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‘Is so?’ he asked when she bit her lip and frowned

Only that it was tiet real Don Xavier had only shown an interest in Rosie and the island when Doña Anna had given him no option

‘Nothing,’ she said, knowing she must concentrate on the task in hand with a brain that had turned to mush from lack of sleep

‘I’d like to start with the path down to the beach’

Xavier shot everything into sharp focus with just those feords The path was narrow, and dangerously steep There were loose rocks and shale where you could slip

‘This looks dangerous,’ he said when they reached the top of the path

If only he could see the island through her eyes—

‘Hang on tohand

‘It’s fine I go down here every day,’ she said blithely, ignoring his help

‘If you come down here on your own, and you fall, you could lie here for hours,’ he said ‘There should be a handrail, at least—’

She took big, reckless steps, just to prove a point

‘Wait!’ he co up your mess if you fall onto the rocks’

‘I don’t iardless ‘Hoould that look in court?’

And then, soot in front of her If she’d taken chances descending, he’d taken more ‘Take my hand,’ he insisted coldly

She ground her jaw and did as he asked He showed no sign of rip ar excitement Until she remembered where they were and who he was