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‘You’ve got to have a selfish bone soet your et your own life back and co, if that is still what you want to do’

‘I’irl fiancée—’

‘We’ll cover that Leave the worrying to ist,’ Gaetano olden eyes

Her chest swelled as she dragged in a deep breath because really there was no decision to be made Any attempt to sort out the mess her mother’s life had becon up?’

She had agreed Having recognised that Poppy was pretty much between a rock and a hard place, Gaetano was not surprised by her iain and nothing at all to lose

‘Soer’ Poppy began uncertainly ‘You’ll want me to dress up more?’

A sudden wolfish smile flashed across Gaetano’s lean, darkly handsome features ‘No, that’s exactly what I don’t want,’ he assured her ‘Rodolfo would see straight through you trying to pretend to be soe anything—just be yourself’

‘Myself’ Poppy repeated a tad dizzily as she collided with shilorious spiky black lashes of his

‘Be yourself,’ Gaetano stressed, severely disconcerting her because she had expected hirandfather, like me, respects individuality’

Poppy wondered hoas then that, even in recent years, she had noticed frolimpse or two of past companions at the hall, Gaetano’s women all seemed to be formed from the same identikit ers, who appeared to have no personality at all in his presence The sort of wo on his every word and acted super-attentive to their man No, Gaetano had definitely never struck her as a male likely to appreciate individuality

‘I would have another request,’ she said daringly ‘My brother’s a fully qualified mechanic Find him a job’

Gaetano frowned ‘He’s an—’

‘An ex-con Yes, we are well aware of that, but he needs a proper job before he can hope to rebuild his life,’ she pointed out ‘I’d be very grateful if there was anything you could do to help Damien’

Gaetano’s beautifully shaped ain I’ll make enquiries’

Al in the kitchen with hertroubled, an expression that had becoed fro of alcoholic dependency and realised what had been happening in the world around her Initial assessment followed by several sessions with trained counsellors and ht about an improve not to drink, not doing very well so far but at least trying, so she had not even been prepared to contemplate just weeks earlier This very afternoon Poppy and herto London where Poppy would join Gaetano and take up her role as a fake fiancée while Jasht private clinic renowned for its success with patients

‘I just don’t want to see you get hurt,’ the older wohter’s hand ‘Gaetano is a real box of tricks I appreciate his help, but I would never fully trust hiranddad’s humanity I can’t understand what’s in this masquerade for Gaetano—’

‘Cli the career ladder at the bank—promotion Seems that Rodolfo Leonetti is a real stick-in-the- already been through this dialogue several ti the subject could simply be dropped

‘Yes, but hoill it benefit Gaetano when your engageain?’ Jaset’

Poppy didn’t really get it either but kept that to herself Hoas she supposed to knoent on in Gaetano’selse she’d had hardly any contact with him since that hotel breakfast they’d shared He had phoned her with instructions and inforements for her mother and travel plans, but he had not returned to the hall In the meantime, a new housekeeper had iant refrigerator was being kept fully stocked and vases of floere now once again decorating the mansion for the oho never visited Gaetano had dismissed Poppy’s opinions with an assurance that ements were not and never would be any of her business