"I don't think that…… would be a good idea…" she told him.

"Come on Amanda. It's just a dance. What are you really afraid of?" Cameron asked.

"Nothing….it's just that my mother would be alone…."

Rachel took command of the conversation at that point. "This must be the eloquent Mr. Sinclair I've heard so much about. Amanda, dance with this man. He's been most polite and gentlemanly. How can you say no?"

Almost feeling like she has just been scolded, Amanda accepted Cameron's hand as he led her to the dance floor. The familiar Latin sounds lingered as their bodies moved and swayed to the music……….

Cameron couldn't hear anything. He was too taken in by this woman in his arms.

"You look so beautiful tonight! No matter how hard I try, I can't take my eyes off of you!"

"I'm sure you didn't bring me out here to talk about my choice of clothing."

"Why are you doing this? Do you find it necessary to react so negatively to everything I say to you? I haven't done anything to deserve this….not from you."

Amanda wasn't listening. She was looking around the room and saw that people were paying close attention to what she and Cameron were doing or saying. Even her mom. She sat at their table, nodding in approval…

"We can't talk about this here…..look at everyone…..they're watching us……." Cameron checked out the room and had to agree.

"You're not getting away from me again….not tonight!"

"Let's just dance and we can talk about this afterwards."

"Promise?"

"I promise." For the first time while they were here, holding each other, Amanda looked into Cameron's eyes and saw something there. But for now….they had to dance.

The music ended but for some unknown reason, Cameron and Amanda continued to hold onto each other and dance. It wasn't until Matthew came up and tapped his sister on the shoulder and said the music was over, that they stopped. Amanda tried to get away but Cameron playfully held her forearm.

"Outside the ballroom, there's a work-out room. It should be closed by now. I know where to find the manager. I'll ask for the keys. Meet me there in 10………..please?!"

She nodded and made her way to her mother.

Rachel couldn't stop shaking her head in amazement. "See…that wasn't so bad now, was it? The two of you looked perfect together. And did you see the attention you received from the other guests?"

"I don't know what you're talking about mom."

"I'm sure you do, my dear. Now when do I get to meet Mr. Sinclair?"

"Well….I'm meeting him out there somewhere in 10 minutes so we can talk………I don't know if we'll feel sociable afterwards."

"What are you going to say to him? He seems like a fine young man."

"I don't know mom……I honestly don't know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Amanda had a difficult time making her way out of the ballroom. After she left Rachel, Carson stopped her and wanted her to chat with the photographer of her up and coming shoot. Amanda told Carson she'd be back in a minute; she had to check on one or two items. Once she left, Carson thought to herself that they had done all of this earlier, checking on things. But, her mind soon was more occupied with the handsome Mr. Cory so she dismissed any worrying about Amanda and her motives.

Once out of the ballroom, she found the workout area but saw no lights. Suddenly, from around the corner she heard Cameron and the manager approaching so she hid in a coatroom.

"I hope this IS business you're conducting in here…not monkey business!" the manager told Cameron.

"Oh no sir. Everything I do is on the up and up!"

"Make sure it stays that way. I'll need my keys back in an hour. I have a hotel guest who's getting her regular 8:00 massage later."

"NOW who's talking about monkey business…!!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!! Make it one hour!"

The manager left. Cameron opened up the door just as Amanda stepped out of the coatroom.

"I'm here. Let's get this over with!"

Cameron stepped aside, and let Amanda walk in first. He let out a deep breath and followed her in.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rachel was very pleased at the turnout that night and knew she had done the right thing in leaving Brava in Amanda's hands. The February issue was the biggest seller in magazine history; Mac would have been proud of that. He had always wanted one of his children to follow his footsteps into the publishing business. He didn't know if Matthew was the right type; again he would be pleasantly surprised of what he had done with the business. But tonight……..this was Amanda's night.

"Mom, where's that sister of mine? She told me she'd save me a dance!"

"Oh….I think she'll be occupied for quite some time."

"Why? What is she doing?"

