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But he couldn’t help it as h his brain

He’d grown up depending on his father, looking up to hi on his every word Formore than to follow in his father’s footsteps, only to find out that they were the shoes of a philanderer, an extortionist and a fraudster A man ould take his son’s idolisation and atteainst himto manipulate it for his own selfish needs

His gut tightened against the ragged pain he’d thought long buried but that seemed to catch him on the raw much too often these days It didn’t help his disposition to know that Perla was always present when it happened That perhaps they shared a connection with hurt and betrayal

‘If you’re talking about your husband, he was just one ement about everyone else Trust your instincts’

‘Trust ood idea My instincts told uy But you turned on me like I was some sort of criminal when you found out who I was’

‘I no longer think that, or you wouldn’t be here’

She opened her mouth to speak, paused, then eyed hiht I could really cope on my own you wouldn’t have stepped in’

He dropped his hand, then ile wildly ‘You toldyou’d been out of the corporate world That, coupled with your husband’s activities, placed you in a vulnerable position’

‘And you were trying to save me? How unnecessarily noble of you’ The hand she’d placed on her hips drew attention to her pert breasts Breasts he’d feasted on for a long tiain more than he wanted his next breath

He whirled away and focused on the views of the GW Monument and Capitol Hill in the distance, lit up beacons of power, hoping his brain would find a different focus other than replaying the sight of her in that pulse-destroying bikini

‘So, are you done beratingco out just how robust the wraparound sofa behind hi it

‘No I don’t need saving, Ari’

‘Fine, I won’t interfere Even though you’ve clearly exacerbated a sis play out Let’s move on, shall we?’

Behind hih ‘Move on That’s easy for you to say’