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She hoped her nose wasn't shiny but ten to one it was It also felt a little sunburnt and was probably glowing like a beacon She tried to ignore the effect his ss as she said, 'Nevertheless I don't knohat I'd have done if you hadn't happened by It was a ridiculous position to be in I'm not normally a fluttery type of female'
Travis didn't reply to this What he did say was, 'And you're feeling better now?'
'Better?' She stared at him warily 'I don't understand'
'You said you'd taken the cottage for a while because you had been ill,' he re it was doing you good'
'Oh, I'm fine now,' she said firmly 'Back to normal'
'Overwork, was it?' The black eyebroere enquiring
She hadn't expected him to push the point and it took her aback so she didn't answer immediately It hen she saw his eyes narrow that she forced herself to say, 'Partly, yes,' in as cool a voice as she couldoffen¬sive There was absolutely no way she was going to discuss her past with Travis Black No way With this in mind, she added, 'It was peace and quiet I wanted and this cottage provides it No having to be up at the crack of dawn to fightwith builders or trying to appease clients, no people I don't have to see a soul here and that's the way I like it' Big hint there Take it
The slight quirk to the fire had been received and understood He was a tres¬passer, an unwelcouilty She hadn't asked hiht three weeks ago but she'd had no option then, and she had thanked him for his assistance ht because it was uilty harder toaround this man
'At least you've provided a spark of excitement hereabouts,' Travis said drily 'You're the talk of the village Did you know that? Everyone's consumed by curiosity, apparently'
Beth showed her alarm 'Why is anyone interested in me?'
'A beautiful e in the middle of nowhere and lives the life of a recluse Why do you think?' he said softly 'All the hallood book'
Beth stared at the dark craggy face He was enjoying this, enjoying needling her, she thought, watching him as he swal¬lowed the last of his wine She was blowed if she was going to offer hilass She adopted the face and posture which alorked with difficult builders or clients and said crisply, 'I' better to talk about Theylives round here'