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Magdalena ith child’ as they said at the time, and sowell, she just couldn’t e her father had intended"

Sean studied the painting "Well, I would have to say that I’rateful the man existed"

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Well, he must have been one of your ancestors Without hiain, sir"

"I aduarantee it"

"With sleeping with ly blunt He took a step back hily, he allowed his eyes to travel the length of her body, pausing suggestively at all strategic locations At length, he drew his eyes back to hers

"Yes"

"You know, had we been living back in Magdalena’s times, I would have definitely been required to slap you in the face-- very hard--and dehed "Back then, I believe I ht have been a perfectly proper suitor And, it seedalena had it in her hard little head to sleep with ot in trouble to begin with?"

"Nothing so simple She slept with a Frenched "Irish, yes, God alone knohat else Cajun, French, maybe even black and Hispanic No pure bloodlines left here anymore In all fairness, you should know that"

"Why?"

"You should know exactly whoine that this could be considered so to seduce information out of me?"

He shook his head "If infor to seduce you because" He paused, and suddenly the bantering hu to seduce you," he told her quietly, "because I’ve been on fire since I met you" Her head and lashes lowered She looked down at her folded hands

Sean thought they ht have trembled

"Well," she murmured, "let’s talk about your father Would you like iced tea, ley will be happy to serve us on the back porch It’s a beautiful view Just the river You’d never know that there was a Burger King anywhere near by"

"Iced tea sounds great," he told her

She nodded "Coo out to the den balcony upstairs" He followed her as she started up the stairway On the landing, he paused, startled to feel a strange dizziness She paused, looking back at hi?"

He shook his head The odd sensation had already passed He’d never felt faint in his life before--and that was a life that had seen its share of blood and guts

"You looked as if "

"As if what?" he demanded somewhat sharply He wasn’t about to falter in front of this incredibly independent woman

"Ohjust as ifwell, it is so da into the airand then the stairs

"

"I’m fine!" he snapped

She lifted her hands "Sorry"

She turned again, continuing up the stairs and along the second-floor landing He cursed hiirl he’s trying to get into the sack

She led him to the first roo, a handsomely appointed office with landscape oils thatstand sat next to a teak desk Glass-covered bookshelves lined most of the walls, while much of the back of the room was taken up with French doors that stood open to the balcony beyond A breeze lifted the rose-patterned curtains that had been halfway sashed to allow a view

"Co around when you arrived" He followed her out, thinking it seemed that she was royalty in this, her own doomery Enterprises and rule such an estate as well

The balcony looked over ashe owned the property on either side and even beyond the river

Wicker lounges and chairs were set on the rear porch, along with a tea caddy Maggie casually selected a lounge that had an open book lain on it The latest John Grisham

What had he expected? A copy of Murder, Inc ?

She sat, stretching out long, shapely legs Golden tanned Even as she did so, Peggy appeared, still s radiantly She carried a tray with iced tea, little sandwiches, raw vegetables, and chips

"It’s so lovely to have coie

Maggie looked at Sean, arching a brow "Lovely That looks wonderful, Peggy Thanks so much"

"My pleasure, dear Mr Canady, enjoy"

"Thanks"

Peggy left Sean’s eyes followed her

"She’s char as or out of a Halass of tea and settling back himself "Lurch-- The Addams Family," he adreat, cool and refreshing He didn’t just sit that often Okay, so he worked a lot Partied hard with the guys when he did go out