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Soently on his office door Marco frowned He wasn't expecting anyone and he had expressly told his PA not to disturb hi when the door opened and E at hi or anyone, but on this occasion

‘Mybreezily So I thought Id come over and see if you were free for lunch?’

When he didn't answer her she closed the office door and ca her voice to a playfully soft tone as she told hi-out and the lunch Re?' she asked him uncertainly

Her snised that he had left it several seconds too late to respond appropriately to her arrival

Nor was at fault would have been his main concern But for some reason, he found that, not only was he acutely aware that he had hurt and upset Eo to her and apologise Apologise? Him? Marco was astounded by his own uncharacteristic i

'Nothing's wrong,' he told her flatly, knowing that so indeed for hiuilty, could

it? A traitorous, critical inner voice suddenly challenged, pointing out: After all, you've lied to her and you're about to leave her

She knew the ground rules Marco answered it inwardly That his own conscience should turn on him like this increased his irritation and man-like, he focused that irritation on Emily, rather than deal with its real cause

‘Yes there is’ Eh I'm the last person you want to see’

'Don't be ridiculous I just wasn't expecting to see you' He flicked back the sleeve of his suit—hand of his superb physique was a whispered suggestion caught only by those who understood ‘Look I can't do lunch I've got an ih any tiot an appointment' That wasn't entirely true, but there was no way he wanted Eest she wait around for hi, he had no idea just how long the call would last and for anotherFor another, he wasn't ready yet to tell Emily what she had to be told

Because he wasn't ready yet to deny hi love to her his inner torly Are you sure that you will ever be ready? He disht immediately but its existence increased his ire ‘Mrs Lawson should have told you that Id said I didn't want to be disturbed’ he informed Emily curtly

She heard the i Marcos arrogance et sometimes how easily he could hurt her, and she certainly had too much pride to stay here and let him see that pain

'Mrs Laasn't there when I came in'

'Not there? She's my PA for heaven's sake Where the hell is she?'

She'd probably just slipped off to the cloakroom Marco It isn't her fault' Eood tih I suppose I should have checked with you first before co over'

Yes you should have' Marco agreed gri and if he picked it up she was going to hear his grandfather'sout as he tried to cohness?' The Comte had never really accustomed himself to the effectiveness of ht his voice could only travel down the telephone line if he spoke as loudly as he possibly could

Eistered Marcos rejection and then she stood still staring blankly at hih she were some casual and not very welcome acquaintance

'Don't worry about it I'ed to say but she could hear the brittle hurt in her own voice Right now she wanted to be as far away froet! She was perilously close to tears and the last thing she wanted was the hu how much he'd wounded her To her relief, she could hear sounds fro that his PA had returned, enabling her to use the face-saving fib that she didn't want to have Mrs Lawson co in to shoo her out Ee the PA's surprise at seeing her