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A sudden thought occurred to her

She could tell him the truth Rather than wait for him to find out what she’d done—rather than avoid conflict, as she always had—she could take the bull by the horns and tell him all about it

But the thought terrified her No She couldn’t risk it!

Later that night, with their baby sleeping in his lavish nursery, a few hours after Louisa had gone to bed, she felt Rafael climb in beside her She always slept naked, as he preferred Before she was quite sure whether she was drea her She felt hiainst hers Withinout her pleasure, and she heard his shout as he collapsed on top of her

Afterward, he held her close in his arms in the darkness

“I have a gift for you,” he ainst her skin

She looked up at him in the shadows, her heart in her throat “What is it?”

He purred in her ear, “Do you remember that private Greek island?”

How could she forget? Those were the happiest two days of her life “Of course”

He kissed her teht it for you today”

She sucked in her breath “You—bought it?”

“Novros wasn’t sure he wanted to sell” She heard his smile in the darkness “But I convinced him”

“Thank you,” she said softly Her eyes filled with tears as she held hihtly to her

His handfor you, querida”

Anything?