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expecting his entry. Rutledge Fine Crafts and Handiworks had always entered the World’s Fair. He recalled his conversation with Astrid from the previous night. “Have you made up your mind about entering? Finished considering those variables?”
    â€œI didn’t realize you were taking notes on our conversation.” Astrid set the watch carefully back on the table. “But yes, if you must know, I just picked up the paperwork. Ten thousand pounds is a lot of prize money to turn down.”
    â€œSo you think you have a chance at winning?”
    Maybe that came out more skeptical than he intended. She pressed her lips together. “As much of a chance as anyone, I suppose. Maybe more. I happen to have a very good idea.”
    â€œAnd what would that be?”
    Astrid raised both eyebrows, surprised and amused. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. I hope you don’t think I’m going to tell you my winning idea.”
    He smiled back. “It was worth a try.”
    The bell over the door chimed again, and both looked up as an older couple came into the shop.
    â€œI’ll let you get back to work while I look around.” Astrid slipped past him, her arm barely brushing his, and he had no choice but to leave her and assist his latest customers.
    While they were examining a pair of watches, Eli leaned back on the front counter again and watched Astrid walk around. Even in the more conservative outfit she wore, she looked fantastic. He loved the way that leather corset laced up, pressing her breasts up and out, their tops barely visible above the neckline of her blouse. When she turned away, he could see the swing of her hips beneath her gathered skirt. He wondered if she knew how sexy she was without even trying.
    Astrid lingered for a while in the housewares section, staring at an automated back massager that was one of his best-selling creations. The device itself was constructed like a chair with an open back. Large, round wooden balls on short pistons moved back and forth, spaced evenly along the open frame of the chair, where they would massage the back of whoever sat there. The machine was running, each piece moving exactly as it should.
    The elderly couple was still deciding between the two watches, so he strolled back to Astrid. “You can try it, if you like.”
    She jumped, turning away from the machine. Blushing, she smiled a slightly naughty smile that brought a dozen improprieties into his thoughts.
    Her response tumbled out. “No, thank you. It’s quite intriguing, though.” She glanced toward the machine again before thrusting her hand into his. “I think I’ll be going now. It was a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Rutledge.”
    Why the sudden haste? “The pleasure was all mine.” The polite thing to do would be to shake her hand, but he couldn’t resist kissing it again, his lips lingering a moment longer than was proper.
    Then she was gone, almost running from the shop. He had missed something, and he didn’t know what it was. Puzzled, he turned back to the watch-shopping couple now approaching the counter.

Chapter Eight
    Astrid practically ran back to her flat, as she always seemed to do when she was too excited to think straight. Of course! The idea had come to her while studying that ridiculous back massager. Why would her clients do it themselves if there were some kind of chair that did it for them? This was brilliant. Now she knew what she was designing, although it made her cheeks heat to consider it. A fucking machine. She was going to win the World’s Fair with a fucking machine.
    Now, what would that sort of device look like? Starting with the idea of the back massager, she first sketched out a chair with attachments. She worked on that idea for a while, figuring out where the parts would attach, what the structure would look like. When her sketch was mostly finished, she tried to look at it