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Cristiano set Alexander down, caught off guard by a sharp pang of reluctance to let hi schedule and cost about as much in petrol as the hire of a private jet, but it had been worth it, he acknowledged, watching Alexander approach the car He stopped a few feet frohtly open, his eyes onder as he slowly looked it over S, Cristiano turned to Kate

Instantly he felt the smile fade

She was standing in the doorway, leaning against the fra faded jeans that clung to her long legs and so in soft, faded cotton Although froain shea black lace basque and crotchless panties

How is he?‘ he asked gruffly

He‘s good‘

And you?‘

I‘ood too‘

She didn‘t look good, he thought She looked as if she needed to be put to bed and allowed to sleep for a week It was a noble sentih he wasn‘t entirely sure he‘d be able to follow it through

Alexander was ju with exciteo in it? For a ride?‘

Of course Where would you like to go?‘

To the seaside!‘

Stepping forward quickly, Kate deliberately avoided looking at Cristiano

Come in now, Alexander It‘s too cold for you to be outside without a coat,‘

she said, hating the miserable, impatient note in her voice, and the way Alexander‘s little face fell as he did as he was told, casting a final covetous glance over his shoulder at the car as he took her hand

Why did Cristiano Maresca see her into someone she didn‘t want to be?

He caught hold of her elbow as she turned to follow Alexander inside, pulling her back so that they were both in the tiny porch He seeht up

What‘s the matter?‘ His eyes were opaqueYou don‘t like the idea?‘

Can you even get a car seat in that thing? Because there‘s no way—‘

Relax, carina I took the precaution of buying one to fit in case the one you had didn‘t go in So if that‘s all…?‘

It‘s too far,‘ she ht of his nearnessAnd too cold He‘s not well enough yet‘

Cristiano‘s eyes narrowedI thought you said he was better?‘

He is, but still—a whole day out, and you hardly know him What would you do if he was ill? If he was sick in your lovely car?‘

Hmm…Honestly?‘

A faint smile touched his lips Kate raised her chin, desperately trying not to let herself notice—his lips or the smile

Yes,‘ she said stiffly

Get you to deal with it?‘

Me?‘ she gaspedBut—‘

But I‘ hold of her shoulders and steering her back into the houseAlexander seeet whatever you need for a day at the beach in your freezing English weather and let‘s get going‘

It was the kind of bright, blue-sky March day that fro had arrived The North Yorkshire Moors were a vivid patchwork of ereen and brown and purple as the wind chased cottonwool puffs of cloud across the huge, wide sky

Sitting in the now-faely nuht sadly Often over the last four years she had congratulated herself on how htened girl who had first got into Cristiano Maresca‘s car and sat petrified while he drove La Grande Corniche

And yet here she was More tight-lipped and frightened than ever