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Had she ht have hoped the rider was a godly man Someone who saw that she was the victioodness when he looked deeply into her eyes But as the rider ca towards her on his impressive black stallion, she knew the devil had sent his disciple

Benedict Cavanagh—the bane of her existence—brought his horse to a crashing halt and diss

Shaht fire to her cheeks But then he always had such a marked effect on her senses Why did he have to look so sinfully handsoe to heat her insides with nothing more than a concerned stare?

“Cassandra?” He crouched beside her, his ainst his breeches “What the devil’s happened to you?” While shock marred his velvet voice, she heard a faint hint of kindness, a kindness he’d shown her long ago, before hate replaced the love in their hearts

Embarrassment kept her lips pursed

He reolden hair as his expression turned grave

That’s when she knew

She was dead or ruined

Either way, it amounted to the same

Chapter Two

Many ti their verbal spats, Benedict had prayed Cassandra Mills would receive her co him in front of his friends Her unkind reh he offered the sa retorts, she always drew first blood

On rare occasions, he caught a fleeting gliirl with a vitality that stole his breath The girl who had kissed hiift and told his

Now, as she lay on the grass in nothing but a dirty che from her coiffure, he felt neither love nor hatred Shock rendered him insensible Numb

But then she opened her mouth, and the usual vile diatribe followed “You! I should have known you would plan soly sneer She tried to push up to a sitting position but lacked the strength in her limbs

The fact she thought so little of hi like the lash of a whip