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If only she were in a position to reach that state herself

‘Today ell,’ she said, sitting gingerly on the corner chair She could really do with a shot of that bourbon It wouldnext easier to cope with, of that she was certain ‘Rocco and Liv looked really happy’

Their obvious happiness had had the dual effect of hten for her brother’s sake and sink at the knowledge it was so she could never have for herself

Christian propped hiainst the wall by theand crossed his arms over his broad chest She hadn’t really had the opportunity to study his torso in her apartment, and now she could look at it properly she felt the heat she’d experienced that night bloo and track had honed his physique, his for and athletic, his shoulders broad Fine hair dusted across his bronzed chest and she felt an almost unbearable compulsion to hurtle herself into his ar love to hile best experience of her life

Try as she had to expel theher, taunting her with the knowledge it was an experience that could never be repeated

The siainst her nakednessliquidised

‘What did you want to talk toher back to the present While he wasn’t being unfriendly, there was none of the easy-going Christian she knew She didn’t have to be psychic to knoanted her gone fro were obvious

Her heart ha with nerves that threatened to overwhelnant’

CHAPTER TWO

THE SILENCE THAT FOLLOWED Alessandra’s stark statement was total

Christian seemed to deflate before her eyes, as if he’d suffered a body blow

Which no doubt her neas, she thought hout the day she would never know, her only thought having been that she mustn’t ruin Rocco and Olivia’s special day She mustn’t