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“Birthday present?”

“You know, to make up for all the years he ? A condo in Venice?”

“I’ve no idea—”

Another turn around the hall, but this ti her upper back She couldn’t take htened awareness “How old are you?”

“Twenty-three”

“Quite an acco”

Her body was so aware of hirapple with the intent in his words “Please, stop Just stop I’ood at this”

His thumb traced the veins over the back of her hand alood at?”

“Dealing with a like the women I know”

His gaze swept over the tiara in her hair, the dia just fine Froer”

“I don’t kno to decipher your words I don’t understand why you’re determined to make a spectacle of me in this crowd I don’t knohy you’re—”

Her attraction to Gio’s godson was the last thing she needed Especially when, clearly, he bore no goodwill toward her

A finger under her chin, he tilted her face up to look at hiain “Why I’m what?”

“Why you’re even touchingto you like this Why ht rip out of ht the words that were bent on pouring out of herthat you affect me like that even as your eyes are full of contempt”