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"Sos to be tidy"

"I like things to be where I put theht hint of huskiness in his voice

She was slowly cohened his voice, he’d not azes met All of a sudden she could reainst her throat and the feel of his fingers cupping her arse A part of her wanted to shatter that icy control, to drive hie of desire, the way she’d done in the enclaves

A troubling thought

Rosalind graced him with a smile to hide her inner tur over his boots The smile slid off her face as soon as her back was turned

"How is Garrett thishad just happened

"Recovering" Behind her, Lynch let out a low exhale she alht for a thened "But Doctor Gibson tells me he should recover, if somewhat more slowly than usual"

She wouldn’t have expected it, but she was honestly grateful "That is good news And the rest of your one for the day"

"Evidently You’ve written those letters?"

Rosalind rested her hands against the back of the settee and glanced over her shoulder "On my desk"

"Excellent There are so them to me? I need you to take some notes"

When she turned, she found hih the stacks of papers as if to see what she’d done The weak sunlight fell across his pale skin and the roughened stubble of his jaw Dark shadows sray alht, she’d bet Searching for her Or for Mercury

The thought should have made her smile, but instead she frowned "Have you slept at all?"

A quirk of those dark brows He didn’t bother to look up "Are you still interviewing for the role of wife?"

Rosalind bit back her initial retort "I was concerned, sir You look like hell, but I’ll refrain fro past him, she headed into her own smaller study and immediately saw the files on her desk He must have sat them there when he realized she was in his own study

When she returned, Lynch eased back in his chair and looked at her "I’ht me at a bad time I’m out of sorts and exhausted"

Rosalind sat the files on his desk She’d not have expected an apology The force of his control, his exquisite s she’d not expected He was an enig to understand hiht," she found herself saying "You’ve ress with the case?"

"Either of the tired hands through his hair For a second his expression was unguarded; frustration warred with exhaustion, and she found herself almost tempted to reach out and touch him To cup his cheek in her palm and turn his face to hers

The moment shook her To forsake it, she asked tartly, "Either of them? Lord Havershaht struck thehtened in her chest An ache A longing She turned away, fussing with her skirts

"Not Haversham, no," he replied quietly "Have you heard of the humanists?"

Rosalind schooled her features "It seems to be all anyone speaks of these days People are concerned about what the Echelon intend to do about them and whether it will spill over into their world"

"I have to find the can be done"

"I have no doubt you will," she said, though sheto do about it

"You’re right, of course It just takes ti, Lynch pushed to his feet "Here Sit I need you to take dictation My oriting is appalling"

"I’ve noticed"

He circled her as she crossed to the chair, his head turning as she passed That prickling awareness between thee in the chair, picking up the spring pen Lynch crossed to the hearth and stared into the cold fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back The pose drew attention to the long, smooth muscles of his spine and the way his trousers caressed the taut curve of his buttocks Rosalind nibbled on the end of the pen and looked her fill There was no point in not ad for weaknesses, she told herself with a self-deprecating s none

"Annie Burke Serial nu her entire left arm The arm has been replaced with a hydraulic bio-mech piece manufactured by Craven’s The hand is standard issue--"