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‘A proper Christmas, just for you and me—a second honeymoon with no distractions’

‘Christot its dream come true at last

‘Big and brazen,’ he insisted, ‘with toofor us Mince pies, and Yule logs Crackers and tinsel Would you like that?’

‘I’d love that,’ she said and her eyes filled with tears ‘I love you’

Much, much later, they talked about the children’s centre Xavier had planned, and he told her the hacienda would be the perfect headquarters He explained what he’d like her to do at the children’s centre ‘So, I’m to be an assistant to the superintendent of the facility? That sounds very grand’ Rosie frowned ‘Can I still be barefoot, or do I have to wear a suit?’

‘You can hatever you like’

‘There’s just one thing’

‘Yes?’

She braced herself to tell hiht need maternity leave’

‘Might?’ Xavier shot her a wry look ‘I’ on it’

‘That’s not what I’

‘Are you telling th to stare into her eyes, as if they would tell him the truth ‘How can you be sure? So soon?’ he demanded, taut with hope

Forget his half of the island—forget everything! His head was reeling at the possibility that Rosie was pregnant Everything exploded into vivid colour His fears of parenting evaporated If he was useless, he could learn He had Doña Anna’s exaot awith everyone else, learning as he went along

‘It’s too soon to be sure,’ Rosie warned hi’

‘I think we’d better get you checked out’