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He reached out as if to take her hand ‘Why now, Bella?’

Abruptly she turned to avoid his touch

‘Careful—’

His warning came too late As she whirled to escape her weak ankle went and she stuh on the corner of her desk

Antonio winced at the grirabbed the desk to stop herself falling down She’d gashed her leg, just above her knee As he looked close he saw a long, jagged scar running in a wonky line up her shin

She paled, her lips pressed together to mute any sound of pain

It had been so long since he’d had any kind of physical cootten how ‘Bella?’

‘It’s fine’ She straightened and drew in a deep breath

‘I’m sure,’ he replied, but he kneasn’t

‘Wouldn’t want you thinking this was another ploy’

‘It is my fault you fell,’ he said stiffly, his hands at his side, wanting to help her yet feeling oddly impotent

‘You feel responsible? Rest easy, I won’t sue you’ Her lips coed than it already was’

‘It still needs dressing’ Blood was already oozing from the small wound ‘You have a first-aid kit?’

‘Of course’ She didn’t move

He sighed at her reluctance ‘I need to see it Or I’ll revoke your operating licence’

She gritted her teeth and limped behind her desk His irritation smouldered She really didn’t want him to help Was that because he’d really offended her or because he’d struck too close to the mark?

She had been trying to get a rise out of him, but she hadn’t meant the vaet away from him

She clutched the s him a death look, she passed it to him Antonio bit back the smile of satisfaction and opened the lid

‘Lean on the desk,’ he told her