By Danielle Steel SOUTHERN LIGHTS • MATTERS OF THE HEART ONE DAY AT A TIME • A GOOD WOMAN • ROGUE HONOR THYSELF • AMAZING GRACE • BUNGALOW 2 • SISTERS H.R.H. • COMING OUT • THE HOUSE • TOXIC BACHELORS MIRACLE • IMPOSSIBLE • ECHOES • SECOND CHANCE • RANSOM SAFE HARBOUR • JOHNNY ANGEL • DATING GAME ANSWERED PRAYERS • SUNSET IN ST. TROPEZ • THE COTTAGE THE KISS • LEAP OF FAITH • LONE EAGLE • JOURNEY THE HOUSE ON HOPE STREET • THE WEDDING IRRESISTIBLE FORCES • GRANNY DAN • BITTERSWEET MIRROR IMAGE • HIS BRIGHT LIGHT: The Story of Nick Traina • THE KLONE AND I • THE LONG ROAD HOME • THE GHOST SPECIAL DELIVERY • THE RANCH • SILENT HONOR • MALICE FIVE DAYS IN PARIS • LIGHTNING • WINGS • THE GIFT • ACCIDENT VANISHED • MIXED BLESSINGS • JEWELS • NO GREATER LOVE HEARTBEAT • MESSAGE FROM NAM • DADDY • STAR • ZOYA KALEIDOSCOPE • FINE THINGS • WANDERLUST • SECRETS FAMILY ALBUM • FULL CIRCLE • CHANGES • THURSTON HOUSE CROSSINGS • ONCE IN A LIFETIME • A PERFECT STRANGER REMEMBRANCE • PALOMINO • LOVE: POEMS • THE RING LOVING • TO LOVE AGAIN • SUMMER’S END SEASON OF PASSION • THE PROMISE • NOW AND FOREVER PASSION’S PROMISE • GOING HOME As always, to my very wonderful children, Trevor, Todd, Beatie, Nick, Sam, Victoria, Vanessa, Maxx, and Zara, who are always there for me, and give me so much joy, caring, love, support, kindness, and just plain old terrific times. In good times and bad, we are there for each other. Thank you for being such huge blessings in my life. With all my love, Mommy/d.s. a cognizant original v5 release october 17 2010 Contents Other Books by this Author Title Page Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 About the Author Copyright Chapter 1 Jim Dawson was handsome from the day he was born. He was an only child, tall for his age, had a perfect physique, and was an exceptional athlete as he grew older, and the hub of his parents’ world. They were both in their forties when he was born, and he was a blessing and surprise, after years of trying to have a child. They had given up hope, and then their perfect baby boy appeared. His mother looked at him adoringly as she held him in her arms. His father loved to play ball with him. He was the star of his Little League team, and as he grew older, the girls swooned over him in school. He had dark hair and velvety brown eyes and a pronounced cleft in his chin, like a movie star. He was captain of the football team in college, and no one was surprised when he dated the homecoming queen, a pretty girl whose family had moved to southern California from Atlanta in freshman year. She was petite and slim with hair and eyes as dark as his, and skin like Snow White. She was gentle and soft-spoken and in awe of him. They got engaged the night of graduation and married on Christmas the same year. Jim had a job in an ad agency by then, and Christine spent the six months after graduation preparing for their wedding. She had gotten her bachelor’s degree, but her only real interest during her four years in college was finding a husband and getting married. And they were a dazzling pair with their flawless all-American good looks. They were a perfect complement to each other and reminded all who saw them of a couple on the cover of a magazine. Christine had wanted to model after they were married, but Jim wouldn’t hear of it. He had a good job, and made a good salary, and he didn’t want his wife to work. What would people think of him if she did? That he wasn’t able to provide for her? He wanted her at home and waiting for him every night, which was what she did. And people who knew them said they were the best-looking couple they had ever seen.