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‘My thank you was your face It lit up like a child’s when you saw the Christmas tree,’ Vito confided with amusement before he turned the water on

Holly kicked off her shoes, stared down appreciatively at the bracelet encircling her wrist and lay down on the bed He had never loved Marzia Marzia iped from Holly’s standard stock of worries for ever Marzia was the past—a past Vito neither missed nor wanted to revisit That, she decided, was a very encouraging discovery

All of a sudden hiding her love, being so painfully careful not to let those words escape in moelo so freely She witnessed that every day Her husband hadn’t even had to try to love his son and Angelo loved his father back Perhaps in time Vito could come to love her too, she reflected hopefully When he had told her that he much preferred her to just be herself around him without the fancy clothes or any airs her heart had taken wings He liked her as she was Wasn’t that wonderful?

Vito strode out of the en suite, still towelling dry his hair ‘We’ll have a very special Christmas this year For the first time I’ll happily celebrate the season That’s the effect you and Angelo have had on e-like outlook’

‘I’rateful because I will always love Christmas’

‘Because that’s hoeyou looked dressing that little tree at the cottage’

‘Is that so? And yet you ht for the opportunity,’ Holly reminded him

‘You gave me a fresh look at the world and it’s never been the same since,’ Vito intoned very seriously as he settled down on the bed beside her and closed her into his arms

‘Meaning?’

‘Re for someone special to appear?’

Holly nodded and rubbed her cheek against a damp bronzed shoulder

‘And then she ca when I was thirty-one years old and, unfortunately, incredibly wary and set in my ways’

Her brow furrowed because she thought she had ?’

‘You did,’ Vito pointed out gently ‘And I wasn’t waiting or looking for love any one belly-up So, when you appeared and you nise that it was special The sex was incredible but I was blind to the fact that everything else was incredible too’

‘I e?’ Holly exclaimed in dismay