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‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Charlotte said, clearing her throat This was just another ploy to try and get what he wanted, whatever the cost! She pushed herself up and looked at her watch ‘When would you like to next visit Gina?’

‘You still haven’t told me what you intend to do about the boyfriend’

‘I’ll obviously think about what you’ve asked, Riccardo, but I won’t be turning ht sneer at Ben because he’s not like you, but you ht also want to stop and think that he’s exactly what I need And want!’ she added belatedly She folded her ar into the doorframe as Riccardo took a step towards her She dearly hoped that thearound inside her wasn’t reflected on her face

‘H,’ Riccardo drawled One step closer ‘Because you don’t look all that convinced of what you’re saying’

‘Iher with her back pressed hard against the wall ‘…your colour’s all up’

‘What can you expect?’ Charlotte said wildly ‘I s!’

‘Making all sorts of i to suggest that we can still do things to each other…’ He reached out and feathered a finger along her cheek To Charlotte, it was like being brushed by a fla and her body…Her body was on fire, alive with a ind of responses that she hadn’t felt for anyone since him!

She breathed in deeply, nostrils flaring, made herself remember the crucial footnote to his behaviour which was that he was using her to get what he desperately wanted He wasn’t attracted to her!

‘I’ll call you, Riccardo’

‘Not good enough, I’ Why? Does the boyfriend make you tremble like this? Do you know that I can breathe you in? I remember the smell—of Italy and summer and your skin’

‘Don’t!’ It had meant to sound like a forceful command Instead it sounded like a plea She placed one hand squarely on his chest, which was a bit of a tactical error, because instantly she was flooded with htly packed

‘Why not? Scared?’

‘You can’t just come in here and do whatever you want’

‘No, but I am happy to do whatever you want’ And she wanted hily aware of how much he wanted her Quite honestly, he had felt the pull the minute he had clapped eyes on her He wondered now if he had ever really stopped wanting her Yes he had turned away, because at the time he’d been convinced that a serious relationship was not what he wanted, least of all with a kid who had lied to hiht to replace her, had he? He should have forgotten about her, moved on to have a stable relationship with someone; Lord knehat hisfor But he hadn’t Instead, he had littered his life with a series of pointless bi this woman in, he felt at ease with himself

He leaned down, brushed her lips with his, and she tried to wriggle free but not with any conviction

This was madness! She wanted to pull him to her and sink herself into his kiss Instead, she pushed hihtened up and looked down at her

‘Tomorrow,’ Riccardo said