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His father’s fight to save the family bank had been epic He had worked tirelessly for weeks, but so one People with lots of money wanted lots more Loyalty was too expensive Especially when Claudio had offered a fast dividend and people had been too greedy to care hoas made

But it had been his father’s death more than the losses to the company that had devastated Matteo’s life His uish still one to her side, nursed her and taken charge as he knew his father would have wanted A strea world had arrived—all firm handshakes, sober suits and quiet conversations

All of that he had lived through, knowing that it couldn’t get any worse Knowing that Sophie was there for him

And the knowledge of her warht north to university, then a two-hour taxi ride from the airport to the cold, stormy coast of St Andrehere he’d known she would be just about to wake up Maybe he’d slip into bed beside her, feel the love in her arms and bury himself and his pain

How ravel, the lightening shadows of theand the frosted cloud of his breath The cold,in the hallway, the TV on, glasses on the table

Like an automaton he had turned to the sound of the shower

And then had coht he wished he could burn from his eyes

His beautiful Sophie, naked and wet, her legs wrapped around another by coach, come all the way to Scotland to ask him to play for his country

Was he e And for the rest of his life

‘Most people don’t believe what they read I never do, if it’s any consolation’

His eyes tracked round, following the voice that had split through the sick daydreae brown eyes and wide red lips was looking up at hiht be described as concern Hoeet But if it was concern, it asted