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She was…his And hell if he was going to let her go He didn’t care if he ever reh pieces of the puzzle to know that she belonged with him They had a lot to work out--what new couple didn’t? They’d junant, but it wasn’t anything they couldn’t work out

The more he settled the matter in his ht She was right Bryony Their baby Hiri over hi between him and Bryony She swore he had promised her he wouldn’t develop the land, which made absolutely no sense Why buy it at all? He certainly didn’t have need of a private expanse of beach for personal use

A hell of a lot rode on this deal

There had to be some way to convince her and the rest of the people on the island that one resort wouldn’t change their way of life

It was either that or he had to go back to his partners--and friends--and investors and pull the plug on the entire thing He would lose a hell of a lot of money, but worse than that, he’d lose credibility, future backing and his standing in the business com

Bryony stirred in his arhtened possessively around her Before she could open her eyes, he pulled her close and kissed her lingeringly

She sighed as her eyelashes fluttered, then her warm brown eyes found his and she smiled "That’s a nice way to wake up"

"I was thinking the sa," he murled closer to him "Plenty of time"

"Plenty of ti at all"

He chuckled "I like your attitude"

"Any idea what you’d like to do today?"

"Yeah, actually I thought you could take me around the island Private tour Shohat makes it so special to everyone who lives here I can’t remember the last tihts and sounds"

She leaned her head back and frowned "You work entirely too hard Maybe your accident was a blessing in disguise If it causes you to slon and reevaluate then it’s a good thing"

"I wouldn’t have put it that way exactly I’ is the kind of wake-up call anyone wants," he said dryly

She touched his cheek "But would you be thinking the way you’re thinking now if it hadn’t happened?"

He sighed "Maybe not Maybe you’re the reason for my reevaluation Ever think of that?"

She smiled and leaned up to kiss hi about you dying anyway"

"You and me both," he muttered

"Tell you what You hit the shower I’ll cook breakfast Then I’ll take eous all week We can pack a picnic and eat out on the beach"

"I’ve got a better idea How about we shower together then I’ll help you cook breakfast I cook a hed and he sucked in his breath at the love shining in her eyes as she stared up at him No one had ever looked at hirew serious as she stroked her palm over his unshaven jaw "I love you, Rafe I don’t want toin return But now that I’ve told you I can’t not keep saying it I look at you and it just bursts out"

He captured her hand and pulled it to his ainst the wall of his chest "I like you saying it," he said hoarsely "It ht now"

She pulled away, joy lighting her eyes Eyes he could drown in Her eyes were so expressive They reflected her ry, happy You only had to look into her eyes to know exactly what she was thinking

She crawled over hiood view and feel of her soft curves It was all he could do not to haul her back and ain

When her feet hit the floor, she turned back and held out her hand "How about that shower?"

He stared at her profile for a longto ently rounded abdomen, the swell of her brsts and the wild curls that spilled down her back

This was his His woman His child

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?"

She flushed, her face grew pink, but her eyes lit up until they were as bright as the sunlight pouring into her rooo hit the shower"

Seventeen

"You’ve done a good thing, Mr de Luca," Silas Taylor said as they stood on the patio of Laura’s house

Bryony’s grandmother had invited everyone over for tea and lemonade and for some of her famous peanut butter cookies And by everyone, shebaffled Rafael, as used to strict guest lists and checking invitations at the door Laura didn’t seeh, the hted she seemed to be

There was no entertainment Conversation drifted from one mundane topic to the next or people just stood around, enjoying the day and inquiring as to the health of yet another islander as either faree," Rafael said dryly as he turned his attention back to the sheriff

Silas shrugged "They’ll find so else to invest in Those kind always do People are always looking for places to put theirto take it Seeure it out"

Rafael wanted to laugh Or shake his head Months of financial analysis, blueprints being drawn up, investors courted, endless planning on his and Ryan, Devon and Cam’s parts all reduced to a feords so casually tossed out

"That may be so, but I lose credibility and respect in the process," Rafael said evenly "Next tiive it"

"And ill you gain?" Silas asked as he looked in Bryony’s direction Bryony, who stood in a s so damn beautiful that it ain far more than you lose" With that, Silas slapped hi to think about,Rafael to shake his head again Boy He wanted to laugh Granted the sheriff was at least thirty years older than Rafael, but no one had called hi out His BlackBerry was full of voice-mail notifications andHis ould soon be up, and Dev would come doith Ryan and Cam to kick Rafael’s ass