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"I can have another estimate done--but the numbers will be close and I don't think it's necessary"

"I don't knohat to say It'll take itation was palpable as her fingers pushed and pulled at the hole in her jeans, worrying theHis eyes dropped to the skin of her leg, where her fingers continued to rip at theto sue me?"

Marco pulled his eyes away froh and lifted the a lawsuit against her didn't play into his plans for her at all He didn't quite know exactly what he wanted from her yet, except for the obvious, and that was an adh his veins and co uncouilt--the two emotions didn't mix well

She looked from the hole in her jeans to the piece of paper in front of her, but not into his eyes He felt the loss of connection and it dismayed him "I don't want you to suein her throat

He leaned back farther in his seat, crossed his ankle over his knee, and put his face in his hand as he continued to study her

Natalie's pulse was beating so forcefully she could feel it ringing through her ears She felt more than depressed, she felt beaten down, as if she had no power or control over her life She felt a sudden sense of being totally at his mercy And truthfully, she was

And on top of that, she couldn't believe how austere he was But he had called her 'sweetheart' a couple of tih her systeo hat she knew of him and it confused her even more His eyes were dark and his face arthy, filled with an emotion that was hidden from her His hair was thick and a deep brown, almost black, and it was cut severely around his skull Froined he was Italian, and she had to get a grip on her runaway emotions and force herself not to think of every mobster movie she'd ever seen

He didn't look as if he intended to hurt her

That, at least, was a good thing

"You've been in Houston less than a week?" he asked

His voice when he spoke was sudden, and it snapped Natalie out of the spell she was in "Yeah, just a few days"

"Leave the shts?" His voice was loith an al quality

"Not exactly"

"Why, then?" He steepled his hands in front of his h to tell Natalie that hewas over and noanted answers

What could she tell him? Her family's private business was private, as well as a bit unsavory She didn't want to think about it, er "It was tiuess I've never lived away from home, but now--"