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Her jaw hardened ‘No’
‘Both dead?’
‘No’
‘Mother dead?’
‘Yes’
‘Father?’
A nerve pulsed in that clenched jaw ‘Rogan—’
‘Don’t like to talk about yourself much, do you?’ he jeered ‘Just humour me, hmm, Elizabeth,’ he murmured
She gave a deep sigh ‘My father is still very much alive’
‘And?’
She scowled ‘And nothing’
Rogan gave a slow, taunting smile ‘Admit it, Elizabeth—you don’t like the louse any more than I liked my own father!’
She winced ‘It isn’t a question of liking or disliking My father and I lead co after o’
And that uessed easily ‘Wicked stepmother?’
‘I wouldn’t know; I’ve never met her,’ Elizabeth answered coolly
‘How about your father? Do you still see him?’
‘We exchange Christencies,’ Elizabeth adhtly
‘And?’
Her mouth twisted humourlessly ‘So far there haven’t been any’
Rogan sensed the sa deep down inside her ‘It would seeht, Elizabeth…’ he muttered
On the surface Rogan knew that he and Elizabeth were nothing alike But nevertheless he would guess that the two of them had both been shaped by their childhoods: the premature death of an adored mother, and a fractured love/hate relationship with the father that remained
Deep dohere it really an liked
Or wanted them to be…
Chapter Six
‘WHERE are you off to so early in the ?’
Elizabeth had al her costuan’s voice behind her and turned to see hi down at her
As he said, it was still early in the an was already up and dressed, his T-shirt once again black, as were his jeans, the dark length of his hair slightly damp, probably from the shower
As usual, Elizabeth was instantly, nerve-janglingly aware of him…
She o for a swi’
She felt even more in need of a wake-up swim today, after the conversation about her father at dinner the previous evening had brought back all those unhappy ht
Rogan scowled darkly ‘Where?’
‘At my health club when I’m in London, but here Imuch for her complexion or her hair, but Elizabeth had always enjoyed swi her day, and saw no reason to change that routine when she could so easily walk down to the sandy cove below the cliffs
Rogan looked at her speculatively ‘Andsince you came here,’ he said
Elizabeth’s brows rose ‘Of course’
‘Alone?’
‘Yes…’
‘Without inforerously soft
‘Rogan—’
‘Hell’s bells, woan rasped impatiently as he descended the stairs two at a ti down at her