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These were no landscapes The paintings here were different, angled shapes and colors and i simply to return to the hotel She was tired She was drained The whole day had been so special, but she doubted he’d understand how

So based on a lie

And then she turned a corner and saw it Sweeps of blue with a brilliant core of red, exploding out from the middle in splashes

Itabout it spoke to her and she stepped ahead, lifting her fingers, co the canvas

“Mari?”

Mari ignored his voice, but knew he’d been right all along As hard as she’d fought, he’d been sure of hi inside her that Luca had set free, and it was right here in oil and canvas, looking back at her She couldn’t explain why, but she knew she had to have it

CHAPTER EIGHT

“YOU like it”

She nodded, her eyes roving over the blend of paint and canvas “I don’t knohy…it isn’t even of anything at all”

“But…” he prompted

She looked over her shoulder “But it speaks toof I can only tell you that I feel connected to it somehow”

She turned back to the painting, her eyes drawn to the scarlet centre

“So my Mari feels first and thinks later I’m surprised” His words, his breath caressed the skin behind her ear, sending a delicious shiver down her spine A war called his It ed so, a sort of freedom she hadn’t expected She remembered how he’d described the view froined then Had she ever felt this way before, in her entire life? Like around every corner was an open door?

Had Luca changed her that much? How had he snuck past all her defenses so easily?

She half turned “Surprised? Didn’t you think I had feelings, Luca?” She did have feelings, sopeople see inside her gave them power It wasa lot about Luca lately, and letting him in bit by bit, despite reservations She couldn’t seem to help herself, and couldn’t pinpoint it anythat was so striking