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She forced herself toassumptions based on one transaction and out of context”

“I assu tio”

The towel slipped fro onto her back And the one-piece she as not the most convenient costume et But Pia was deter the ly painful episode of her life Even if it ave me that money to pay off…credit card debt”

“So you did your research before you contacted him,” he said in a silky, almost bored voice

Her grip far too tight on the stelass Pia stared at hiive me a chance

“You have to protect Giovanni, true, but one would think you’d at least givehi with hurt and humiliation, she stood up

He reached out and caught her wrist A jolt of fiery sensation raced frohs Pia jerked her hand away, breath co in hard and fast

“Stay” Tension radiated fro her “I will listen, si? Whether I will believe…”

She sat down and looked at her hands Words ca a deep breath, she blurted it out “I racked up that debt because I was foolish enough to fall for a con man”

His expression instantly turned thunderous “Fall for a con man? What do you mean?”

“I believed a colleague when he said he lovedNonni for two years and he was the new gym teacher at the school where I worked He…cultivated a friendship with me for weeks, then asked me out After a few months, he…told me he’d fallen in love with me

“I trusted hiain and again I gave him the little Nonni had left lass in her throat “I es, and took a loan on my card when he said he desperately needed money to avoid a loan shark”