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Was it worth it?‘ Dominic said after a pauseApart from this, was it hile?‘

Kate sucked in a deep breath, feeling lightheaded for ain Cristiano‘s ar love with hi the scent of his skin, listening to his voice—even though what he‘d said had only confirmed her worst fears

Yes‘ Her eyelids flickered for a h a haze of painBecause now I know There‘s no future for us

There never really was‘

It was almost dark by the time Cristiano returned to the chalet His whole body ached fro himself—and his luck—harder and further than was safe or sensible

The delicious lethargy that had gripped him when Kate was here had disappeared at the say restlessness that only adrenaline could cal hi off-piste in a blizzard, and latterly in the gathering dusk as well, he had to admit defeat

Walking into the warering traces of red wine and herbs froht—and was al that smashed into him

He had to get away fro as he took the stairs two at a ti break that Francine had prescribed had ended up being anything but, and he kneas deluding hi to come back any time soon

Or that Kate was

The thought caught hi through hirily It was just because he was bored, stuck here with nothing to focus on, getting restless without the routine of training Because the pillows still slass she had drunk from in the hot tub still stood on the bedside table and he hadn‘t spoken to another soul since he‘d said goodbye to her

And because he had never been left before It was always hi

Iear and stuffing it back into his bag, collecting up the clothes that lay scattered all over the floor and the end of the bed and the chair by thePicking up his dress shirt, he paused, closing his eyes and re hoeet and sexy she had looked in it as she‘d sat cross-legged on the bed, telling hiht they‘d met in Monaco

Bundling the shirt up, he shoved it viciously into the botto else, almost as if that would help hi round, he surveyed the roo

There was sohtly from under the chest of drawers Cristiano‘s head pounded and his stiff shoulders ached as he bent down to pick it up

A black velvet evening bag

Perhaps it was Francine‘s Although it was unlikely that she‘d use anything so for the catch

Inside was an invitation to the Campano party at the Casino Cristiano‘s heart skipped as he realised the bagto Kate Beside the invitation was another piece of paper He took it out

It was a letter Turning it over, he stared hard at the writing on the front of the envelope

Cristiano Maresca

Personal and Private

His heart started to beat faster For ait into the embers of the fire downstairs on his way out

The coward’s way out, a cold voice sneered in his head Mother Superior‘s voice

Gritting his teeth, he sank down onto the bed and tore open the envelope, sliding the paper out and unfolding it with cluers

He was shaking now It wasn‘t a long letter, he noted with relief as his eyes scanned quickly over the lines Kate‘s writing was neat and confident Clever, he thought with a stab of bitter self-loathing Pushing the hair back from his forehead, he focused hard on the strokes her pen hadhihtly in front of his eyes, rearranging themselves

Dai sbrigati, Cristiano! You’re not trying!

He let out a low curse, tipping his head back and looking around the softly lit bedroom as if to reassure himself that he wasn’t back in that classroo over him, her cane poised to strike hi

Concentrarsi