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do you think?!" His cigarette was down to a nub, and he opened his gold monogrammed case for another. Reaching over to Bob's hand, he pulled the other burning cigarette tip to meet his own. A deep inhale was followed by a puff of smoke swirling between them.

"Stanwyck?" Bob repeated. "With all the starlets in town . . . why her?"

"C'mon, Bob. You're relatively new. Your career's on the rise and the boost will do you good. Barbara, now, she's solid in the business, yet she's had a string of bad luck, and it'll look great for her to be seen with you." Don put thumbs up. "It's a big win for both of you. Zeppo and I talk, y'know."

Bob took a gulp of a new drink. "I'm sure you do." His words were dry, his grin lopsided. "So, Miss Stanwyck and I are pawns, are we?"

"Bob, Bob, Bob." Don tried to sound hurt but couldn't quite hide the humor. "You know I'm here for you. I'm doing what's best for you."

Bob's attention was caught by the glint from the diamonds on Barbara's arm. His mesmerized glance followed her wrist as she picked up a cigarette and leaned towards Zeppo, who lit it for her. So entranced was he in her actions that he didn't hear Don.

"Bob . . . Bob!"

"Hmmm? Yes?"

"Ready?"

He was still peering into the light, toward Barbara Stanwyck's profile. She hadn't yet noticed him, so he had a few minutes to collect himself. She wasn't beautiful, but she was such a class act, and there was something . . . something almost vulnerable beneath that glamour. This was even more attractive than her sensuality.

Bob cleared his throat, and rested his cigarette in the ashtray. "As ready as I'll ever be." He ran his left hand over his hair.

Don stood, Bob followed him, and they took the few steps into the visibility of all at the Marx table.

Marion gasped. Zeppo smiled. "Dear?" he asked. "You okay?"

Marion didn't realize she'd made a noise. She'd heard of Robert Taylor, seen him in the newspapers, even glanced him across a room at a recent press function. Yet she'd not, until this moment, seen him up close. No man had a right to be so beautiful!

"Sorry, that was rude of me." She had the grace to blush. Zeppo laughed heartily, and Don grinned. He was used to seeing women react this way. Robert Taylor was his goldmine.

All their eyes turned to Barbara. She hadn't said a word. Hadn't uttered a sound. But she stared. She certainly stared . . . and Bob stared back. Their companions gave them a few moments of silence.

"Barbara?" Zeppo finally turned to her. "Barbara, we want to introduce you."

She never stopped looking at Bob. "Oh, okay. Well, I think I'm here to see someone else but, while we wait, please do introduce me."

Zeppo and Marion exchanged curious glances. "Who else are you here to see?" Marion asked.

Barbara finally focused on her friend. "Well, you told me this afternoon I was here to meet Ar-tique, didn't you?" Everyone burst out laughing, especially Bob, and Barbara was left with a stunned, almost frightened expression. "What's so funny?"

Bob sobered first. "Miss Stanwyck, please let me explain. You are here to meet someone, and as I've just been informed, that someone is me. I'm R.T., Robert Taylor . . . not Ar-tique."

He leaned down, extended his hand, and as their fingers met, everyone else seemed to disappear. Bob and Barbara walked to the dance floor. They fit together perfectly as it had all been originally planned. Little did anyone know at that time. . . .

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