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On the other hand, although he had denied it she was convinced that there had to be a tioing to stay with her for ever—she accepted that, of course she did! A nore? What would Lysander know about normal? He led a life of extree His track record for long-lasting relationships was nonexistent He changed woed their socks

Right now, at this very moment, she could only count on one truth: Lysander wanted her in his bed, and when he wanted soenuinely shocked hie her departure had presented had increased her desirability by a factor of ten Once Lysander had accepted that his wealth did not influence her, he had probably just offered her what he guessed would e, she reflected ruefully But sooner rather than later, he would get bored

‘I’ you awake this early,’ Lysanderinto her troubled reverie

Ophelia jumped and spun round in a defensive movement

A vision of bronzed ainst the cru?’

‘Nothing’s wrong In fact—’ Ophelia pasted a big fake snant!’

His strong bone structure clenched ‘How do you know you’re not?’

‘The usual way I don’t need a test to confirm it So, isn’t that a ht voice, while she wondered why he wasn’t responding as she had expected

In fact, Lysander onderingPerhaps it was her attitude he found offensive, although that was possibly too strong a term Inappropriate, that was the word he needed, he decided He didn’t like the fact that she should be so delighted that she hadn’t conceived his child

‘If you had discovered that you were carrying my baby, I would have been pleased about it’

Astonished by that claim, Ophelia studied hio you said you hoped there would be no repercussions—’

‘And you’re celebrating the fact?’ Lysander broke in, his dark, deep drawl harsh in tone as he sprang out of bed

‘Have you got a problery with her and she thought he was being very unfair She had told hiht he wanted to hear and for soressive response

‘Yes, I have,’ Lysander said in Greek, hitting the button that opened the doors onto the terrace

‘Say it in English,’ Ophelia snapped

‘Theos…I don’t like your attitude!’ Lysander slung at her, throwing her a blistering look of censure fro dark deep-set eyes

‘You didn’t want a baby You don’t want to be a father You ht uy like you!’ Ophelia shouted back at hi her as she saw the anger he couldn’t hide

She slammed the bathroom door so hard behind her that even Lysander flinched

He swore under his breath and paid no heed whatsoever to the spectacular sunrise colouring the early h his sleep-tousled black hair He couldn’t explain why he felt as he did She was right: he had never had any desire to beconant, he had experienced a stab of regret rather than relief

Sorown accusto his child It had not seemed so unlikely a result to Lysander After all, they were both young and healthy Recent events had radually reassess his reservations about fatherhood

Yes, his birth father had been a violent ht have inherited that fatal flahen he was an adult who had long since proven his ability to control his tereat father He ht have no impressive example to follow in the role, but he certainly knehat not to do with a child He was an intelligent man and adaptable Life by its very nature was a process of constant change, Lysander reminded himself squarely His broad shoulders lifted and settled in an easy shrug, his tension slowly ebbing away, until it occurred to hie of heart

Ophelia alking along the beach barefoot when Lysander appeared Thedown the wooded slope towards her she fell still Seeing hiic was the very core of his character Wrenched from her contentment and made to feel insecure, she felt furious, bewildered and scared because she didn’t understand why he was so annoyed with her But none of those e to his approach with a dryheart Casually clad in trousers and a striped silver-and-white shirt that hung loose, Lysander was strikingly handsome

Lysander saw the anxiety she couldn’t hide and an unsettling feeling nibbled down his spine He didn’t recognise what it was and he didn’t like it, but he did recognise that it was his responsibility to take care of her and that he did not appear to be doing a very good job

He shifted shapely hands in a soothing ot used to the idea that you nant and I came round to it’