Touch of the White Tiger (24 page)
Read Touch of the White Tiger Online
Authors: Julie Beard
The only remnant of the life of luxury she’d enjoyed, or perhaps endured, at Gigi’s bidding was a small patent-leather
white purse. It hung by an oval strap around one arm. I was quite sure it was empty.
I took in a skipping breath as the sweetest, most unconditional love I had ever known surged up in me for this perfect, lonely, beautiful little girl who was utterly and completely alone. But was she still mine?
“What should I do?” I whispered, clutching Sydney’s wrist.
“Hug her,” she said. “Just hug her.”
I released my death grip on Sydney’s arm and started forward, my feet doing what Sydney had ordered, ignoring the fearful braying of my heart. After two steps, I saw Lin take one of her own, then stop. She still frowned at me.
Why did you send me away? I imagined her thinking. And will you do it again?
No, I replied with my footsteps, each one faster and wider. Soon I was running, and she ran, too. Straight into my arms. I scooped under her arms and lifted her high over my head like the prize she was.
Her reserve broke, and she grinned. Then cried. I pulled her down into my bearish embrace.
“That’s my girl,” I crooned into her hair. “That’s my daughter.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5124-7
TOUCH OF THE WHITE TIGER
Copyright © 2005 by Julie Beard
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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