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His broas deeply furrowed ‘But it could daet your career properly launched You’re only starting out It could destroy what you’ve worked so hard for’

Aiesha closed her fingers over the ring, barely noticing how it bit into the flesh of her palm ‘You shouldn’t be here, James People will talk’

‘So? Let them talk’

‘Your business will suffer’ She dropped the ring on the counter next to her htened the cosmetic brushes in a neat line ‘Your reputation has a lot further to fall than mine It could jeopardise your business’

He let out an expletive and spun her around to face hi me?’

Aiesha looked into his glittering eyes Tears were not far away in hers They didn’t look far away in his, either ‘Don’tin your life I don’t belong in your world I’ll bring you down, Ja all over again’

He pulled her up and crushed her to his chest ‘You silly little goose’ He kissed the top of her head, the side of her face, her chin, her nose and then finally a hot, hard kiss on herThat was for o’

Aiesha could barely speak for the ee, e over ‘I didn’t want to hurt you I figured I’d already hurt you enough Letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do’

‘I love you’ His hands gripped her shoulders so tightly it was close to pain but she didn’t care ‘I love you so much It’s been so hard to stay away fro you to come back to me’

‘Why did you come now?’ Aiesha said ‘Why not before?’

‘I was angry after what happened in Paris,’ he said ‘But I stubbornly refused to h I realised soon after you’d onlyup with my father as a way to push me away’

She gave him a sheepish look ‘I’ to say’

He cupped her face in his hands ‘When that awful story ca, I was sick orry I orried there would be no one by your side to protect you I want to be that person, Aiesha I want to make you feel safe I want you to feel loved I want you to feel accepted You’re a part of me I can’t function without you Just askher hair out over me You can’t do that to her You have to ain How bad would that be? You would have cost her a husband and a son’