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His delivery was so deadpan she couldn’t help but laugh

‘That’s better,’ Xavier said softly

Rosie’s laugh sounded brittle to him It made him want to take her in his arms and reassure her, and only his desire to keep her safe fro hihts out loud

‘Brought us together to torment us, I think,’ Rosie observed in her usual down-to-earth way ‘And for better or for worse, this time’

‘My thoughts exactly,’ he agreed Bringing her into his ar do? ‘Whatever this is or isn’t between us,’ he said, pulling his head back to stare at her, ‘I pro to be frightened of—in bed, or out of it And as for the rest, you’ll have Margaret’s support all the way Better?’ he murmured when she seemed to relax

Worse Far, far worse She wanted the fantasy she’d dreamed of so much it hurt She didn’t need Xavier’sman, the man who lay deep beneath the armour Xavier had built so successfully around his heart

Seducing Rosie would be all too easy She had a touching eagerness to experience everything life had to offer She had shocked hi, but her unpredictability was one of the qualities he liked best about her Yes, it annoyed the hell out of hiers were ten a penny He doubted anyone could cage this wild bird The thought that anyone ed him No one would take away Rosie Clifton’s freedo to say about it, not even him

‘You look gri back to stare at him

‘Do I?’ He shrugged He should be sht that Rosie had proved he had some small shred of humanity left She had ht he was incapable of feeling, and she’d ain

‘I hope you’re not looking gri,’ she said

He had been thinking about their wedding, but not in the way Rosie iined They would marry, and he hoped an heir would follow, but instead of hi it off then, he would set her free as she deserved, and with her bright face right in front of hiot a plane to catch,’ he said, reluctantly easing away from her ‘So I’ll see you at the altar—’

‘With a , I hope,’ she teased

They shared a suileless ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he promised

‘Safe journey,’ she called out as he made for the door