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“I’ve been called to Paris I leave in the ”

Luca saw the blood rush from her face and cursed himself He’d left it an extra day, but he couldn’t put it off any longer Yet the fragile pallor of her skin reminded hi-size bed He couldn’t shake the i face, the way her hair slid over her pale cheek, the coloreyelashes completely Couldn’t erase the fantasy of that dark sheet of hair falling over his chest as they made love…

He turned away fro a hand over his hair

“Luca, are you all right?”

He was tired of playing a charade

This was insane He wasn’t supposed to fall for Mari A flirtation was one thing, but he didn’t intend on having serious feelings for any woman, especially a woman he worked with And it was clear that Mariella was the wrong wo to overcoreater than he could comprehend She deserved a man who could provide her with the stability she needed Not a man like Luca who flitted from one place to the next

It would never work between the at her now…he realized no itof hiht He’d treated her with no consideration at all Like he would have aHe wanted to make it up to her To show her she was different…because she was

“I’ht…it’s been an eventful feeeks I thought we could say goodbye with a sense of occasion”

Hehi She only thought she understood He knew that now

He would ensure that nothing about his leaving caused Mari further pain She didn’t deserve that, not after all she’d been through He’d be on his best behavior if it killed him

He only knew that he had to talk to Mari tonight about how to end their relationship with the least hurt to anyone He wouldn’t be here to protect her, to watch over her if her stepfather decided to find her The thought chilled his blood and his footsteps faltered Perhaps he couldn’t offer her the life she wanted, but he could damn well make sure she was looked after here