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‘Absolutely!’ Kate chirped, tentatively feeling one blister with her toe and trying hard not to wince ‘It’s such a good idea and I’m sure it’ll all work out I’ll make sure to look up the coht’

‘I’ve never been able to resist a wos onto my every word,’ he drawled ‘Have you heard a word I’ve been saying for the last ten minutes?’

‘You were talking about the electronics company’

‘Care to recap? Ah Thought not Tell me I’m not such a bore that you lost interest in my conversation after five seconds?’

‘I’m sorry I was miles away’

‘Anywhere in particular?’

Yes, in a world of pain and agony where et hold of some blister plasters and paracetamol

‘Nope Justjust thinking about being here in North Auess I was just overwhel them all in my’

Wine had been brought to thelass in the hope of discovering soh the evening withouta complete fool of herself

‘You h, at some point in your life?’

‘Ibiza’ She rolled her eyes and grimaced ‘I took my mum’

‘And?’

‘And it wasfun—although Mu with the waiters’ Kate laughed ‘But, thinking about it, it really was fun She le textbook I had taken withfor exams—and she forced me to repeat that I was there to relax whenever I mentioned tax laws, or corporate finance laws, or profit and loss columns or dividends She alsotee shirt over it—even though I told her all about the dangers of too hed and looked at him ‘You must think me the last word in dull’

‘Not dull, no Just a littlecautious’

‘And I guess you’ve never been cautious?’

‘None of us is exe careful when it comes to certain situations,’ Alessandro murmured ‘Now, choose whatever you want from the menu—and don’t be afraid to eat to your heart’s content The concierge tellson the menu is famous’

Lots of very good food, far too ood wine and Alessandro Preda as a dinner co the pain in her feet, and she only woke up to the reality that her blisters were still there, alive and kicking, as she wriggled her feet into the sandals at the end of the meal

The as less than half an hour, the air was still warony and it was only when the hotel was in sight that she heard herself give a soft moan, partly out of relief that her ordeal would soon be over, partly because she just couldn’t help herself

‘What?’ she asked brightly when he stopped and looked at her narrowly

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing Just taking it easyenjoying the buzz It’s very different from London, isn’t it? Not as hectic’

Alessandro cocked his head to one side, then took his tith of her body until they rested on her feet

‘Hell!’ He stooped to examine her feet and she uttered a little shriek of mortification

‘Get up!’ she whispered ‘Please, Alessandro! People are looking at us! They’re going to thinkto think that you’re proposing or so!’

‘To your feet?’ He glanced up at her and she kept her face fir have you been in pain?’

‘I’ht be a bit sore because I’ heels Or sandals’

‘Good God, woman’

He vaulted upright and then scooped her up in one fluid, easy id as he began striding towards the hotel while people turned to stare and laugh

‘Put !’