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“Well, if you’re not a creepy caller you’re one of those scam artists Don’t tellaccount and you’ll get the ht to me”

She pushed herself up in the bed, wincing at the bright white light everywhere Snow just seemed to reflect snow “Do you knohat day it is?” She turned to her clock, “And what tiled curls Thank goodness there was no mirror around She was definitely the “before” of so Day It’s 8:00 am Haven’t you heard of the word Christmas?”

There was a loud ih at the other end of the phone “Ms Gates, are you available in the next feeeks or not?”

She was definitely waking up now Arrogant He’d invaded the best dreaht he could be snarky?

“That depends entirely who I’ about You haven’t seemed to introduce yourself In my world, we call those bad manners”

Silence at the end of the phone Good Maybe Hugh Jack for her

“Apologies, Ms Gates You’re right My grand the back of my head”

This tie of humor in his voice

“Matteo Bianchi I have a house—two houses in fact—that I need some work done on I need them dressed and ready to sell in a feeeks”

Work This really ork But she couldn’t help herself “And you had to phone ?”

“Christmas Day is over I don’t like to waste time Are you available, or not?”

He was getting snarky again Phoebe shifted position in her bed and looked out at the falling snow She’d planned on going to the sales But braving the snow, as well as the chaos of the crowded shops, was slipping further down her list of priorities

“Where are the houses?” she asked

“The first is in the Hamptons,” he said quickly “Southampton, to be exact”

She felt her heart rate quicken The Haets The two things she’d always dreamed of Particularly as her mother’s medical costs mounted

She tried to stop her voice squeaking “And the second?” How much had he offered to pay?

“Rome” Her heart plummeted Rome An airplane ride away Probably more than one airplane Her skin prickled instantly and it wasn’t the cold