LITMIR.BIZ

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to square the photographs off in his strong hands. ‘I didn’t know you were coming, remember? And even if I had, as an attempt to make you leave it would have been a signal failure, wouldn’t it?’ he asked with a touch of dryness. ‘Because you seem to be staying. And so you get your wish. You may take the photographs. Of Gozo.’

      ‘Quickly?’ she put in, with a dryness to match his own.

      He gave a slow nod, a glint of amusement in his eyes. A very appealing glint. ‘If I like them, I will use them. If I don’t. . .’

      She shook her head. ‘Any snaps I take will be purely for the family album.’

      ‘Sour grapes, Miss Hart? Not very professional.’

      Eyes narrowed, she observed softly, ‘You’re a man very easy to dislike, Mr Micallef.’

      ‘Refalo,’ he substituted mockingly.

      ‘Mr Micallef,’ she argued. ‘Friends use first names, and we aren’t going to be friends, are we? But I did not know that Nerina had hired me without your knowledge.’

      ‘Didn’t you?’ he derided. ‘Didn’t know that Nerina wasn’t in a position to hire anyone?’

      ‘No. I assumed you must have asked her to ask me.’ She might be attracted to him, affected by him, but it was getting a little tiring, always being on the receiving end. Her feelings were purely sensual, not at all based on knowledge of what he was like as a person. To date, that person had been thoroughly dislikable. ‘And, all things considered,’ she murmured, managing at least to hold his diamond-bright gaze, ‘which, of course, include your distrust and dislike, I think it would be best if I went home. Thank you for your—hospitality.’

      He gave her a considering look. ‘Go to Gozo,’ he ordered softly.

      ‘Because your sister will give you grief if I don’t?’

      ‘Perhaps.’

      ‘Being as paranoid about your privacy as you are, aren’t you afraid that I will discuss your affairs, talk about you?’

      ‘Afraid? No, I’m not afraid, because I doubt you will find anyone on Gozo to talk to me about,’ he said drily. ‘And I’m not in the least paranoid. However, if it bothers you, you could always sign an affidavit swearing confidentiality.’

      ‘I could,’ she agreed. ‘Being Nerina’s friend doesn’t make me honest, does it?’

      ‘No, and if you weren’t, would signing a piece of paper deter you? And even if it did, do you think Nerina would forgive such arrogance? Your word will be sufficient, Miss Hart.’

      “Then you have it. I swear on pain of death not to talk about the Micallef Corporation,’ she murmured with marginal sarcasm, ‘either now or in the future. I swear not to discuss your private concerns in public. I swear. . .’

      A slow, bland smile stretched his mouth, and she cursed the warmth she knew flooded her cheeks.

      ‘Go take your photographs, Miss Hart.’

      Feeling impotent—a feeling she wasn’t in the least used to—she continued to stare at him. ‘And if I do? You don’t intend to interfere?’

      ‘The word is “collaborate”,’ he argued smoothly. ‘And no, I’m sure you work better alone—don’t you?’

      ‘Yes.’

      He hesitated for a moment, watching her carefully, then finally asked, How fond of my sister are you?’

      Surprised, she exclaimed, ‘Very fond!’

      ‘Then when she comes back you will confirm that you like to work alone.’

      ‘In case she tries to make you go with me?’ she guessed.

      ‘No, in case she wishes to accompany you herself.’

      Puzzled, she queried, ‘But you said she was fine now.’

      ‘She is. This has nothing to do with her health, only her—emotions.’

      ‘I don’t understand.’

      ‘Then I will explain.’

      ‘Briefly? Or brutally?’ she queried nicely. ‘You really do dislike me, don’t you? And on such short acquaintance too.’

      ‘I dislike being manipulated, and I don’t like what you are doing to my sister.’ With no hint of emotion, either in voice or stance, he continued, ‘Ever since she met you, it’s been Gillan this, Gillan that. You have a lifestyle she envies, wants to emulate. And, frankly, I think you’re too old for her.’

      ‘Too old?’ she exclaimed, scandalised. ‘I’m twentynine!’

      ‘Nearly thirty.’

      ‘All right, nearly thirty,’ she agreed miffily. Thirty was all right; she could cope with being thirty. ‘I’m not in my dotage!’

      He gave an odd smile. ‘I didn’t say you were, merely that you were too old for Nerina. She’s nineteen—a very impressionable nineteen. Because of her illness, she’s had very little childhood, very few teenage years to experiment, play games.’

      ‘Games?’ she asked in astonishment. ‘What sort of games?’

      ‘Games that the young play. Flirting, being silly, having fun. I love my sister and I want her to enjoy all the things she should have enjoyed if she hadn’t been so ill. And I want her to enjoy all those things with someone her own age, not someone who’s already played them. She thinks she wants to be like you—sophisticated—’

      ‘I’m not sophisticated,’ she protested. ‘I’m ordinary.’

      ‘But experienced,’ he said softly.

      ‘So?’ She glared defiantly.

      ‘So I don’t want Nerina to emulate you,’ he replied mildly.

      ‘Thanks very much.’

      ‘Look—’ he sighed ‘—I’m probably not explaining this very well—’

      ‘Oh, surely not!’ she derided sarcastically. ‘You appear to me to be a man who explains things right down to the last crossed T! No margin for error, no room for mistakes. . .cold, analytical—’

      ‘I want her to be young!’ he interrupted her.

      ‘I am young!’

      ‘But not silly, not giggly, not—learning. She needs to learn, needs not to have missed out on her youth. If she emulates you, she’ll have missed out.’

      ‘So you want me to tell her that I work best alone, that I don’t need her help.’

      ‘If you’re as fond of her as you say you are, then yes, you will.’

      ‘I am fond of her.’

      ‘Yet you have nothing in common. You’re ten years older than her.’

      ‘So? You make it sound unhealthy, and it isn’t! I befriended her, yes—’

      ‘And introduced her to just the sort of people I wish her to avoid.’

      ‘Rubbish!’

      ‘Not rubbish. You took her to a fashion shoot, without my knowledge or consent—’

      ‘Consent?’ she demanded in astonishment. ‘She’s not a baby!’

      ‘Yes, Miss Hart, she is! You encouraged her to disobey me, leave me in the hotel worried out of my mind, not knowing where she was—’

      ‘Now hang on a minute—’

      ‘No,’ he said coldly. ‘You hang on. You introduced her to a lot of unsavoury people—’

      ‘I introduced her,’ she interrupted furiously, ‘to two minor television stars, an agent and

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