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Disappointment cooled her wars on the terrace were very rorees Celsius above freezing and one earing a sleeveless dress And when the man in question turned away It amazed her to realize she didn’t want him to

She shivered and he looked back at her “You’re cold” Without hesitation, Luca re it around her shoulders For a moment she wondered if he’d pull her into his arripped the lapels But he released them and stood back

His shirt stood out, crisp and white in the ain how perfect he looked And how looks could be deceiving

“I thought you said Gina had children and couldn’t come”

“She does They are at our father’s, with their nanny”

“I see”

“Do you?”

She tilted her head to look up at him “Not really” She smiled “What is clear is that you love her And she loves you I—” She broke off, wondering how much was safe to tell him “I envy you I never had a brother or sister, or much of a family at all”

“Where’s your family now? What about your mother and father?”

He came to stand beside her at the balustrade and they looked out over the hulking shadows of the ether “I never knew my father, and I haven’t spoken to my mother in several years”

“Does it have so to do hy you’re so afraid of me?”

She bit on her lip She couldn’t look at him, not now He wouldn’t understand about Robert, and her s aard between the, but Luca definitely wouldn’t be interested in soe He had a father and sister, and his whole business was based on family They were from two very different worlds

“It doesn’t matter, Luca”

He linked his fingers with hers, and her heart soared In tentouches than she re in her lifetime

It would be too easy to fall for him

“What about you? Youabout somewhere”

She thought he’d take his hand away from hers, but he didn’t “Not really”

“Oh, that’s right You like playing the singles game Do you really think you can do that forever?”

He did pull away then, and his jaw tightened She wanted him close to her so badly she knew she had to push him away “I don’t particularly believe in love, Mari”