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Her success with all those boys had been too new, and she certainly hadn't felt like sleeping She had crept out of the house and down to the cabin, and that here Rafe had stormed in on her

What had followed had been the most ined thatlove could be like that But Rafe hadher body until there had come a point of no return

There had been no feelings of guilt then, and she had spent the rest of the hours until ht a return of reality, and any friendship that ht had been sorely tested over the next feeeks There had been only one course of action open to her, and Rafe had not opposed her desire to leave

Now she knehy; Rafe had wanted her out of his life It was al that had happened between them, whereas she had always believed it took the involveed him, but he hadn't exactly tried to resist her

But now she had to get back to the house, she had already wasted half the allotted tiiven her She dressed hurriedly andto her bedroom

Rafe didn't come to check up on her, probably because he knew she daren't oppose him, especially after their earlier encounter In future she would avoid any risk of their letting things get out of control, she wouldn't let Rafe have the satisfaction of putting her down again

Hazel had eaten quite a hearty breakfast, the lack of food froht that had just passed She hadn't seen anyone this , neither Celia nor Rafe, but perhaps that was as well in the circu either of them, but for completely different reasons

Sara fussed around her during herbefore Hazel had h and joke with the housekeeper as usual, but she was far fro her normal self This was partly the reason she decided to spend thehis replies; it would keep her out of everyone's way

But it appeared Celia had other ideas She walked into the study about eleven-thirty, ainst the side of the desk 'How are you today?'

'I' you that?'

'Me? There's nothing wrong with me'

'Oh no, of course there isn't' Hazel sat back 'You weren't the one involved in the fight'

Celia laughed 'No, your Carl was He was quite ry child'

'And got hurt for his efforts,' Hazel said disgustedly

‘Oh, he didn't get hurt' Celia ca, stillthe apple She looked away uninterestedly when she sahat it was 'He's much fitter than any of my crowd could ever hope to be No, I'm afraid it was three of the a few bruises, but other than that he's none the worse for wear'

'I don't suppose it occurred to you to find out if he is all right?'

'Why should I want to do that?' Celia sounded surprised

Hazel shook her head in disgust 'He did get hurt defending you'

'Defending my honour,' Celia mocked 'Little did he realise there wasn't much to defend But I suppose I should call him, I wouldn't want to disillusion him'

'I think it would take quite a lot to do that He seems to have fallen hard'

Celia smiled to herself 'Yes, he does, doesn't he? Aren't you annoyed about that, Hazel? Not even a little bit?'

Hazel read through the letter she was typing, checking forup at her 'Was I supposed to be?'

Celia shrugged 'Not particularly I quite like your Carl At least he's a change I found it quite exciting to be with the strong silent type'

'Never mind the fact that you'll drop hi,’ Hazel said dryly

Celia yawned boredly, 'I don't think that will be for soet ho'

Hazel's mouth curled back with distaste 'Do you have to boast about your conquests?'

'I' I didn't know if you ht want him when I've finished with him’

Hazel shuddered 'Go away, Celia You disgust me!’

'And your prudishness sickens me Don't try and kid me you never have those sort of needs, because I know better'

So did Hazel, after last night 'If I do I don't feel the need to talk about them as you do’

Celia walked to the door, throwing her apple core in the bin 'That's what I thought, you're a prude'

Hazel ignored her, continuing to type to shut out the other wo as soon as the door closed, back-spacing to correct the er

God, she thought, how Celia annoyed! She was such a bitch She was so complacent about the fact that she had slept with a man she had only known a few hours And she obviously didn't really care a damn about Carl, poor man

It was so unlike what she felt for Rafe that she couldn't relate to it She had given herself only once in her life, to the one man she had ever cared about, the man she loved Yes, she loved Rafe, loved him and kneould never be hers