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“You have nothing to be sorry about,” she said coldly “I’lad you forced me to quit My life now is exactly what it should be” After she’d fled Istanbul, she’d returned to Miami, where she’d been stunned to discover Katie was a , living in a hter They’d hugged and cried in each others’ arain They were a family Louisa lifted her chin “You did me a favor”

He looked at her ruefully “I did?”

Louisa nodded coldly She’d used her savings to start this bakery on Key West, a place she’d visited long ago This bakery wasn’t just a family business, it was a labor of love Even her little niece, as now in first grade, helped out The two sisters worked here during the day, and lived upstairs with their children in a small apartment above the bakery

She had the perfect life now She had her family, a successful business she loved and friends on this island And if she still soht—well, what of that? She didn’t want him She was better off without him!

Rafael looked at her His eyes were as deep and dark as the Caribbean at ht He shook his head “Ever since you left Istanbul, I’ve regretted et the better of me”

“Forget it,” she said shortly

“I cannot” He looked at her regretfully, then with a sigh, he clawed back his dark hair “I accused you of trying to get pregnant with my child You! Of all women on earth, I should have known you would not do such a thing!”

She surreptitiously glanced back at the roo She heard the soft snuffle of Noah’s heavy breath He would be hungry and waking soon Katie had gone to pick up her daughter from school, but anythe counter

Her interfering, well- sister would no doubt be thrilled to see Rafael Curse her

“Forgivehis head “I am sorry for how badly I treated you”

She heard her baby shift in his playpen, heard his snuffle as he started to wake up

“I forgive you,” she said abruptly

“Just like that?”

“Just like that” She had to get Rafael out of her bakery—fast She s to pick up some of her caramel brownies, the“Here,” she said “Take these as a peace offering On the house”

“Thank you” He took the bag, but he did not leave as she’d hoped Instead he hesitated, propping the bag on the side counter as he slowly looked around the shop “It’s a beautiful store”