a body too match, and all of the girls went wild as he exited the car. The fact that Todd had very little personality was lost to most people because of his looks.

Laura barely knew Todd, but since both of them represented the same company they had been told to attend together in Kelly's absence. Todd was oblivious of Laura's dislike and had been hitting on her nonstop since she had gotten in the car. Kelly would have loved every minute of it. Todd, in his own delusional mind, was under the impression that she was as into him has he was into to her.

However, he was the least of her worries since she was still reeling from her Washington D.C. trip. After dinner with her parents Davis had kept his distance, and she had tried to convince herself that it was what she had wanted all along, but the week without him had seemed dull and empty. So dull in fact, that she couldn't wait for the upcoming week's New York photo shoot and the trip to Texas the following week. They might not have any one on one time, but it would give her a chance to at least see Davis.

The doorman held the door as they coasted through. Todd had his hand in the small of her back, waving to the crowd as the door closed behind them. "What a rush, it never gets old does it?" He was practically dancing from foot to foot, a sure sign that he was high on more than just the attention.

Laura gave a polite smile, not bothering to answer the rhetorical question.

"Miss Wren, Mr. Sebring, may I please show you to your table?" A pretty blond greeted them in the foyer. Laura watched as she kept shooting Todd covert glances.

As they wound their way through tables Todd stopped to say hello to just about everyone, and the majority of people looked confused as to why he was even saying hello to them.

Suddenly there was a camera in her face and a flash. When the camera was lowered she saw Davis's grinning face. "Thanks, I think I just got the shot of the night."

Laura's eyes followed him as he made his way from table to table taking pictures. He was wearing a tux and he looked magnificent in it, as if he had been wearing one his whole life. She noticed that he looked a little tired, but he was his usual charming self as he flirted with all of the women and joked with all of the men. She also noticed that after taking the picture he hadn't looked twice at her or paid her any attention. Was he still upset with her, and why did it matter so much if he was?

"Here's your table." The young blond broke the spell that Laura had seem to fall under as she watched Davis's form weave its way through the crowds, chatting people up and taking their pictures.

Laura didn't sit right away, waiting for Todd to pull out her chair, but he seemed to miss the hint and sat down without touching it. Exasperated, Laura was about to turn and do it herself when it was done for her. She turned to see Mason Stevens pulling it out for her.

"Thank you," she said, sitting and giving him a polite smile.

"You're welcome Laura." He winked and gave her a roguish grin which Laura had to fight not to return. Mason took the chair next to her after helping Cassie with her chair.

Cassie leaned across the table and took Laura's hand giving it a squeeze. "How are you Laura?"

Laura made some noncommittal reply and smiled politely as she extracted her hand from Cassie's grasp before turning back to the crowd and looking for Davis.

Cassie and Mason had their heads buried together talking about something when another couple approached the table. The man was very handsome and large and looked as cold as ice, something that Laura could identify with. The woman was regal and beautiful with a mass of curly dark hair and pale skin, she looked like a statue next to Cassie's vibrancy.

Cassie and Mason rose and greeted the couple warmly, exchanging hugs and kisses. Laura was used to seeing these types of greetings in New York's top circles, but this time there seemed to be real affection between the couples.

Suddenly, she aware of how alone she really was, it was beyond her to have caring friendships or relationships; hadn't Cassie just tried to greet her warmly and she had rebuffed her. Shaking off the depressing thought, she watched as Davis approached the couple.

"How about a picture of Mason Stevens and his regal brother the Earl of Pennington?" he held up his camera.

Laura blinked, looking from Davis to Mason and then to this new man. He did look a bit like Mason and Davis, especially around the eyes, but Davis had referred to him as an Earl. Did that mean that he hadn't been joking with her when he had said he was the son of an Earl, or was it some elaborate hoax?

Watching as the two men leaned in and allowed their picture to be taken, Laura didn't think that the serious man would allow himself to participate in a practical joke.

"And now the ladies?" He winked and Cassie and the other woman leaned in smiling. When he was done with the photo he leaned into Laura, his cheek next to hers, and her whole world stopped at his nearness. Her stomach flipped and then flopped as she felt his breath on her cheek and then his lips. He was so close and he smelled divine.

"By the way, it was a Prince and Showgirl not an Earl and a movie star. I asked my mother. She remembered the movie well and was impressed that you did too. I was a bit disappointed that she never meet Marilyn Monroe, and she got mad that I thought she was that old."

Just as quickly as he had entered her space he left it and focused his attention on the new man. "So Lord Steven's, are we expecting an heir to the title anytime soon?"

"You'll be the first to know." The handsome man's English accent was a surprise.

Laura suddenly realized that he must really be an Earl and that Davis had been telling the truth. "Davis!" she insisted, but he just looked back at Laura with his cocky grin snapping another shot of her with Todd.

