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Holly watched Vito lean down to lift Angelo, as tugging at his shoelaces He closed his arelo’s sh There was so incredibly sexy about his newly learned assurance with their son and her cheeks coloured at that seee of Vito’s sexuality seeht ‘Well, I can see that it would be difficult for you and far froaretfully ‘I want to otby me’

‘I can’t change hoe conceived Angelo but with a little vision you should be able to see that where we started isn’t where we have to end up,’ Vito responded smoothly ‘I may not love you but I’m insanely attracted to you I’m also ready to settle down’

‘Yes, you were engaged, weren’t you?’ Holly slotted in rather unkindly

‘That’s not relevant here,’ Vito informed her drily ‘Stay focused on what really matters’

‘Angelo,’ Holly replied, with hot cheeks, while her brain trooped off in wild, unproductive circles

He was asking her toher to marry him! Hoas she supposed to react to that when she had been astonished by his proposal?

‘You should also consider the reality that eventually Angelo will be very rich, and growing up outside my world isn’t the best preparation for that day,’ Vito pointed out ‘I want to be his father A father who is there for him when he needs me A benefit neither you nor I enjoyed’

He wasvery valid points but Holly felt harassed and intie?’ she reasoned ‘That’s such a huge decision’

‘And a decision only you can make But there would be other benefits for you,’ Vito told her quietly ‘You could set up as an interior designer and live your dream with me’

‘You’re starting to sound like a trained negotiator,’ Holly cut in

‘I aive our son the very best start in life he can have, with a genuine family’

And that was the real moment that Holly veered from consternation and fell deep into his honeytrap Those eenuine family’, spoke to her on the deepest possible level and filled her head with happy ily Vito in spite of his privileged background, both shared, and that touched her As she studied her son sitting peacefully in his father’s arms her heart melted She had felt ashanancy She had been oals and could not give her son the family security and the opportunities he deserved But if she rets behind her and give Angelo two parents and a stable hoe

‘Even people in love find it hard toto resist the teination, and to be sensible and cautious

‘We’re not in love Our odds of success may well be better because we have less exalted expectations,’ Vito contended silkily ‘And our arrangement need not be viewed as a permanent trap either In a few years, should one or both of us be unhappy, we can divorce All I’ive e a chance’

He made it sound so reasonable, so very reasonable He was inviting her to try being married to him and see if they could uaranteed toto lose And she looked back at hi while he raked an ih his cropped black hair