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‘I know’

‘I thought he just wanted to flirt I hoped that was all it was, for both of our sakes I know I’ve been far froreatest mother, but I don’t think I’hed ‘The truth is, I’m too old for him I’m too old for most men these days All washed up at forty-six I’m sorry’

‘I know’ Laurel believed her mother, even if Cristiano would think it was foolish Her ht out her slap-dash plans, her desperate bids for the life of luxury and security she’d always craved

‘I’m sorry,’ Elizabeth said after a moment ‘Truly But I will need the money from the sale of that house’

‘I know,’ Laurel said again She hadn’t deceived herself that her ive her her half of her grandfather’s house free and clear And she’d decided, after everything, that a house was just a house She couldn’t afford a similar place; in fact, on her salary, she’d barely be able to afford a one-bedroo it didn’t seem to matter quite so much Home wasn’t a farmhouse in Illinois any more It herever Cristiano was, and that was a place sheto be able to be

‘I’h, Mom,’ Laurel said, deter with Lorenzo’

Elizabeth drew her breath in again, a quick, audible hiss ‘Oh, yes?’ she asked cautiously

‘He’d like to speak to you, on the phone He asked me to call you first, to see if you’d welcome a call from him’

Elizabeth didn’t speak for a long moment, and when she did her voice was thick with unshed tears ‘Yes,’ she said, and cleared her throat ‘Yes, I would very much welcome a call from him’

Fury boiled through Cristiano’s blood like black tar, rising up and choking hi into empty rooms in search of the woman who had orchestrated his father’s destruction How could she? And without consulting him!

Moo he’d left his father’s bedrooed to moderate his tone with his father, but Cristiano didn’t think he would be able to show such self-control when it came to Laurel