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But it was al meal, and Ella cherished her bedtime routine with the toddler She hauled herself off the bed and groaned out loud when she saw her swollen eyes and ruinedaccess to the beautician’s tools, and in possession of very few coses of her uncontrolled crying-jag

Callie was a delight and a consolation that evening Ella played with her in her bath, dried her little wriggling body and cuddled the little girl while she read her a story

Callie was happilysounds when Aristandros appeared on the nursery threshold ‘I fancy eating out tonight,’ he announced

‘I don’t care if I never eat again,’ Ella lied, for in truth she was starving, but could not have borne letting hi had happened—even if she did suspect that thatthe risk of a post mortem about the row

Callie slid off her knee and padded barefoot over to hi to be lifted Possibly relieved that someone appeared to appreciate his presence, Aristandros crouched down and swept her up into his ar it for years But in fact he had never done it before, and Ella watched slyly from beneath her lashes as Callie explored his hair, smothered hi down happily, trying to steal one of his shiny gold cuff-links

‘Quack,’ Callie told him importantly, and then she stuck out a foot ‘Socks,’ she added

‘You’re not wearing any,’ Aristandros pointed out

Callie pouted ‘Shoos’

‘You’re not wearing shoes either’

‘She’s trying to dazzle you with her neords, not have a conversation,’ Ella explained

‘It’sthan conversation,’ Aristandros re little face to Ella’s frozen expression ‘You’re sulking again’

‘I’ritted teeth ‘I’ to say to you’

‘Is there a difference?’ Aristandros strolled across the rooently back down on to Ella’s lap As their eyes connected in an unexpected encounter, she was shockingly aware of the raw charge of his masculinity, and her mouth ran dry