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‘Yet even with the hell of these last few days, Amelia, all I could think about was you—the real you I was sure I’d seen Despite the agony, despite the accusations, all I could think was that if I never got to see you again you were the only thing in this world I’d truly miss’

‘Apart froh it was the one thing with Vaughan that didn’t need saying She had seen the love that lay burning behind the ‘no comment’

‘Apart frohan confirmed ‘I just wanted to protect Jaet hold of it I’d promised my brother and Liza I’d keep Ja to move forward then I’d have to tell you When I heard you say that babies were firmly entrenched on your list…’ The frown on his forehead deepened ‘I carry the gene, Amelia…’

‘I’d already worked that out That’s why you over-reacted when you found out I wasn’t on the pill, wasn’t it?’ Ahan It was beyond irresponsible…’

‘I’m sorry’ He sed hard ‘I’ry with et so carried away And after you said at lunch that nothing on your list was negligible I figured that was it—that there wasn’t any point I never thought it would go any further until…’ The beginnings of a sood knack forme lose my head, Amelia’

‘I know,’ Amelia replied—because she did She knew for the first time in her life the reckless abandonment that came hand in hand with love

‘If you carry the gene too…’

‘Let’s not worry about that now’

‘We have to Because if you feel even a tenth of what I do then it’s so on your list’s negotiable, A…’

‘It’s the top of the list thathers, days of pain slowly drifting away as she spoke from the bottom of her heart ‘Safety,’ she said softly ‘The safety of always being loved, knowing that no ot you to lean on’

‘You do,’ Vaughan said si the desire that blazed in his eyes ‘So what happens now?’ A smile inched over his face ‘Does this mean I’m finally ready to settle down?’

‘No way,’ A the tinyeyes ‘I have it from an extre down! I don’t have ive me if I misquote…’

‘I already did,’ Vaughan drawled, raining tiny kisses on her face

His hand toying with the he it terribly hard to concentrate

‘But I believe “hotting up” was your appalling choice of phrase In fact, I’ able to keep your hands off the very lucky woman’

‘No’ Vaughan grinned ‘I think you’re taking it out of context’

‘I can always get rew rather more insistent

Making to stand up, she heard his moan of frustration as he pulled her back down

‘Dahan whispered in her ear ‘Well, I suppose if you’ve got it in writing then I’ to have to spend the rest ofup to my lousy, oversexed, completely insatiable reputation’

‘Yes,’ Aain A witty response was on the tip of her tongue, but so too was Vaughan, and coherence flew out of the‘Yes, please’

EPILOGUE

SAFE

Peering out of theas Vaughan’s car pulled into the driveway, as he climbed out and retrieved his computer and briefcase, she knew that this time there was no sliver of detri for second best as there had been when she had first voiced it

He made her feel safe

Safe enough to shoot for the stars, safe enough to go too far, safe enough to be herself, knowing he was always beside her, was always there, proudly ready to catch her if ever she fell

‘Hey!’ That delicious s instead for the baby she held in her ar day in the office And she watched her resident tycoon, supposed playboy, scoop the precious bundle into strong ar a slower more deliberate one on Amelia ‘God, I’ve missed you two’

And she knew that he had

Kneith complete conviction that wherever his work took hi the way, his heart was alith his family