Reece Diamond was a property tycoon, with more looks and charisma than any man had a right to. He was famous for throwing glamorous parties where the women wore designer gowns and the guests were served caviare and champagne.

She couldn’t imagine Mike mixing in that crowd.

‘I met Reece through my dealings with Rich here,’ he explained. ‘He lent us both money when we needed it. The three of us have been friends ever since.’

Natalie actually knew Reece and Alanna better than most of her clients. She’d been genuinely happy when their rather pragmatic marriage had blossomed into a true love match.

‘Alanna hasn’t had any recurrence of that memory loss she had a while back, has she?’ she asked, regretting that she hadn’t kept in touch since Alanna’s accident.

‘Nope,’ Mike said. ‘She’s fine. They’re having a baby, did you know? So is Holly. Rich’s wife.’

‘How lovely for you,’ Natalie managed to say, even whilst a huge wave of depression swamped her.

Everyone she knew seemed to be having babies. One of her old girlfriends from work had rung her this week to say that she and her husband were expecting. Her hairdresser had regaled her with similar news this morning.

Babies, babies everywhere. But not for her.

Well, certainly not till you stop wasting your time on the Mr Wrongs of this world, she lectured herself.

Still, her marriage to Mike wasn’t going to last for too long. There was still time for her to find Mr Right, she decided with a return to more positive thinking.

‘Actually, the main reason we popped in to see you, Rich,’ Mike continued, ‘was because Natalie’s parents have a problem meeting their mortgage. She was going to go to their bank today about refinancing, but we ran out of time. I suggested you might be able to help her out.’

‘Be glad to. I presume they’ve run into arrears?’

‘Somewhat.’

‘Is their bank threatening to repossess?’

‘Yes,’ she admitted reluctantly.

‘Why didn’t you tell me things were as bad as that?’ Mike demanded to know.

She turned a cool face towards him. ‘It wasn’t any of your business.’

‘It is if this is the reason you agreed to marry me.’

‘What does it matter why I agreed to marry you? The end result will be the same. You will hopefully get your partnership and I will get two million dollars. What I do with it should not concern you, just as what you do with your money doesn’t concern me.’

‘She’s right, Mike,’ Richard said matter-of-factly.

Yes, she was, Mike appreciated. But that didn’t make any of it more palatable. He much preferred thinking of her as a tough-talking, mercenary creature, not some sweet, self-sacrificing daughter.