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“I tried so both of us It’s better this way”

“What happened?”

Luca hesitated and she sensed his hurt Perhaps she shouldn’t pry But an open Luca…it wasn’t likely to happen again She wanted to know It was so unlike her, but she wanted to know about him, the little details that had shaped hiht it was like she couldn’t get enough

Luca met her eyes “I had an affair with a woman I worked with It didn’t end well”

“Who did the ending?”

His lips tipped up slightly, but there was little warmth in the pseudosmile “She did Unofficially, and for someone else”

The quirk of his eyebrow told her as much as any words could Her lips dropped open “You ht her with another man?”

“Indeed”

“I see”

“It is just better for everyone to keep things up-front and honest No unrealistic expectations Don’t you agree?”

At least they were on the saht, but it wasn’t Not in the least Her brows puckered She didn’t want a relationship, nor a fling And yet there was so that was growing between them

“What are you thinking, Mariella Ross, standing there in the ht?”

She sed Held his gaze not because she wanted to but because she could not look away “What are you thinking?”

His voice was rich silk “I think I’ mistake” He took a step closer

Mari saw i and alar madly “Luca, I don’t think…”

“Relax, Mari I’ in love Love only results in people being hurt”

She should be feeling relief Those were her thoughts exactly She didn’t understand why she was slightly deflated at his stateree on that, then”

She backed up against the stone railing, closing her eyes

“Mari”

When she opened her eyes he was directly in front of her, his waraze steady on hers