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Mari’s mouth clamped shut Luca was used to these situations She was not If he was trying to put thea stand-up job

“I’m sorry about yesterday I shouldn’t have unloaded on you” She felt obligated to apologize Suddenly there seemed to be a neardness between the e privy to all her secrets She couldn’t say she blamed him

A shadow crossed his features

“It’s fine It’s good that you did I iine it feels better to have it out I understand, Mari, I really do”

Why was he acting so differently? Yesterday he’d held her hand and she’d told him her deepest troubles He’d leaped to her defense and he’d held her in his ar her like she was one of his flings One of the women he kept on his arm

Her ht to put her trust in hi was a letdown She’d wanted to mean more to him Which was silly because she already knew in her heart they had no future He’d coht out and said so He didn’t do love

“Co”

“I need to go hoe” Mari stood and smoothed her slacks

“There’s no need I had sos sent up from the boutique You’re welcome to use the shower here”

Mari gritted her teeth

He was treating her like…like nothing e and deciding what she’d do and when And da on anyone’s timetable!

He lifted the lid on a platter The s scent of vanilla and cinnarowled In all the uproar, she hadn’t eaten last night It would serve hi!

“I would have thought that privilege was one reserved for your affairs,” she re her hands in her pockets and clenching her fingers tightly

She’d told hi about Robert and her fears and today he treated her as a polite stranger There was only one explanation

It had been too e was too much for him and it had been foolish to think that Luca could handle it As much as she’d wanted to believe in hiive She wasn’t sophisticated and unco away