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“Is that a complaint?”

Cradled against Nico’s chest, she considered that.

“Not exactly. But it’s been two days. I can hobble around well enough.”

“But you don’t need to when I’m here to carry you.”

She smiled. “At some point though I should probably get back to La Villetta.”

He eased her down on the edge of the pool, so her feet dangled in the water. It was bliss – a blessed relief from the sting of the day’s warmth and respite for her ankle.

“There’s no rush.”

“Is this some frustrated doctor fantasy?” She teased, running her fingertips through the water and splashing a little his way. He caught her fingers and lifted them to his lips, kissing them lightly. Butterflies burst through her.

He laughed, gruffly. “No. Believe me, I’m as surprised as you are. I’m not really the ‘tender, love and care’ kind of guy.”

It was just an expression but the idea of Nico loving and caring her – really loving and really caring for – set her pulse alight in a way that had her breath catching in her throat. “So why are you doing this?” She looked away, unable to meet his eyes, needing a moment to regroup.

“My nephew. My dog. My grass. I feel responsible.”

“Ah.” She nodded sagely. “Guilt care. I see.”

He caught her chin, drawing her face back to his, and his eyes ran over her features so slowly, so painstakingly intently that she forgot to breathe altogether.

“That,” he agreed. “And I don’t like seeing you in pain.”

Something flopped against her belly. She bit down on her lip, refusing to think of Michael, refusing to remember the pain he’d inflicted. But the comparison was impossible to ignore. Here was a man who was doing everything he could to ease her pain. He wanted, more than anything, for her to be happy.

There was such cruelty in this. Cruelty that he was Michael’s friend. Cruelty that she’d slept with him before realising their connection. Cruelty that even with all those issues put aside, he was adamantly against any kind of relationship. Their time together was like a mirage in the midst of a desert. Seemingly perfect, but not based in reality.

“It’s definitely getting better.” She slipped into the water, the coolness lapping against her sides, relaxing her even as she felt a growing sense of trouble.

“Alessia messaged this morning, to check up.”

Maddie hadn’t thought of the other woman since she’d left. Strange when she’d been assailed by such a strong sensation of jealousy. Then again, maybe it wasn’t strange. Perhaps that was part of this magical mirage she’d entered into with Nico. He made her feel so completely safe, unthreatened and content. She refused to believe he’d ever hurt her. So what if he and the stunning doctor had been together at some point? Did that matter?

Not one little bit, and yet she was a natural born question-asker, so she found herself saying, “You seemed to know her quite well?”

“Yes.” Closed off. He pulled his shirt from his body then stood, diving into the water and swimming a length before circling back and catching her around the waist.

But she wasn’t prepared to let the matter drop so easily. “Yes?”

Something like consternation shifted in his features. “She’s…an old family friend.”

“But you and she were more than that?”

“What?” Surprise was obvious. “Christo, no. Alessia and me?” He pulled a face then laughed. “Definitely not.”

“Oh.” And despite the fact she’d just told herself she wasn’t jealous, relief was unmistakable.

“Why would you think that?”

She lifted her shoulders. “You just seemed to know each other well.”

“We’re friends. You don’t have guy friends?”

“I don’t want you seeing him ever again.”

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