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But everything changed The house was boarded up and theybetween the capital and an apartment in New York City, then London for a while The house in the Hanored

Too many painful memories It was only now, thirty years later, the family had decided it was time to sell

Phoebe floated into the kitchen Literally, floated Her sht white teeth and enhancing her glowing coffee-colored skin Her hair bounced as she walked, tight corkscrew curls resting on her shoulders There was so about her An aura She made him want to smile He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d felt like that For a few seconds she’d even et where he actually was But the truth was, he just couldn’t shake the sense of this place The dark memories The secrets he’d learned to keep The ones that kept him locked away

Phoebe moved in front of hireen fine-knit ju to her curves Many of the women Matteo came across in New York were skeletally thin It was a look he’d never appreciated Italian men much preferred women with curves—and Phoebe wore them well

Her perfume drifted up around him as she fixed her chocolate-brown eyes on him She paused for a second, with an amused expression on her face It was clear she was conte how to phrase her words

“Ms Gates?” he prompted

She gave a nod “How about we settle on Phoebe and Matteo? I think thata lot of each other”

There was a sparkle in her eyes

He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a credit card “I’m not sure that will be necessary But I’m happy to call you Phoebe if that’s what you prefer”

She took the credit card without a glance,it into the back pocket of her trousers

“We need to talk about this place, Matteo We need to discuss my plans” It was clear that persistence was one of her traits

He was curt “No We don’t”

He turned on his heel and walked out of the kitchen, heading in the direction of the front door In the space of few seconds it al in around him