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‘Oh, hast at the news ‘I just can’t believe you told him!’
‘The investigators my lawyer employed had already contacted him and it made sense for me to address my questions to your father direct He was troubled that you hadn’t told hi but he understands why you did what you did and he wants you to know that he forgives you I had to warn you in case you were planning to phone home’
Knees weakening, Jemima sank down on the foot of the bed and bowed her head into her raised hands ‘I can’t believe you approached Dad I’ve tried so hard to keep my parents out of all this!’ she exclaimed reproachfully
‘I wanted a clearer picture of what happened and you’re too emotionally involved,’ Luciano drawled in self-defence ‘It wasenlightening to hear the facts from your father’s point of view’
‘I hate you!’ Je and interfering!’
‘I’m as trapped in the mess your sister left behind her as you are,’ Luciano contradicted coolly ‘The legal ra stolen your identity will take a long ti your name She contracted debts in your na your name—’
Jeht in one tempestuous movement ‘Do you think I don’t know all that?’
‘She took advantage of you and your parents,’ Luciano delivered grimly
‘There’s no way my father said that!’ Jemima accused furiously
‘Your father is a rather unworldly ine he has had little contact with the criminal element I’ with life’s users and abusers’
‘Bully for you!’ Je back to her bedrooht now all I want to do is go to bed and forget you ever existed!’
Luciano lifted his hand and a forefinger flicked the full tense line of her lower lip in reproof ‘What a little liar you can be Without me there would be no Niccolòand soive him up so easily’
The touch of his hand against her lipquickened and she pressed her thighs together to suppress the tiny clenching liquid sensation low in her pelvis Her lashes swept up fully to collide with stunning dark golden eyes welded to her every e of expression Her cheeks coloured, her lashes swept down and she backed away froet a physical reaction out of her
‘Goodnight,’ she said flatly
Luciano wanted to scoop her up and carry her back to his bed It was pure lust, he told hiovernable lust that sent a man into cold showers and the depths of neurotic desire And unlike his late and unlamented father, who had once become obsessed with a woman, Luciano was not the obsessive type He stayed up late working and by the time he finally fell into bed he was too exhausted to do anything but sleep
The next , Jemima felt more like herself and less traumatised The truth had coainst her nature and weighted her conscience and she was relieved not to be pretending any more Her parents knew She chewed her lower lip and decided to phone ho with her father’s disappointment in her behaviour Luciano and Nicky, however, were an even bigger challenge
Presumably over breakfast Luciano would tell her what he wanted to do next and when she would be flying hoht have convinced herself that she had lied for her nephew’s sake but in her heart she knew she was lying to herself In reality, she had not been able to face parting with Nicky and that had been selfish when Nicky’s father was available to take charge of his son While she thought unhappily about herat the reality that there was really nothing in her case suitable for a hot day At least nothing presentable, she affixed ruefully, choosing not to examine hat she wore had to be more presentable than usual when Luciano was around After a few h the hanging dresses What would he do with theone? Chuck the? She lifted down a fitted blue cotton sundress, plainer in style and less revealing than et ready
Seated on the floor in the nursery, Nicky was happily playing with his new toys Carlotta was friendly, addressing Jelish to let her know that he had slept well and eaten A maid met Jeo to join Luciano They trekked across the vast building,down a long picture gallery that opened to an outdoor area that overlooked the sea and the shore