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Julia’s eyes widened once ht to do that That’sreal That wasn’tthe truth He hadn’t flown to Pennsylvania to hook up with their newly hired nurse and in honesty he had no idea why he hadn’t gone through with it when he had her right there, one about it the wrong way "I probably should’ve told you who I was beforehand, but then I doubt you would’ve showed up here if you knew"

She sed and then stepped back, out of his reach "I think the best thing at this point is for you to pay for the flight I’o back home"

Lucian did not like the sound of that "Go back to what? You’ve quit your job, correct? You don’t even have an apart but your faotten that, but thanks for reiterating it for me"

"I don’t think that you have, but I feel like I need to re job is yours and if you don’t take it, you don’t have a job"

Shaking her head, she pressed her lips together "This is unbelievable Is there even someone that I was hired to care for?"

"Yes, of course It’s someone I care very deeply for, which is why I wanted to check you out" He paused, wanting--no, needing her to understand "My brother isn’t really good atdecisions where there should be eood choice for the job"

Her gaze flickered to hi to work I’," she said, and he saw the truth of those words in the sudden glimmer in her eyes "I don’t kno I could take this job after what has happened--after feeling like I’ve been set up"

An acidic knot foruilt? Perhaps, a little regret? A ize Not because he should, but because he needed to

He took a breath "I’ain, she turned to the side and started to reach for her purse

Cursing under his breath, Lucian stepped forward He caught her hand "I ay I’m sorry that I’ve made you feel like you were set up That wasn’t ers curled helplessly around air

"But I don’t regret e shared" His eyes searched hers "I’ to take that back I have absolutely no desire to do so"

So he’d seen in many, many women’s eyes before, but seemed so entirely different when he saw it in hers

"We have two options We can be ether and are able to move on from that or you can make a really bad decision because you’re uncomfortable"

"Had a moment?" she whispered, and then yanked her arm free She lifted her chin "It was barely a h almost escaped him as he stared down at her Dah to keep his expression blank, because at least she wasn’t trying to grab her purse and storm out

Lucian didn’t want her to leave and he wasn’t fool enough to even lie to hi her to stay, reasons that had nothing to do with his sister

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she lowered her chin Damn it She wasn’t convinced So he did want de Vincents always did He sweetened the deal

"How about we offer you aa completion bonus," he said

She dropped her hand and looked up "What?"

"A bonus that you’d receive upon completion of this job" Now he had her attention "Once we are no longer in need of your services, you would receive a sizeable bonus"

Julia was quiet, and he could see her working it over in her head "How rin, he bent over and whispered an amount in her ear Her soft curse made him chuckle as she jerked back and stared up at him ide eyes "I think that bonus would be suitable?" he said "After all, it would be h money for you to use as a down payment for a nice farm with lots of land for your animal rescue"

One hand rose to her chest "Youyou can’t be serious That is a lot of "

She blinked like she was co out of a dream "Maybe to you, but to me that’s the kind of money I can’t even count to"