page51 (1/2)

He put down the spoon of berries he was holding “I’m sorry?”

Mari straightened her blouse and looked around tobehind She spied a hairpin on the sofa and picked it up, putting it in her pocket, all the while avoiding his clear gaze “I understand, really I do,” she went on, realizing belatedly that she was echoing his earlier words “There’s no need to let enteel consideration”

He stood, his lips thinning with disapproval “Nothing I’ve done this ation, Mariella”

“Sure it was You could hardly wake ood manners, not e’re supposed to be…what is it we’re supposed to be again, Luca?”

She finally looked at hiuarded for her to knohat he was thinking

“I will confess I’m not sure what is appropriate to say in this situation It’s not one I’ve been in before”

Luca stared at her That much was completely true He’d never been in a situation where he cared ry? He’d tried to do the right thing Look after her, make her day easier, he’d even ordered breakfast for the two of them He’d wanted to show her that what had transpired yesterday , itbeing here, instead of his office, where he normally would be found at this hour, had been to show her that he cared, that he wasn’t running away He’d wanted to start the day on an even footing

Now she was furious with him

Mari started to walk away, her heart sinking This probably was a new situation for him He probably kept his affairs nice and neat and clean She’d needed his that weren’t real If they had been real, thishe would have awakened her with a s after yesterday and he would have told her it was all right

Andfor him to

But she’d frightened him off And he didn’t even have the decency to be honest about it

“I’ now Thank you for the clothes, but no thank you”

“Where are you going?” Finally there was so in his tone other than perfunctoryuntil she reached the door and opened it

“Mari, we have awith the spa people in an hour”