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To her is folded along the length of her oithout touching “You’ve been avoiding me”

“I’ve been avoiding the entire male population of Milan Unsuccessfully”

His frown deepened, while his long fingers played with a paperweight “So Gio is still determined to find a prince for his perfect princess Tell me, is it because you’ve been thwarted in love that you’ve decided to let Gio buy you a nice, convenient husband instead?”

She stood up so fast her head whirled “If all you’re going to do is mock me, I’ve—”

His ar her “Mi dispiace, si?”

“You can’t say things with every intention of cuttingsorry The last thing I want is to involve you I came because I’ve no choice And because, believe it or not, I trust you”

His gaze flared, caught hers, co hiht quiver at his touch but it didn’t make her weak

Aunder his jaw, he looked away first

Pia felt as if she had won a minor battle She took a drink of water and watched hilass

Whatever had passed between theone Smoothed away beneath his perfect featured mask “Tell me why you’re here”

“You were right Giovanni hosted that ball with the intention of introducinga euphemism

“I haven’t had a day to ht

He’s dragging me to party after party, brunch after brunch as if I were…a mule he’s determined to be rid of” Raphael’s lared at him “It’s not funny

“I can’t turn around before there’s a grandson or a son or a twice re There’s so ht If I refuse to go on an outing, Gio encourages my escort to walk around the estate with me If I refuse to accompany one of them to a party, Gio takes me there anyway and then abandons me with them