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‘I really dislike the way you take one girl out for a drink and another the next day I know you don’t cross any lines or break promises, but it creates discord and I won’t have that in my store But’ she took a deep breath ‘I do admire the way you remember everyone’s name and what they do I am a little envious of the rapport you have with my staff already I don’t doubt you’ll be a CEO by thirty because you’re focused and innovative and put the hours in’

‘Should I be blushing?’

‘And I don’t knohat I would have done without you last week’ There, she had said it

‘Oh, Polly’ He shook his head, the sone ‘You would have been absolutely fine’

‘Maybe,’ she agreed ‘I as alone I would have coped I’d have had to But it was nice not having to Maybe it’s the ti around turning everything upside down, but I a in my life apart from work It may not be planned, the circu for me’

She smiled ruefully ‘Of course if you repeat that to anyone I will kill you’

‘I’d expect nothing less’

‘But you already have things outside work Nieces and nephews and a family—and you keep yourself apart I knohy, I understand why I just wonder’ She paused, trying to pick her words carefully ‘I just think maybe it’s time you open yourself back up to theh?’

‘I’ them’

‘Aren’t you?’ She pulled at her hair, twisting it round in her hand as she looked at him, at the set of his jaw, the line of his mouth The dark chill in his eyes ‘Punish? Whatever it is you’re doing it’s been ten years I think it’s tiive yourself a break Before it’s too late’

Polly’s words echoed round and round in Gabe’s head despite his attempts to push them away, far away out of his subconscious

Punishment

She was right, daht she was He wasn’t punishing them