His vivid sky blue eyes meet hers with a touch of humor. "Beautiful," he said, before disappearing into the crowd. Laura watched him go, mystified. He was a bit like a moth flitting from light to light with too much energy to stay still for long. This was a side of his personality that she had never seen before.

"I swear some of the paparazzi are outrageous aren't they?" Todd said leaning across Laura to shake the men's hands. He completely ignored the women. "It's an honor to meet you Lord Stevens. I have heard only good things, Mason, I hope we will get to work together soon."

The two Stevens men smiled politely and made noncommittal replies just as Laura had earlier, and the Earl's wife kept looking at her with a curious expression while the Earl just looked bored. It was bad enough that she had to be with Davis's family without Davis, but now she was beginning to feel like something under a microscope.

"Oh, I forgot, you haven't met yet. Bryce and Grace Stevens this is Laura Wren."

"Laura? Davis's Laura?" Grace asked, looking at her with an awed expression.

"I know, it's hard to believe that my little brother caught such a beauty," Mason said, looking at Laura, admiring her.

The tension was starting to rise, and Bryce and Grace continued to stare at her when the final person joined their table.

"I hope the dinner is decent, I'm starving," Lizzy said as she found her chair.

Todd zeroed in on her immediately and launched into his best one-liners, all of which Laura recognized from the car. Lizzy was beautiful, as usual, her pale blond hair curled softly around her shoulders and her beautiful cocktail dress hugged her curves like a seconded skin.

Laura knew that she was pretty, she had to be to be able to make a living in front of a camera, but Lizzy made her feel like she was somehow less than her and lacking in beauty and poise; just as all of the girls at her boarding school had made her feel so many years ago.

Laura hadn't even acknowledged her presence yet, whether it was on purpose or not she couldn't say, but she did her best to make it seem as if it didn't bother her; it was no less than what she deserved for her rebuke of Cassie's warm greeting.

Davis showed back up at their table cutting Todd off and pulling Lizzy up for a quick hug and kiss. "Lizzy you look beautiful! Doesn't Laura look lovely?" He grabbed the drink from Lizzy's hand and took a sip before giving it back to her, then giving her another quick kiss he disappeared again.

Lizzy looked at Laura, not agreeing or disagreeing with Davis's statement, her look was all of the acknowledgement she got.

"Lizzy, this is Todd Sebring." She motioned to Todd, who rose and walked around the table. It was something to say since Lizzy was refusing to speak to her. Laura for, Davis's sake, decided to take the highroad. If introducing Lizzy to Todd could be considered the highroad. It seemed a little like payback for the Lizzy's earlier rudeness.

"It is a pleasure to meet such a lovely lady." He took her hand in his, giving it a kiss.

Lizzy gave a polite smile, pulling her hand away.

"Thank you Mr. Sebring." Lizzy must have felt the introduction was payback as well since she shot Laura a deadly look, opening her mouth to speak her mind when Bryce rose from his chair

"Shall we dance Lizzy?" he asked, well aware that he was breaking up a potential fight.

Laura looked covertly at the others at the table, the women looked curious and Mason looked downright entertained.

The band was playing a song that Laura recognized from an old musical which happened to be one of her favorites. She turned to watch the couples as they moved across the floor, keeping time to the music.

"It is nice to be at one of these shindigs and not have to sing for a change," Cassandra said as she took a sip of her wine leaning on her husband.

"Give it time dear," Mason said, kissing the top of her head.

It reminded her so much of when Davis had kissed her head. Had the two of them appeared to look as close at Mason and Cassie did at that moment?

Grace turned to Laura and smiled. "Don't let Lizzy worry you. She treated me the same way when we first met. She accused me of trying to get one of her brothers for their money. She didn't mind if it was to be Rainer, but the thought of it being Bryce made her batty."

"Well, since Davis and I aren't dating it seems a moot point," Laura said, knowing she was being rude but she couldn't help herself. Why was she so afraid to let these beautiful women in, they were trying, why couldn't she?

Grace turned to Cassie who shrugged as if to say don't ask me.

Just then the Davis showed up and handed his camera to Mason then grabbed Laura's hand, pulling her from the chair and Laura was too stunned to pull away.

"I hope you don't mind," he said to Todd over his shoulder as he pulled her towards the floor.

"Hell no! I have sung every song for every couple in this family I am not going to let Davis have his first dance with her and not sing it!" Cassie muttered under her breath as she jumped up from the table and moved towards the band.

When the band director saw her coming he stopped the band, and all of the people on the floor halted turning to see what had happened. There was a short pause and Laura could feel her hand in Davis's warm one. It was the first time he had held her hand like this. Just standing there, their fingers intertwined, and it felt so right, so comforting. She could smell his aftershave and see the long hair that was curling over his jacket's collar. Something about him made her lose awareness of what was around her.

