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His expression showed this was not news to him, which perhaps explained his irritablebefore she’d come downstairs

‘Maria is a ro of his broad shoulders

‘Most women are romantics at heart,’ Bella confessed Herself included Only a roined that one day she would find a man ould love her as deeply as she loved hireat father as well as a fabulous husband Such thinking was the stuff fantasies were made of Fantasies and Hollywood movies

Bella actually thought it sweet of Maria to iood wife Because of course she wouldn’t Their sex life ht be fine but that was about it

Her sigh carried a degree of regret that life was infinitely more complicated for a woman once she had a successful career, especially one that was as essential to her as breathing Bellafroive up perfor for an audience made her soul soar in ways she could never describe Without it, she would be a mere shadow of herself

‘What did she say to you?’ Sergio asked as he began to row

His iot Maria into trouble

‘Oh, nothing ood wife Which was rather aine a less suitable wife for you Anyway, I told Maria neither of us wantedfor you’

‘Not at all I appreciate it’

Just then a couple of jet skis zoo boat to rock back and forth, Bella sucking in sharply as she clung to the sides

Sergio swore at thee ‘Lake Como in the tourist season is not what it used to be,’ he told her

‘Yes, I can see that,’ Bella said with regret in her voice ‘But I suppose you can’t bla here It’s such a beautiful place, especially in the summer’