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      NOT QUITE A LADY

      Just how the hell old are you?” Bebe demanded sarcastically. “And for your information, no gentleman ever treats a lady the way you’ve been treating me.”

      “That’s because you aren’t a lady yet. As far as I can tell you’re nothing but a spoiled brat. Is there anything else you want to know?”

      “Yes,” Bebe sneered. “How does it feel to be twenty years old and a gigolo?” The minute she said the words she was sorry. The maniacal look in Reuben’s eyes stopped her in her tracks.

      “What did you say?” he thundered.

      “No…nothing. I’m sorry,” Bebe whined. She’d noticed Reuben’s balled fists. “I said I was sorry.”

      “You ever say that to me again and it will be the last thing that ever comes out of your mouth. Remember that.”

      Daniel stared at Bebe and Reuben, his mouth dropped in surprise. Something fluttered in his chest. He knew something for certain now, you didn’t ever cross Reuben Tarz.

      Books by Fern Michaels

      Sins of the Flesh

      Return to Sender

      Mr. and Miss Anonymous

      Up Close and Personal

      Fool Me Once

      Picture Perfect

      About Face

      The Future Scrolls

      Kentucky Sunrise

      Kentucky Heat

      Kentucky Rich

      Plain Jane

      Charming Lily

      What You Wish For

      The Guest List

      Listen to Your Heart

      Celebration

      Yesterday

      Finders Keepers

      Annie’s Rainbow

      Sara’s Song

      Vegas Sunrise

      Vegas Heat

      Vegas Rich

      Whitefire

      Wish List

      Dear Emily

      The Godmothers Series

      Exclusive

      The Scoop

      The Sisterhood Novels

      Game Over

      Deadly Deals

      Vanishing Act

      Razor Sharp

      Under the Radar

      Final Justice

      Collateral Damage

      Fast Track

      Hokus Pokus

      Hide and Seek

      Free Fall

      Lethal Justice

      Sweet Revenge

      The Jury

      Vendetta

      Payback

      Weekend Warriors

      Anthologies

      Snow Angels

      Silver Bells

      Comfort and Joy

      Sugar and Spice

      Let It Snow

      A Gift of Joy

      Five Golden Rings

      Deck the Halls

      Jingle All the Way

      SINS OF OMISSION

      FERN MICHAELS

      ZEBRA BOOKS

      KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

      For my children, Cindy, Suzy, Patty, Mike, and Dave, who over the years have given me their love and their respect and helped me keep things in perspective. For Kelly and Billie, my grandchildren, who share their childlike wisdom and treat me to ice-cream cones as long as I pay. Then there’s Fred and Gus, four-legged creatures to be sure, who make me laugh and keep my feet warm. You’re mine and I love each and every one of you.

      Contents

      Prologue

      Part One

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Part Two

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      Chapter Twenty-One

      Chapter Twenty-Two

      Chapter Twenty-Three

      Chapter Twenty-Four

      Chapter Twenty-Five

      Chapter Twenty-Six

      Chapter Twenty-Seven

      Chapter Twenty-Eight

      Chapter Twenty-Nine

      Chapter Thirty

      Chapter Thirty-One

      Chapter Thirty-Two

      Chapter Thirty-Three

      Chapter Thirty-Four

      Chapter Thirty-Five

      Chapter Thirty-Six

      Part Three

      Chapter Thirty-Seven

      Chapter Thirty-Eight

      Chapter Thirty-Nine

      Chapter Forty

      Chapter Forty-One

      Chapter Forty-Two

      Epilogue

      Prologue

      The Academy Awards! The night of the year all Hollywood waited for. Even in his wildest dreams, Reuben had never, ever believed the Motion Picture Academy would single him out for an award, but here he was, backstage, waiting for his name to be announced.

      He paced, he smoked, he jammed his hands into tightly balled fists, the cigarette smoke swirling upward making his eyes water. Talk about being nervous! What must it be like for the nominees who had to wait for the winners to be read before they knew whether or not it was their lucky night? Reuben had known about his special award for weeks, and still he was as