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He laughed He couldn’t help himself

‘You think this is funny?’ she demanded in fury

‘Not in the least,’ he admitted He was impressed

‘I’,’ she said

‘For good?’

‘This isn’t a joke, Xavier’

He cut her off at the door Planting his fist on the smooth wood above her head, he kept her trapped in front of higest you sign them next time?’

‘You’re not listening tostare fearlessly ‘I’ve no intention of signing your wretched documents’

For just an instant he wanted to kiss her again Then the wall he lived behind snapped back into place It was time for Señorita Clifton to hear some hard truths ‘Your job here is done,’ he said evenly ‘You need an income to live on, and that has to come from somewhere’

‘But not fro a living?’

Pulling his fist frohtened her clothes and walked out

Leaning back against the wall, he closed his eyes Rosie Clifton was thewoman he’d ever met, but at least he now understood why his aunt had liked her—loved her, he aenerous bequest, unless his aunt’s sole aim had been to torment him

He decided not His aunt had been spiky, but never vengeful And Rosie Clifton’s spirit had been forged under circumstances of extre up to hieous and resilient He guessed his aunt had seen soirl in Rosie

‘Xavier’

He turned at the sound of Rosie’s voice She stood framed in the doorway She had brushed her hair and washed her face She looked a lot calmer