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Wait seemed like the only option Laurel washed her face, combed her hair and then slu the Tiber, gleaht It had to be at least three in the , and her body ached with exhaustion, yet she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep She tried to make her mind empty out, but it seethed orries and ht Cristiano’s kiss

She must have dozed off, because a knock on the door startled her awake She’d been drealed as if he’d been touching her

‘Yes?’ she called, her voice sounding hoarse and scratchy

‘I checked on your ruff ‘She’s all right’

Laurel sed ‘Where is she?’

‘She went back to the pensione where you were staying Bavasso shouted at her, but that was all It’s you he’s angry at, not her Who knows? They s up’

He spoke sardonically, and Laurel could hardly blame him Bavasso wasn’t the first boyfriend of her mother’s to behave in a way that should have had Elizabeth sending hi to be had, she never did

‘So he’s still angry at me?’ she asked after a tense pause

‘I’ll take care of you, Laurel’

The throb of sincerity in his voice shouldn’t have affected her Definitely shouldn’t have‘I’m not sure I want to knohat that means’

‘I won’t let Bavasso bother or hurt you’

But you’ll hurt ht of his cold, clinical face in theLaurel blinked hard and didn’t reply ‘Get sohly ‘It’s nearly dawn We’ll talk later’