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Kate could vividly i her eyes to heaven as she spoke

You‘ve been bringing his son up single-handed for the last three years, and you didn‘t exactly have a lot of choice about it‘

I know‘ Kate sighed Lizzie was on her side, she knew that, but she also knew that she would never understand Strong, forthright Lizzie would never recognise the feeling Kate had now—as if she was cradling a butterfly between her hands, afraid of holding it so tightly she crushed it, afraid of letting it go and watching it fly awayIt‘s just I‘m scared—‘

Now, look—don‘t do your usual trick of juht into the worst-case scenario‘ Lizzie cut her off, sounding suddenly distracted and i A frisson of alarh her

Is that Alexander? Is everything all right?‘

The line crackled and her own voice echoed back in her ear, sharp with anxiety

Everything‘s fine‘ Was it the slight delay on the line, or did Lizzie hesitate before answering?Now, go and get straight back into bed with yourHave a fabulous time, and we‘ll speak later, honey—OK?‘

OK Thanks, Lizzie Give Alexander a big kiss from me, won‘t you? And tell him…‘

She trailed off, picturing Alexander‘s sweet face as emotion swelled inside her

Sorry, as that?‘

Just that I love him And I‘ll be home soon‘

But as she cut the call she found she didn‘t want to think about that

Tena tray laden with fresh coffee, ware and a jar of honey that had been left on the worktop, Kate gently pushed open the bedroom door

The sun spilled into the roole of crisp white linen on the bed into a mini-replica of the snowy landscape outside Cristiano was lying on his front, one bronzed, muscular arm thrown out across the pillows The duvet lay loosely over his hips, exposing his bare back

Glancing at him, Kate instantly felt her throat dry, and the china on the tray rattled as a treh her He was a study in ht to warm, satin-skinned life The muscles of his es of his ribs visible beneath the butterscotch-coloured flesh where his body tapered down to his narrow hips

Buongiorno‘

She ju the objects on the tray in further jeopardy and letting out a little gasp of shock She‘d been so busy gazing at his delicious body that she hadn‘t noticed that his dark, hooded eyes were half open and he atching her

Oh…S-sorry,‘ she stammered as the colour flooded into her cheeksI‘ not to…wake you‘

He sat up in one lithe, ripplingitself, and pushed his tousled hair back from his forehead

I ake already‘ His voice was deep and husky with sleep

Setting the tray down on the edge of the bed, Kate busied herselfat him with her mouth open

I heard you talking downstairs‘

I was on the phone‘ Oh, God, she hoped he hadn‘t heard what she was saying She could feel her blush intensify as she looked up at hi a cab, actually Last night didn‘t quite live up toaround‘

His lips quirked into a sardonic half-sood as last time? I must have lost my touch‘

Pouring coffee and handing it to hiht

Probably you just need a bitand focus, you see…‘

Joking about it was the only way she could think of handling this She had to keep it light Casual

You sound like Silvio‘ He put the cup down and caught hold of her hand, pulling her down against his chestAnd you seem to know quite a lot about it‘

The htheaded with longingOnly what you told me last time when I interviewed you‘

He raised an eyebrowI told you about sex?‘ With one hand he lazily started to unbutton the white shirt In an instant Kate was drenched ant