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‘It’s probably better if we do this in person’

Anissa looked around She didn’t knohat to think Her legs were actually shaking

‘When will you be back in Mont Coeur?’

‘I don’t know’ There was slight panic in her chest ‘I’ll be in New York for at least the next four days’

‘Oh, okay’ Hans paused ‘How about if I email you some information and then we can chat when you’re back in Mont Coeur It will give you a few days to think about things and decide how you feel’

Her brain was still in overdrive She still wasn’t exactly sure what he was saying to her She stuttered out her email address

Her heart gave a little leap as she hung up She had no idea what thisin her stomach that had been there for the last year—the one that wondered if she would ever ain—suddenly lessened a bit She’d never really considered other career opportunities She actually didn’t think there were any—apart fro a chalet maid This was different Could this be the back-up plan that Leo had suggested to her?

This felt like the possibility of a light at the end of a very long tunnel

Leo was pacing by the ti at the entrance to the penthouse ‘I’h the doors

He’d spent the last few hours regretting his actions He couldn’t really explain them to himself so how on earth could he explain them to Anissa?

It all felt like toohis brother and sister under difficult circumstances And on top of all that—Anissa He liked her She was slowly but surely finding away under the shell he’d built around hih He liked her questions He liked her work ethic and her striving to do well

But he also liked the way she clearly adored her parents and was in contact with them every day He liked the way she always tucked a bit of hair behind her right ear And he worried about how disappointed she would be if she didn’t get back to cha He’d only known her a feeeks but he cared about her He’d wanted her to enjoy herself in New York—and he’d almost ruined it today All because of the torrent of emotion that had flooded over him

He’d spent the last few hours feeling guilty, wondering where she was and hoping she would return He’d had his phone in his hand so many times to try and call her—but that seemed ridiculous after he’d left her on her own

It hadn’t helped that an hour ago a delivery had arrived froeous cupcakes He hadn’t ordered them, which meant that Anissa obviously had

But now the constant ache in his stoone She was here

Anissa’s cheeks had a glow about theot straight to the point It see to tellearlier?’

The words stuck somewhere in his throat He’d been ready to churn out a whole load of excuses But now that she was standing in front of hi out from under hat, her blue coat fastened to her neck and dusted with snow, and her pale blue eyes focused entirely on him, his prepared excuses just seemed to disappear into the air around them ‘It’s just’

She unfastened her coat and hung it up ‘Just what?’

When he couldn’t find the words, she gave a sigh After a few seconds she walked into the kitchen, lifted the lid of the cupcakes box and gave a little nod Then she grabbed a bottle of wine and took a glass from the cupboard ‘It’s late, Leo I’ht we did Until we didn’t’

She sighed as she poured the wine into a glass ‘Leo, you brought me here on the spur of theYou brought me to stay in your penthouse You invite me to a ball Then you thrust your credit card at me and tell ht like You told me to use your credit card to shop Have you any idea how insulting that is? As ifyou’re trying to buy ?’

Leo walked over to one of the s He stood with his hands in his pockets In the darkness outside he could see all the gli He’d never really had anyone to confide in before Today’s conversation with Noe It finally felt as if he was starting to ht direction with his fa

Soht his eye A flicker to the side A helicopter New York was full of them

It felt like an elephant had just put a foot on his chest

Anissa appeared at his side, holding her glass of wine

As he watched the light from the helicopter flicker across the sky the pain in his chest intensified It was al had finally come to a head and he just had to let it out

‘The family stuff’ His voice was croaky

‘Yes?’ asked Anissa

‘I was in Mont Coeur for the reading of my mum and dad’s will’ His words were stilted

‘Your parents died?’ She was clearly surprised, ‘I’m so sorry’