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‘Oh? That sounds nice Anything interesting?’

He gave the name of a play which had only just hit the West End Tickets were like gold dust

‘Lucky you’ Megan sighed ‘I’d love to see that, but the waiting list is probably ten years long Still, it’ll give me time to save up Have you any idea how much theatre tickets cost?’

‘No idea’

‘Well, an arlanced at her watch as she did a mental checklist in her head, to ht over She was careful never to leave anything at his house It was easy to be lazy, and that was a road she had travelled down before

She had reached ‘toothbrush’—tick—when he interrupted

‘I’lad you’re keen to see that play, because I need a partner and I’ with me’

Alessandro could tell immediately that she was appalled by the idea First off there was her lack of response, and then her face fell He could snap his fingers and have any wo at the invitation, but here he was, confronted by the woo, would have squealed with delight at the offer—and she looked as though she was calculating what phony excuse she could dredge up by way of refusal

‘I…I can’t’

‘And ould that be, Megan?’ he asked with heavy sarcas events that you can’t possibly cancel?’

‘Because it’s not a good idea,’ she told hi her chin in her hand

‘And why,’ Alessandro asked with laboured patience, ‘isn’t it a good idea?’

‘Because that’s not what this deal is all about’

He clenched his jaw and shoved hi to get on my nerves,’ he said harshly ‘I can’t slot et about it on the days we don’t meet It’s unnatural’