Arguments were more difficult, she had discovered, when two people had no mutual ground. And when one felt the other had sinned…

She wouldn’t think of it, wouldn’t think of the time in her life that had brought such pain and disillusionment. Instead, she would think of Paris.

With Italy behind her, Paris was next.  She had won there before, on clay, the year she had been with Ashley. As she had with Eric, Spencer tried to block Ashley out of her mind. Characteristically Ashley wasn’t cooperative.

‘We pick this up in Paris.’

The words echoed softly in her head, part threat, part promise. Spencer knew Ashley too well to believe either was idle. She would have to deal with her when the time came. But she wasn’t naive or innocent any longer. Life had taught her there weren’t any easy answers or fairytale endings. She’d lost too much to believe happy-ever-after waited at the end of every love affair—as she had once believed it had waited for her and Ashley. They were no longer the princesses of the courts, but older, and, Spencer fervently hoped, wiser.

She was certain Ashley would seek to soothe her ego by trying to win her again—her body if not her heart. Remembering the verve and depth of her lovemaking, Spencer knew it wouldn’t be easy to resist her. If she could have done so without risking her emotions, Spencer would have given Ashley what she wanted. For three colorless years she had endured without the passion Ashley had brought to her life. For three empty years she had wondered and wanted and denied.

But her emotions weren’t safe. On a sigh, Spencer allowed herself to feel. She still cared. Not a woman to lie to herself, Spencer admitted she loved Ashley, had never once stopped loving her. It had never been over for her, and deep within she carried the memory of that love. It brought guilt.

Spencer opened her eyes and stared blindly through the sunlight. It was as harsh and unforgiving as the emotions that raged through her. Would she have believed? Would she have accepted? Before the questions were fully formed, Spencer shook her head in denial. Closing her eyes, Spencer willed herself to sleep. Paris was much too close.