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“I worked that out.” Cas smiled because she was smiling at him, and the curve to her wide mouth was irresistible. In a purely platonic way.

Work associates, her best friend is married to my adopted brother, who’ll kill me if I upset his new wife, and—I’m planning to spend every waking hour and all my cash on a new business—no room for sexy games.

“How long were you planning to stay?” She heeled off her boots and tucked her feet underneath her, her body language signalling she was open to persuasion on the deal.

“I haven’t decided. What about you?”

“When I left home, I thought I’d give my sisters a few hours—me a few hours—to calm down, then I unlocked the door, settled on the sofa, took my first mouthful of hot chocolate, and decided I needed a longer break. I’m staying the full month Anna is away.”

“If I get the small bedroom, can I have that boxy little room the real estate agent calls a study as well?”

She inclined her head, probably trying to work out what he wanted it for. That was restricted information at this stage.

“Seems reasonable,” she said.

“Seems like we can both do reasonable.”

“No promises. Let’s review how it’s working in a week.”

“Then what? We toss a coin to see who moves out?” Cas didn’t want to move out in a week and was more interested by the minute in spending a bit of alone time with the private, intriguing, beguiling Beatriz Gomez. She was part of his inner circle now. It made sense to get to know her better.

Right! And the fact I’ve always found her subtle style sexy as hell has nothing to do with it.

Sexy, but unavailable.

“That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

“I’ll take it,” he said. “Do you cook?”

“Do you?” She shot bolt upright, and he laughed.

“Actually I have a few reliable dishes. If you don’t like those, when it’s my turn, I’ll spring for takeaway.”

“What about tonight?”

“You haven’t been shopping?” he asked.

“I was going to rummage in the freezer tonight. Anna said it was stocked.”

“Bet she labels everything neatly. How about I get takeaway to celebrate our new living arrangements? Thai, Indian, Italian?” Okay, his budget could stretch to paying for takeaway for two, once in a while. And this was in the nature of a celebration.

“Turkish? I’m a big fan of Middle Eastern dips. There’s a good place at the end of the block that Anna and I have used a few times.”

“Works for me.” Turkish was cheap.Thank you, Jaddatee. “I’ll sort my gear then head off.”

* * *

Barely an hour aftershe’d fled the office, Bea had fled her family home. She’d kept her mouth shut at work. The effort had apparently used up the last of her patience. She’d done a runner before saying things to her sisters she’d regret.

“You’re lazy, selfish, self-indulgent cows” still hovered on the tip of her tongue.

Honesty compelled her to admit she’d probably contributed to their self-absorption as much as her parents. She’d taken on the role of surrogate parent while her parents worked all the hours they could. Her sisters had pigeon-holed her by turns as an indulgent or a stern adult, more disciplinarian than playful sibling, and always on-tap banker.

“Work is your life. It’s all you’ve got.”Lisa’s, her second youngest sister, words had been a rusty blade gutting her, the truth and the lie in them equally hurtful. Earning money dominated her life, but she had other dreams.

Then Casildo and she had started negotiating terms, and somewhere in the conversation Bea accepted what her instinct was screaming. She wasn’t going home until Anna returned from her honeymoon.

Moving into share housing is a normal rite of passage to adulthood.