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‘Because it’s really just a family firhten the atmosphere

‘You’ve got it One big, happy fa as all my family members behave themselves When one of them steps out of line, then I’m afraid I have to rule with a firm hand’

‘It’s a very big family’

‘Which started small And I suppose that’s why it’s important for me to take control when a situation such as the one we have now develops I didn’t create this baby for anyone to get it into their heads that they could cli Here we are’

He pushed open the door into a space that was so dark it took Kate a couple of seconds for her eyes to adjust Dark and refreshingly cool, and quaintly higgledy-piggledy

‘This is not the sort of place I thought you would have liked,’ she blurted out impulsively, and Alessandro smiled

‘I’m old friends with thehere is so of an antidote to my frenetic pace of life Why don’t you take your jacket off?’

‘I’m fine’

Alessandro raised his eyebroith et down to work immediatelybypass all the pleasantries?’

‘I have all the files in my briefcase’

‘I hate to curb your enthusiasin to hear about what George Cape’s been up to You ht think I’m hard-line, but Cape’s been with rettable that he could not have just approached me had he wanted a loan’

She was spared the te him that perhaps he needed to work on the whole family atmosphere approach by the arrival of the owner of the restaurant, who reat fuss of Alessandro They lapsed into rapid Italian and she covertly watched Alessandro, relaxed, gesticulating, grinning, showing her a natural war exterior

This would be the uy who could have any woer and made full use of the talent

And, of course, none of those wo

Drawn into their conversation towards the end, she smiled politely and offered the owner her hand in a businesslike handshake which, as they moved towards a table nestled in its own alcove towards the back of the restaurant, Alessandro told her had successfully nipped his friend’s salacious ideas in the bud

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about’ Once seated, she pointedly extracted the file they would need to discuss and placed it on the table next to her

Wine was brought to them On the house

‘You must know the proprietor very well,’ she murmured, ‘if free wine is part of the deal when you come here’

‘He would throw in free food as well’ Alessandro sat back and looked at her with lazy consideration ‘But I always insist on paying for what I eat’

‘That’s very thoughtful of you’

He laughed aloud and shot her an appreciative look ‘You have a sense of humour! I never realized’

Kate thought that that was borderline rude, but how could she object when she had been pretty outspoken in sos she had said to him?

‘Relax,’ he urged, gently re her soht be here to work, but you’re not in the office now’

And that, she thought, was the problem—because when she was in the office, surrounded by co cabinets and desks, and the constant buzz of ringing phones, she could be a cool, controlled professional Whereas here

The place was popular Nearly every table was occupied, and the bar area was croith h heels

‘Why do you work so much overtime?’

Kate frowned and played with her wine glass before taking a sip What sort of a question is that? she wanted to ask He owned the co her on her dedication to her job instead of asking her why she worked so hard?

‘I thought that was the way to get ahead,’ she said neutrally ‘But I ht be mistaken’

Alessandro grinned, enjoying her understated dry sense of humour

‘Ito her theme because somehow, somewhere in his remark, there had been just the faintest hint of criticism ‘You did express some disappointment that the entire floor was ee’