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For a few moments he didn’t lowed in the orange flickering flames Her lips full and pink

So clenched inside him and he turned away She was an employee A business associate Even if it was for only a feeeks He had to push any other kind of thoughts away He had too much else to deal with—too much else to worry about He couldn’t afford any distractions

“Matteo?”

He turned around Phoebe was pushing herself up, et here?” She looked confused “What time is it?”

Matteo straightened up “It’s after ten Phoebe, what are you doing here? It’s New Year’s Eve Are you staying here?”

She gave a weak sot snowed in My Mini wouldn’tin the snow They couldn’t get any grip”

She looked down at the bedding around her, and pulled a face as if she realized how inappropriate it ht look “I’m sorry about this I came down here because I was cold We’ll need to check the boilers Once I’d lit the fire and had so to eat, I just closed my eyes for a second and” Her voice tailed off, then she let out a little laugh and pulled her knees up to her chest “But isn’t this the perfect place to spend New Year’s?”

The heat fro But the sleepy-eyed woman seemed even more so It was the expression on her face when she said those words Any other wo and dance about New Year’s Eve and parties More than once he’d ended up spending New Year’s dressed in a tuxedo and celebrating with people he barely knew, as the woman on his arne He wasn’t at all sorry not to be in that situation this year

Phoebe, in her casual clothes, with pizza and a bed in front of the fire, was like a revelation

He stepped inside Phoebe gave a rueful smile and held up the pizza box “Can I offer you soet here, so pizza—” she looked around “—and soda is all I can offer you”

Matteo shook his head “I didn’t come here for food”

“Oh, what did you come for?”

The question was innocent He knew that But it sent up all his defenses “Just so for the family”

Phoebe looked at him curiously as she pushed herself to her feet “Can I help you?”

Sheself-conscious as she tugged at her clothes “Not thehoet down on my hands and knees and scrub floors”

Soo he’d sold another property The interior designer hired then had swanned around in a suit and heels with her hair swept up in a bun, a scarf around her neck and a clipboard peron, as he’d nickna her hands dirty She was too busy ordering herhow committed to the job Phoebe was

Phoebe tilted her head to the side and a waft of roses seemed to reach out toward hi from her Had she just showered? “It’s late Couldn’t what you need wait untilback the shutters and looking at the white landscape outside “If you’re not careful, you’ll end up just as stranded as me”

Matteo walked up behind her, standing a little closer than he should The scent of roses was definitely co Maybe it was the heat fro up with hi all his senses into overload

“What brought you to the library?” Matteo looked around the room It was darker than the rest of the house,the shelves and walls The only splash of color caback chairs covered in deep red velvet and the thick red rug in front of the fire The shelves were lined with a myriad hardback books in a variety of shades that Matteo had never even looked at

Phoebe held up her hands, her eyes sparkling “It’s the most beautiful room in the house I love it” She walked over to the old-stylesteps “Have you any idea how excited I hen I saw these? It’s like every bookworm’s dream All these books And these stairs? I could spend all day, every day in this rooine having a library in your house?” Her enthusiasm practically emanated from every pore