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‘No’ Rosie shook her head ‘I won’t do it I’ of me, but—’

‘Doña Anna and the islanders?’ he interrupted ‘Yes I know your passion where they’re concerned But if you really want the best for them, you should leave the island to me’

She huffed incredulously ‘Do you think there’s even the slimmest chance of that?’

He shrugged He’d up his offer if he had to He did so, na an amount that would make most people reach for a chair Rosie didn’t even blink But then, it was as if all the emotion she had so successfully suppressed in life broke free Snatching up the documents, she ripped them to shreds in front of his eyes

‘That’s what I think of your offer!’ she blazed

Enraged, she washas its price,’ he said calmly

‘You still don’t get it, do you?’ she exclaih money to tempt me to sellin terms of money When ere on the beach and you told me how much Doña Anna had done for you, and I told you I understood, beca

use she’d done the sa to understand each other But we’re further apart than ever, because it’s all aboutyou care about is your bottoed

‘That’s easy for you to say—you don’t have people depending on you for their jobs’

‘There’s plenty of work on the island,’ she argued

‘Growing vegetables?’

‘Why not?’ she blazed ‘What’s anic food?’

‘Another of your little fantasies,’ he suggested

‘If you would only agree to help the islanders with your connections, instead of driving on with your plan, I believe this island could be successful in every way’

‘Just as you believe you can live here with no visible means of support’