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Lola was so literal, he thought But did it reallyin with hireat, and if not, they’d es of theup, he saw—and then put it down in the sand He closed his eyes He needed a vacation With Lola sorted out now, perhaps he could finally rest

The prospect had appeared unlikely when he’d o Aaudy resort wear, she was sitting forlornly on her suitcase—a Louis Vuitton rollerboard—her hair fallen across a pair of large white-fralasses As he calasses Her eyes were puffy “I shouldn’t have come,” she said “I didn’t knohat to do I wanted to call you, but I didn’t want to ruin your Christ I could do, anyway It’s all so depressing”

“Did someone die?” he asked

“I wish,” she said “My parents are bankrupt And now I have to leave New York”

Philip didn’t understand how her parents could have lost all their s? His impression of Fabrikant mère and père was that, while superficially silly, they were simple, practical people ould never allow themselves to be involved in any kind of scandal Especially Beetelle The woman was too voluble, too iht be unfavorably judged herself But Lola insisted it was true She would have to leave New York; she didn’t knohere she would go, but not with her parents Worst of all, she wouldn’t be able to continue to work for him

He understood i for With a word, he could solve all her proble care of Lola wouldn’t be a burden financially, as he had plenty of money and no children Bu

t was it the right thing to do? His instincts told him no She wasn’t his responsibility; if she moved in with him, she would be

When they arrived at the Cotton House hotel in Mustique, they immediately made love, but just as he was about to co her head away as if she didn’t want his were over his shoulders

“Nothing,” she whimpered

“So you?”

“No”

“I’m about to come,” he said

“This ht be one of the last times we make love It makes me sad,” she said

His hard-on dissipated, and he lay down next to her

“I’ his face