"Cassandra Stevens!" the band director announced.

Cassie took the stage with her usual energy and had the crowd in her hands in seconds.

"Good evening all, I was just telling my drop dead gorgeous husband that it was nice not to have to sing at one of these things when what does my brother do... he pulls his future wife out onto the floor for their first dance. Now, I have sung every first dance song for all of my brothers and sisters, and I'm not about to let one get away from me now."

She leaned over to the band for a quick discussion while Laura looked up at Davis. "Please tell me she is not talking about us," she hissed. Davis ignored her. "Davis she's not talking about us is she?"

Davis turned to her, pulling her into his arms. She could feel the entire length of him as he melded with her when the music started. "Yes, she is talking about us."

Laura couldn't help but catch her breath at the thought of being married to Davis and when her stomach bottomed out she completely forgot to breath. Married to Davis, what would that be like? Being held like this in his arms was...it was like sitting to close to the fire. Her whole body was overheating and her legs were trembling. How could a simple embrace feel so overwhelming and so right all at the same time? He shot her a wicked grin as if he knew what she was feeling, pulling her tighter against him.

Cassie began to sing, "The More I See You."

Laura was in a different world as their bodies moved together to the music and she was taken completely off guard when Davis stopped and looked down at her.

"Why did you apologize Laura?"

Laura decided to play it dumb. "When did I apologize Davis?"

"You know when Laura." He gave her a little shake. "I care about you Laura, and it hurt me to watch you at dinner with your Father. Who were you then, where did you go?"

"It's doesn't matter Davis, I learned that very early in my life."

"Why were you apologizing? It has been driving me nuts, was it because the dinner itself was so horrible?"

Laura latched onto the excuse like a life raft. It was much better than apologizing because she had felt she let him down. "Yes, I tried to warn you, but I realized that you were uncomfortable even after the warnings."

Davis looked at her closely as he danced her around the floor masterfully.

"No Laura, you're lying, and if you don't tell me right now I'll make a scene." He pulled away from her half turning towards Cassie.

"No Davis, please." She pulled him back, her face turning red as she realized he would do it. She looked at him trying to decide what to say.

She could tell him the truth. If she did maybe this delusion he had that she was something special would go away and he would no longer tempt her. At the thought her breath caught at the thought of never seeing Davis again.

He gently shook her again. "Tell me, Laura."

"I can't Davis...there is so much... I couldn't stand it if you hated me." This time the tears threatened and she couldn't find her wall as one trailed down her cheek.

"Laura," he pulled her close, "don't you know that I am in love with you? I couldn't hate you even if I wanted to." His voice cracked a little.

"Please, don't say that Davis, you don't want to love me. I'm not worth it." She choked out through the threatening tears.

"What happened to you Laura?"

"Please, Davis not here, not now. Can we just dance?"

He looked at her as he wiped another tear nodding. "Yes, but you will have to tell me eventually, preferably before we get married.

As usual his outrageous comment caught her so off guard that she faltered and he smiled tenderly at her. "That is where this is going so stop fighting it." He pulled her close and started to dance her around the floor; she felt like she was Ginger Rogers. They were perfectly in tune as their long legs intertwined and they seemed to float. It was as if they had been dancing together for years and she couldn't tell where she began and he ended. She gave herself up to the joy of it forgetting about their earlier conversation and not letting herself think about how he might have just proposed to her, and how wonderful it would be to be married to Davis.

She looked into his blue eyes and found herself smiling back in return, despite her heavy heart. As the song ended he pulled her even closer, if that was possible, taking her head in his hands. "We fit Laura, admit it."

Laura whimpered as she bit her lower lip. She really did want to kiss him, but the fear of falling was too strong. The moment passed and Davis spun her away from him in a dramatic move and escorted her back to the table.

He patted Mason on the shoulder and picked up his camera with a word of thanks then he took one last picture of her and was gone.

When Cassie returned to the table she took one look at Laura, who was not paying any attention to them as a realization was dawning on her.

Cassie nodded. "My job is done." Her eyes met Grace's and they exchanged smiles.

Laura hardly noticed the return of Lizzy or her brother to the table. She hardly noticed anything else the rest of the night as the incredible realization that she was in love hit her. Davis Stevens had done the impossible and made her fall madly in love with him.

Just as quickly as she had that thought she had another. He could never know. He would use it against her just as her father had used her mother's love against her. How on earth was she going to fight him? Is this what her mother had felt? Like she would do anything for her father, forgive him anything. She couldn't handle it.

Overwhelmed, she rose, and without making any excuses she headed for the door, hailed a Taxi, and barricaded herself in her apartment.

She had to get over this, she had to figure out how to stop loving Davis Stevens.