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“You don’t have to share a bedroom to make love,” she dismissed his argument.

“Why, Miranda, is that what you’ve been teaching your niece?” Tugging on a strand of her hair, he pulled her head back to expose her throat, then drew a finger down to rest on the pulse hammering there, his eyes alight with humour.

Lela’s brain went into meltdown. Close to her, his jacket fell open, and the colours of his unconventional tie danced before her eyes. He flashed a stupid grin that made his freckles stand out more. Fewer than Lela had first assumed, itching to lift a hand to his face and count them. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, her knees started to buckle, and her vision to mist over remembering the taste of last night’s kiss, warm, intoxicating, virile man mixed with the richness of a sweet Botrytis wine. She moaned and leaned towards him.

“Steady. If you don’t stop looking at me as if you want to swallow me whole, Mariella Debrincat is going to have a whole lot more to think about. Might even ask Sophie who I am.”

“Then let go of me,” she ordered, stunned that his touch could make her forget where they were.

“Just making sure you can stand upright before I do,” he murmured.

Chapter Six

Walking the two blocksto the car, Hamish made a few decisions. “Back in the car, Lela.” He opened the passenger door. “Our next step needs a bit more planning.”

“Back to the hotel?”

“Not yet. I’ll drive while you ring Marty and fill him in.”

“We can find the cousins on Gozo ourselves, can’t we? I overheard a tourist in the hotel lobby talking about going to Gozo. It’s not far. We could go today.” She was babbling, planning action to cover the double hit to her poise—Mariella Debrincat’s revelations and her reaction to him.

“Better to think it through, consider consequences. What’s the bet Mrs. Debrincat is on the phone to Peter already. We know they’re safe. Marty can check if they’re where she says they are or have someone keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t take off again. We can go across tomorrow.”

“Mariella will warn them we’re coming, but won’t encourage them to run.” She made it a statement of fact.Composure restored. “She wants it ended one way or another.”

“I have to sweat blood to win your trust, while she just smiles.”

“You forget. Her link to me is through Mama, whereas your entrée to this search party is through Papa.”

“A man you say you love.”

Her dimple peeped out. “I love him, but never underestimate Papa’s determination when he’s set on a goal.”

Hamish listened to Lela’s end of the conversation with Marty. He applauded her brief summary of what they’d learned and listened to her arranging for Marty to send a text when he was able to confirm the information.

“Where are we going?” She glanced out the side window.