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There ht not be another man in her life, but Claudio did not hold the place he should rightfully hold in it, either And if her comments over the past few days were any indication, she did not believe she held the right place in his priorities, either Their e was in trouble on a wholly different level than he had suspected, but it was in trouble nonetheless

Things were not supposed to come to this pass He hadthat eventuality He had chosen her not based on emotion, but because she appealed to every need he had identified in having a wifethose needs now and had soether She wanted to end their e because her body would not cooperate in her role of providing him an heir She seemed to think he would understand and approve this so-called solution But there was no honor in abandoning a wife because she could not have children And he was a man who had been raised to have honor

She would learn that a Scorsolini did not give up at the first sign of adversity

CHAPTER NINE

THERESE was dressing when Claudio walked into their bedrooain There was an air about him she did not want to contend with at the moment Creases around his eyes spoke of tiredness, but the look in them spoke even more eloquently of determination

He had oing to argue with hi her with clauard

His hand settled on her shoulder and she had to fight a rearguard action against her body’s natural response to his touch She wanted to lean into hith she could rely on was her own

His thu, cara?”

Stepping away frorimaced at the question she had heard nuhed and then moved to the other side of the room “Why do I not believe you?” he asked as he started stripping out of his business suit

“You have a suspiciousat him Visual contact with his spectacular form was bad for her self-control Even when the prospect oflove was absolutely off-limits

“Perhaps my suspicious mind is justified,” he said with an undertone she did not like