Italian Doctor, Sleigh-Bell Bride by Sarah Morgan

Author:Sarah Morgan [Morgan, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459291737
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-12-07T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

THEY decided to admit Emma, and Liv was helping Susan make a call to the insurance company when Stefano strode into the room.

‘Liv?’

Relieved to see him, she gently extracted herself from Susan’s clutches. ‘Go and see Emma.’ Checking that Susan had everything she needed, Liv followed him out of the room. ‘She’s terribly upset.’

‘I noticed. More upset about her things than her daughter,’ he said in a cool tone.

‘It’s hard for her. Her husband left in the summer and she’s been really struggling.’ Liv ran her fingers over her forehead, trying to ease the throbbing ache. ‘Anyway, Emma will be fine and that’s the main thing. Are you going home now?’ Just saying the word made her feel slightly strange because she realised that she didn’t have a home to go back to. ‘I need to talk to the fire service.’

‘I’ve just done it. The blaze is out but it’s too soon for them to assess the damage. They think it was caused by faulty Christmas-tree lights in a flat on the ground floor.’ He frowned. ‘You look awful. You need to rest. You and Max can stay with me for now.’

Liv was so stunned by his unexpected offer that for a moment she just gaped at him. Then she shook her head. ‘No way. We couldn’t possibly.’

‘I’m not letting you refuse, so don’t even waste time arguing.’ His tone was forceful but she still hesitated.

‘That’s far too generous an offer. I just…couldn’t.’

‘Yes, you could. And you will.’

‘Having me around will cramp your style.’

‘What style is that?’ His eyes gleamed with irony. ‘Liv, you’ve seen my life. I work. When I get home, I sleep. You won’t be cramping anything. I want you to move in.’

She couldn’t believe he was making this offer. ‘You’ve never let a woman move in with you.’

‘That’s because I don’t like anyone tracking my movements. And I hate anyone asking what time I’m finishing work. You won’t do that because the chances are that you’ll be stuck at work, too. Now stop arguing and just say yes.’

It was such an overwhelming gesture that she felt her throat close. ‘Max is a very lively little boy,’ she said thickly. ‘He’ll break something. They say that trouble comes in threes. My car is dead, my flat is no more—perhaps the third thing will be Max breaking something valuable that I can’t afford to replace.’

‘He can break anything he likes. It’s a home, not a museum.’ Visibly exasperated, Stefano raked his fingers through his hair. ‘Liv, for once just say yes.’

‘Why?’ She looked at him helplessly. ‘Why are you doing this?’

‘Because I like you.’

‘You…do? You like me?’ Her car was dying, her house had just burned down. But the way Stefano was looking at her made her feel as though something amazing had just happened.

‘I like you.’ A muscle flickered in his jaw. ‘And I like Max.’

Overwhelmed, she took a step backwards. ‘Don’t do that,’ she said hoarsely. ‘Don’t be nice to me, Stefano, or I’ll bawl all over you again and you know how much you enjoyed it the last time.

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