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Ellie felt sick Lucky? She felt about as lucky as so lottery ticket onto a roaring fire But she wasn’t stupid Bridget didn’t care about her giving a full four weeks’ notice, because Alek’s offer had wiped out all other considerations What price is friendship or loyalty in the face of all that hard cash? Was that whathad a price tag and if he paid enough, he could get exactly what he wanted?

‘I’ve got a girl coet chattily ‘It’s all sorted’

Ellie wondered how her boss would react if she told her the truth We’ve only had sex the once and eren’t supposed to see each other again He’s onlyme because there’s a baby on the way

But what good would that do? Why disillusion someone for the sake of it? Surely it would be best to repay Bridget’s kindness by letting her think this hat she really wanted Oughtn’t she at least act out the fairy tale—even if she didn’t believe in it herself?

‘It’s very sweet of you to be so understanding, Bridget,’ she said

‘Nonsense It’s an absolute pleasure to see you so settled and happy Coht and we’ll have a slap-up meal, to celebrate’

After work, Ellie went upstairs to her little flat and, sure enough, there was a texton her phone

I’ve sorted things out with your boss Car arriving for you at eleven to Make sure you’re ready to leave Alek

If she’d thought it wouldback a stinging reply, but Ellie was too tired to try Why waste energy fighting the inevitable?

She packed up her et’s hobbit-sized cottage for a vegetarian goulash Afterwards, as she walked holed sky with a feeling of wistfulness She was going to miss the beauty of the forest—with all those cute ponies which wandered around and then stood in theall the traffic to a standstill as they swished their feathery tails She’d always drea city, but never in circu uncharted map, and she felt scared

Yet the sleep she fell into was deep and she was startled awake by the sound of a car horn beeping froered out of bed and hastily pulled on a robe She had overslept and the driver was obviously here

Except that it wasn’t the driver Ellie waited until the sickness had passed before poking her head out of the , her breath catching in her throat when she saw Alek hireen sports car and it was just like the first time she’d seen him—when he’d been off duty in the spa hotel and she’d been trying very hard not to stare

Dark shades covered his eyes and faded jeans clung to the s His shirtsleeves were rolled up to display powerful forearht sunshine Liquid desire began to unfold in the base of her belly—warm and unwanted and much too potent

‘Oh,’ she said coolly, because she didn’t want to feel this hen she looked at hi ‘It’s you’

Lifting up his shades, he narrowed his eyes against the bright light ‘I’ve had better greetings,’ he said drily ‘Why don’t you open the door and I’ll come up and collect your stuff?’

‘There’s a key on the top ledge,’ she said, withdrawing her head and grabbing some clothes as she headed for the bathroo in thein the least bit repentant

She slarowing teant look on his face ‘How dare you ring up my boss and offer her money to release me from my contract, when I told you I wanted to work out ive you a kick to be so controlling?’

‘If you can give le valid objection,’ he drawled, ‘other than the o—then I’ll listen But you can’t, can you, Ellie? You’ve been sick everyand you look like hell, but you still want to carry on Not the greatest advertise to drive away the custolanced down at the two battered suitcases which were standing in the ot?’