"Never mind that. Would you care to dance a song or two with your mother?"

"Of course I would. It would be my pleasure."

"Good. I thought Carson St. Jeune had your undivided attention."

"Mom…." Matthew offered his arm to Rachel and off they went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cameron turned on all the lights and both he and Amanda looked around. There were exercise bikes, weights, treadmills…everything the hotel could think of to promote healthy bodies.

Amanda spoke first.

"Ok….I'm here. We're here. Alone. What did you want to say?"

"Tonight really turned out great for you didn't it? Brava's a big hit; the stockholders are happy; the Cory's are happy; everyone is happy."

"I suppose. I sure wish my father were here to share in this night with me. He always wanted someone to take up the family business and be like him."

"I never had that…. A father to look up to."

"That's unfortunate……but we're not here to talk about the long lineage of Cory's. You wanted to talk to me. And I'm here. "

"Yes…that you are…but could you do me a small favor and lose the attitude?"

"Look….if you have nothing of importance to say then I'm leaving."

Amanda was ready to walk out the door but Cameron blocked her exit.

"No. Please……stay!"

"Alright. But we have guests. I have to get back."

"Amanda……why won't you give us a chance? Am I really that awful that you can't think of spending any time with me?"

"No….you're not THAT awful…..but…" She wasn't sure what to say next.

"But what?"

"Anytime something….…something like this happens….people who work together getting involved………it makes things a mess……and I really don't feel like cleaning things up again….I've done it one too many times….for me…..for Matthew……"

"But how can you be so sure that this will happen to us if we start seeing each other? I'm pretty easy going, you know. No pressure from me!"

"No pressure? You've been after me all week to meet up with you. First you threaten my secretary; then you push your way into my office demanding to see me; now tonight, you won't leave me be until I agree to meet you. Isn't that pressure or am I missing something?"

"You're right……..you're right!! I need to apologize to you for that. I hope my gift to your secretary showed her how sincere I was in my apology to her."

"Oh it did. She's been smiling all week thanks to that bouquet! Made all the other secretaries in the building jealous!"

Cameron thought he caught a glimpse of Amanda grinning but he didn't want to think too far ahead. This was too important.

"Come on….give it a try….I guarantee you will enjoy yourself."

"Oh, lunch or dinner with you comes with a money back guarantee?"

"Very funny. I just know you'll have a good time. We can have a picnic in Central Park. Tomorrow is supposed to be a sunny, warm day. Then, maybe a carriage ride. Sound good?"

"Oh, it sounds promising. If I agree and I don't have a good time, you'll leave things well enough alone and stop this…all of this?"

"I promise. But I know you'll have a great time…. after that…we'll just see what comes."

Cameron could sense a change in Amanda's behavior. Her shoulders relaxed and she looked him directly in the eye when she told him her answer.

"It's a date then. Will you pick me up or should I meet you there?"

"I'll pick you up. Is one o'clock good for you?" Cameron answered, sounding hopeful.

"It's perfect. Now, can I get back to the party?"

"Go ahead. I have to return the keys to the manager anyway. He has a date later."

"Right. Will you be joining us afterwards?"

"Sure. I'd like to meet your mother."

"Fine then. You know where to find us, don't you?"

"Silly question!" Cameron said, knowing full well that Amanda knew he knew right where she was that night…at every moment.

"See you later." Amanda answered, closing the door behind her.

"Yeah…later."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was mostly business for the rest of the night for Cameron and Amanda. She had to play hostess to the board members and they wouldn't stop raving about the job she had done at Brava, most especially this issue. Questions abounded: where did she find these models, how did she come up with the ideas for the cover and inside story. The women board members wanted to know everything Amanda knew about 'Zorro'. She told them what she could…….what she did know.

Cameron was also occupied with those same board members. He gave credit for his development to Carson and her agency. He publicly thanked Amanda for Brava giving him the chance he's always dreamed about. This young man impressed each of them.

