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‘I gave the expected reply, of course,’ Rosie admitted wryly ‘I’d tell her that she certainly wasn’t too old But if I dared to venture an opinion—so like, “I just think—” she would cut me off mercilessly “Don’t think,” she’d snap “It’s my job to think Not yours”’

Xavier laughed ‘I guess we’ve both felt the sharp edge of her tongue’

‘I never took offence,’ Rosie explained, enjoying the near Xavier’s intentions towards the island ‘I just accepted that, however close ere, when it came to the Isla Del Rey, there was never any doubt that Doña Anna was in charge?

?

And always had been until she died, but now the future of the island was up for grabs

CHAPTER SIX

HE WAS DISAPPOINTED Not because the island held any surprises for him, but because he hadn’t expected it to be quite so run-down The state of everything stirred his nagging sense of guilt He should have co before now He should have overruled his aunt and done everything he could to make her more comfortable, and see the island thrive He’d always been too busy, and she’d been adamant that he must remain so And now he knehy She hadn’t wanted hirip

‘The house has always been shabby,’ he admitted when he and Rosie reached the beach Why he felt the need to reassure her, he had no idea ‘Not that a bit of peeling paint would have mattered to me when I was a boy—I doubt I even noticed it’

Slipping off her sandals, Rosie started to paddle in the surf She looked so young and so appealing it was hard to remember that she was just another hurdle in his way

‘You lad of a ho the water so the spray caught the light

‘Doña Anna always reed

‘And your parents?’

She had her back to him as she asked the question She must have heard the rumours like everyone else What Doña Anna hadn’t told her, the islanders would have supplied ‘Best not mention them,’ he said

She turned to look at him and her mouth slanted attractively as she admitted, ‘I have the same problem’

He huffed a wry sht how much worse her childhood had been than his