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‘I’ love,’ he said simply ‘How does that sound?’

Cathy couldn’t speak for the lu to tell herself he was still playing gaolden eyes suggested the very opposite—she had never seen such a blaze of burning emotion on Xaviero’s face before Those hard, stern features had softened into the expression of aout to her And she felt the answering call of her own heart

But she was scared Too scared to clutch at sohastly mistake And now she needed to be brave—because she could no longer hide behind her feelings, either She needed to know exactly where she stood—and if the foundations weren’t solid enough, then she would h,’ she said shakily ‘If…if it was meant’

He drew a deep breath He spoke three languages fluently, but in thatits first words And he knew that he ht be his last chance to hold onto thein his life

‘I love you, Cathy,’ he whispered ‘I love you so much that if you leave me now I don’t know if I could bear it I love you in a way I never thought I could love—and it’s scaring the hell out of me’

Xaviero scared? She looked into his golden eyes, and her heart turned over—because wasn’t she scared herself? Terrified Maybe it was the sa on the brink of love, no matter who they were or what their circu else reinforced that instinct The saht her out to his Mediterranean island in the first place

Faith But not blind this ti she wanted fro she had ever really wanted from him Just love

Her s to blink back the sudden onset of tears The first time she had ever tasted the tears of joy

‘I believe you and I love you,’ she said softly, and then her head fell to his shoulder and she began to cry

EPILOGUE

THEY honeyreen foothills of the Andes took Cathy’s breath away On a sleek white yacht which drifted fro island off the coast of Brazil, they basked in the sun and sipped caipirinhas as potent as they were delicious And once, in glorious anonyoed on the streets of Buenos Aires, while their security htmares