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'Sorry, poor choice of words I mean, before either of us et to know each other with open minds Mmm?'

The prospect was appalling Clare could feel herself begin to blush and turned away, but not quickly enough for his observant eye

'Do I eest is intellectual rather than physical You would not be co your position with your…er… employer'

'My lover, you oaded by his delicacy to snap

'Do I? Are you lovers…you and the 'old guy', to borrow y?'

'That's none of your business'

'It would be if Miles Parrish had some stake in Tim's future If, for example, he were to become the boy's stepfather'

'Miles and I are not conte out the protective possibility 'But even if ere, any decision about Tim would be mine'

'Is that fair? Not to share the responsibility for him? Does not the fa equal love and responsibility? Otherwise there can be conflict and resentment Both natural and stepchildren should surely be treated equally'

Clare ran a nervous hand through her hair, tucking it back behind her ear and then flicking it forward again when he stared at the exposed curve of her neck 'How did we get into this ridiculously hypothetical discussion?' she asked shakily, wishing she wasn't so self-conscious in his presence

'I was trying to find out whether you were serious about Miles Parrish Does he know about this kissing cousin of yours in Auckland hoardens?'

Clare'sher sound like a promiscuous tart—she who had never looked at another e of discovery, and her hand came up to depress it

He was laughing at her 'I am terrible, no? You are interested in neither of these twoserious h'

'No, it's your words that ly 'You speak better English than I do, so why do you put on this mock-Russian accent?'

'Habit People expect it They find it endearing'