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Why was she explaining her actions as if she was defending her maternal ability? He could hear with his own ears that Mennah wasn’t in the least disturbed to be awake in a dark rooly

And as that strange expression that flared in the depths of those lion’s eyes of his?

Slowly she started to reopen the door He took the door froain “This is the first time you’ve mentioned your mother”

She stared up at him, huffed a sarcastic breath “And you’re what? Surprised I had one?”

“Had?” he probed “She’s dead?”

She nodded, her throat closing all over again “Cancer”

“When?”

“Just over ten years now She died on my sixteenth birthday”

His eyes narrowed, the a “On the very day?”

She nodded, tears she hadn’t shed then bri her this way? What was she doing, pouring out information about herself? She’d never talked about her past with him There was so much she’d never wanted to share with others, especially soether had been consurations of mindless passion When they had talked, it had been about their tastes, fantasies, beliefs She’d assuround check on her, had a full report with her statistics somewhere in his security files, one he probably hadn’t bothered to read And why should he have? He surely didn’t clutter his mind with the particulars of the steady parade of woround, since he was such an international figure

She broke contact with those eyes that o in now But I’ you…when Mennah sees you, she ers”

“I’ed her cheek, the side of her neck with the heat of his vehemence, the intoxication of his breath She shuddered, leaned on the door

“You’re still one to her…” The words petered out on her lips, in her aze

Mennah’s yae SheCar the cheery roo illus in welco, ry strides took her to Mennah, before she froze Farooq had clamped her shoulder

Suddenly Mennah’s happy noises ceased, her s into a look of surprise She’d seen Farooq towering behind Carmen

Wide-eyed, she stuffed both hands in her ers Car over how to stop what she kneould co lips, the whimpers and tears and the arms outstretched for her