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'So I lied'

He shook his head 'You had no reason to do that'

She had a very good one—she had wanted to hurt hiet some sort of reaction out of him It simply hadn't been the reaction she had wanted, 'Does it bother you that you started me on the road to permissiveness?' she asked

His blue eyes were chillingly cold, alht the situation upon yourself A h where you were concerned You were always flaunting yourself in front ofwas the end as far as I was concerned, I'm afraid'

It had been the end for her too, the end of her ever being able to love anyone but hiht her anywhere near wanting a physical relationship with theiven herself to anyone else

She pretended an interest in the letter she was typing 'Don't irl has to start sorateful that you were so experienced' She gave a shrill laugh 'Think how disastrous it would have been with someone as innocent as myself!’

Rafe's look was gri like this, Hazel,' he ordered

She looked up at hi a federal case out of soo! Let's just be thankful that we had no lasting repercussions from the experience'

'Lasting reper------?' He broke off, understanding dawning 'I o to America

'And if I had been pregnant? What then?'

He moved off the desk 'Then I would have married you'

That hat she had thought, why she had hoped and prayed to be pregnant But it was not to be, and Rafe had sent her away

She sed hard, giving Rafe a bright smile

'Then we should be grateful Can you i?'

'No, I guess not' He looked at the work already finished on the desk 'There's no need for you to do this today, even I stop on a Sunday You should be taking things easy, you've done far too ht of that duration is not to be taken lightly Pack up now and go down to the beach'

'Still as autocratic as ever I see,' she said sarcastically 'I'ht at all You seeer than you are, Rafe,' she added bitchily

'Eighteen years,' he said distantly 'Oh well, if you'll excuseout for lunch'

'To Miss Clarke's?'

'She's a Mrs, actually And yes, that's where I''

Hazel's eyes ide 'She's married?'

'Divorced'

'Oh,' she said dully

'I haven't stooped that low, Hazel Janine has been divorced for five years'

'Have you known her long?’ she asked casually

'Long enough'

Long enough for what? She couldn't have expected the same fidelity from Rafe as she herself had felt, but she didn't like actually knowing one of his women either 'She seems—very nice,' she commented

'She is I think it better if we keep out of each other's private life, Hazel Whether Janine is nice or otherwise can't possibly be of any interest to you'

But it was! She didn't want her to be nice, she wanted her to be someone she could dislike ‘If that's what you want'

He nodded 'I think it best'

She sighed 'Have a nice time'

'I will'

Lunch was a lonely affair Celia having disappeared somewhere too Hazel would rather have eaten her lunch in the kitchen if she had realised, as she had yesterday, instead of sitting in lonely silence in the large dining-roo incessantly It wasn't the chatter she minded, it was the subject

Sara was hovering over her as she ate her sweet 'Perhaps Mr Rafe will settle down at last,' she said with satisfaction

Hazel licked her lips and put her spoon down in the dish 'What do you mean?'

'Why, Mrs Clarke,' Sara smiled 'She's such a lovely lady, and Mr Rafe seems to like her He visits her quite often'

This piece of news didn't exactly please Hazel 'He does?' she asked softly

Sara beamed 'Oh yes She was a tremendous help to him after his accident, the only person he would allow to visit hiular visitor, is Miss Janine,' she added

'I believe she and Celia were at school together'

'Oh yes In fact Miss Janine visited her a couple of tier'

Hazel frowned 'I don't remember'

Sara shook her head 'No, you wouldn't, it was before you came here She and Miss Celia seemed to drift apart when they reached their teens'