He hesitated, watching her slip into her fuzzy blue robe.
"I've been to your restaurant," he said at last. "It's terrific."
She looked up, her face bright with his praise. "Did you really like it? I'm so glad. I wish..." She shrugged, just a little embarrassed. "I don't know why I didn't notice you. When were you in?"
It had been a Sunday afternoon. He'd chosen it pur posely as an empty time when he could take a close look at the decorating and study the ambience. Charity hadn't been in that afternoon, which had suited him fine, as well. He'd been there gearing up for action, not making a friendly call.
He moved restlessly on the bed, wondering if this was the proper time to tell her. What would she do when she found out he was really Ross Carrington, the hated inter loper who she thought wanted to rip her business out of her control? It was time to find out.
"It was a Sunday, about a month ago," he said care fully, watching her reaction. "I was there on business."
She looked surprised, and the words stuck in his throat. This was going to be more difficult than he'd thought. He wanted to reach for her, to reassure her with his body be fore she took on the full thrust of what he was about to say.
"I've been meaning... I've got to tell you this, Char ity." He swallowed. She stared at him. "I'm not really who you think I am. I'm really..." His words were drowned out by a tremendous crash from the living room.
"Oh, my God!" Charity cried, gathering her robe together and leaping for the door.
"I'm really Ross Carrington," he ended lamely as she disappeared from the room, not hearing him at all. He let out a heavy sigh and swore softly.
"I'm really Alice in Wonderland," said a small voice from the foot of the bed. "I really am."
He looked balefully at Mandi. "No kidding."
She leaned her chin on the edge of the bed and went on earnestly. "I must be. I do get this strange sensation every time I see a rabbit, and I hate falling down holes, and I can just feel long golden hair around my shoulders." She swooshed her head and fluffed her short black hair as though it had suddenly taken on new length.
Ross was caught between cynicism and sympathy. Af ter all, no one wanted to hear who he really was, either. "There's only one problem with that," he told the girl gently. "Alice in Wonderland was a fictional character. She never really existed."
Mandi blinked rapidly. "Does that mean I can't have been her?"