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‘Alessandro’ she breathed, only realizing afterwards that it was the first ti aard

Alessandro stopped en route to his very patient driver, who had been on call throughout the day and was probably as exhausted as she was

He shot her an expressive and very wry look ‘Well? Get it over and done with’

‘What?’

‘A tender-hearted comment about , sharing touchy-feely types who do footthe them a slap-up meal?’

‘I have seen a different side to you’

‘Same side as always,’ Alessandro told her drily ‘You’re just choosing to interpret it in a different way There would have been no point prosecuting George’

‘You did more than just not prosecute him,’ she pointed out

But she wasn’t going to run aith a long explanation of exactly what had transpired over the past few hours He s as he alas, but he hadn’t

George’s granddaughter was ill Tears had sprung to his eyes as he had described the speed of little Ien’s disease and their disnosis in the UK was not favourable

They had scoured the internet—searching for hope, really—and it had coh treatment in Toronto But it was treat intoto his—every scrap of money that had been put aside for his retirement—on the initial consultations and the first lot of treatment

Alessandro could have listened and stuck to the programme: You ripped e

Even at her e of bla circumstances and been sympathetic when it came to a repayment scheme

Instead, he had not only heard the olderto repay the debt, but he had taken charge of everything He had dealt with the bank, set up an account for George’s daughter, then spoken to the hospital, assured them that the treatment would be covered whatever the cost He had also—and this had e that he would not have to see out his old age in penury

Alessandro Preda, a hard uy as ruthless in his business dealings, had gone beyond the bounds of duty

‘True,’ he agreed, stepping aside so that she could precede him into the car ‘And of course he should have spoken to ainst the door, facing her, his handsome, lean face amused and speculative

‘But all’s well that ends well’ Kate inserted hurriedly ‘Although we didn’t get to visit your client Will that be on the agenda for tomorrow?’

‘Tell me you’re not about to stick on your business hat after the day we’ve had?’

Kate licked her lips, nervously aware of his eyes fastened to her face She had cohout the course of the day that she had to be careful when she was around him She had seen another side to him and had been swept away by the revelation

Which didn’t change the fact that she still heartily disapproved of him on a number of fronts

‘Because I’ deals’

‘Of course’

‘And I’m surprised you don’t feel the same’

‘I suppose I could do with a little downtime’

‘Splendid Because tonight we’ll go out for dinner, do a little city exploring We can both knock business on the head for a couple of hours—wouldn’t you agree?’

‘Dinner? City exploring?’ she asked, dry-mouthed

‘Or you can call it “downti a suit’

‘But that’s pretty much all I—’