At some point in the evening, Amanda presented Carson with a contract that gave exclusive rights of Cameron Sinclair to Brava/Cory Publishing. The St. Jeune agency would retain Cameron's services for whatever they needed, but Brava/Cory could request him at any time. Carson promised that her attorney would look the contract over and she would get back to Amanda within a few days.

All things considered, a very successful evening for everyone concerned.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride back to Amanda's apartment seemed longer than the drive in. Matt had left earlier in the evening. Amanda was exhausted and Rachel knew that.

"Bravo Amanda. You worked wonders with the magazine since you've been here. I know how proud your father would be of you….."

"Thanks mom. Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I can see his face….his smile……I miss him terribly…….but I know he's with me. Always."

"That he is my darling…………..By the way, how did your talk with Cameron go tonight? Did you get matters resolved?"

"Somewhat! I don't know how he did it, but he convinced me to go on a picnic with him tomorrow."

"You know, Amanda, he is quite a charming young man. When I spoke with him this evening….."

"You talked to him?? To Cameron?"

"Yes. While you were out 'schmoozing' with the board, we had a very nice chat. He seems very intelligent…..Warm-hearted. He thinks the world of you, you know."

"I know."

"Amanda," Rachel began, taking her daughter's hand in hers,' I know you're afraid of getting hurt again. But if you sit back and don't take a chance on life…..on love again, you may be sorry about what you've missed. You could miss out on the greatest love of your life."

"But why can't love come with a guarantee?"

"I don't know. But I can tell you that this particular young man does does not make it his business to hurt people, especially you. From just being with him for that little time, I can see the kind of person he is."

"I guess I'll just have to wait and see, won't I?"

"Yes you will."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cameron was flying high. Modeling was certainly not his choice for his life's work, but today….the whole thing with the magazine had gone better than he expected. He liked getting dressed up and photographed.. He loved working with all those beautiful women. Especially Janeen.

Janeen. He almost forgot about her. Things got so busy tonight that he hardly spoke to her at all. But she, too, was occupied and didn't seem to mind his lack of attentiveness.

If things went as he thought they would tomorrow, with Amanda, he'd have to break things off with Janeen. She had been his friend from the beginning. He sensed she wanted more, but never pushed him. Letting her go would be difficult, but something that couldn't be helped. Not if he wanted to be with Amanda.

Amanda. He had finally met his match in this one. Powerful. Opinionated. Stubborn. Beautiful. He hoped she liked picnics!

He had stopped the cab driver and gotten out about 2 miles from his apartment. He loved walking. Cleared his mind. But not tonight. She was there. She was always there.

Cameron was too preoccupied to notice he was being followed. They had followed him since he got out of the cab. Three, maybe four of them. Seeing how he was dressed and the area he was in, made them think he had a few bucks to share and they were about to take advantage of that.

"Hey mister…. do you know what time it is??It's dangerous for a pretty boy like you to be walking around the park all alone."

Cameron ignored them and kept walking. His experience told him they were looking to make a quick score and he wasn't about to part with any of his money.

"Come on pretty boy…….tell us your name………..we wanna be friends with you."

Cameron kept walking. They walked faster. He started to jog. They did too. When he wanted to run, they were a little faster and caught up with him.

One of the men grabbed Cameron's arms behind him. As much as he struggled, he couldn't get away. The others searched his pockets and found his wallet. He only had two hundred dollars, which they took from him. But they wanted more.

"Rufus…….pretty boy here has only a few bucks to share with his new 'friends'…..…should we show him what it's like to hold out on us?"

The group nodded. Each of them took turns at hitting Cameron…first in the stomach with their fists…..….next in the face. After beating him into unconsciousness, they were ready to leave…..until Rufus pulled a gun out of his back pocket.

"Come on man" Teddy yelled to Rufus. "We don't need no guns talking for us. Our fists do the talking….then pretty boys do the walking…. but not tonight!" The rest of the thugs laughed.

"Yeah…….but he needs to learn a little lesson only my steely friend here can deliver. Say goodnight pretty boy!"

He pointed his gun directly at Cameron and fired.