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No, she told herself fiercely It’s just his nature His body promises what his soul cannot deliver

And yet…

They had a child together Could somehow, by some miracle, Louisa be the one to reach Rafael’s heart, to make hi faed for them to be?

She heard Noah cry Quietly, so she wouldn’t wake her husband, she crept out of his ar on her clothes, she padded softly across the apartment to feed the baby and rock him back to sleep

She returned to the living room with her heart in her throat, full of dreams and plans and hopes to help Rafael be the man she needed The man she loved The man she was convinced he was born to be She could hardly wait to sleep in his arms…

She stopped abruptly when she saw the sofa was empty

He ca a white terry cloth robe, clearly just come from the shower

“That was enjoyable,” he said coolly, drying his wet hair with a towel “I think Ia wife”

She tilted her head, her heart pounding with hope “You think so?” she whispered

His lips curved “Of course You’re into cook and clean for reat deal of money, since I don’t even have to pay you You are—” he reached out to stroke her cheek “—every man’s dream wife”

She sed, treray eyes “You are trying to hurt me Why?”

“I said I will enjoy ourhis hand away, he leaned forward until his handsoed,” he whispered His eyes were a ret the day you stole my son away from me”

Pain stabbed through her Was that all their night together had been for hiht—dreamed—it could be soiveness and a new life, raising their son together

He’d fooled her yet again His tenderness, his sensuality, had been the weapons he’d used to punish her!

She had the sudden ie of the pain he could inflict on her, this man she loved, this man she’d once known so well