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She would just quickly tell him that she appreciated his generous job offer and was
     doing an excellent job with the renovations, but he would have to be disappointed
     in their relationship progressing beyond professional.  And if that meant that he
     no longer wanted her in his employ, so be it.  She loved this house, thought the lines
     and structure were amazing and the history of the building needed to be carefully
     reconstructed.  It would break her heart if she had to stop and turn over the work
     to someone else, someone who might not be as gentle with the renovations. 
    But she would leave it all behind her, watch someone else complete the work from a
     distance if Angelo continued to consider her his next mistress.  No, that wasn’t what
     she wanted for herself.  She was not for sale!  And especially not for some heartless
     man who had too much money.  So what if the man fascinated her like no other man had
     ever done in the past?  She wasn’t one to be pushed around.  She didn’t want to have
     to compromise her scruples…
    And then she saw him.  All thoughts of telling him to stuff his offer went out of
     her mind.  In fact, every thought left her brain as she watched him approach. 
    He didn’t just walk into the house like a normal person.  No, the dark, dangerous,
     demon-like man walked towards her with a purpose unlike any she’d ever seen in her
     life.  It was as if there was no one else in the house, no one else even close by. 
     The hammering, sawing, banging and clattering simply didn’t exist.  All she could
     hear was her heartbeat as he took one long step after another closer to her. 
    When he reached her, there was no greeting.  There were no pleasantries exchanged
     or updates on the renovations. 
    Instead, without pause, without giving her a chance to agree or repulse his kiss,
     he took her into his arms, holding her against his hard frame and kissed her, his
     mouth taking possession of her own and obliterating everything from her consciousness. 
     The man’s kiss was more staggering than she could believe and her whole body was quivering
     as he continued to kiss her, his mouth taking absolute possession and devastating
     her senses. 
    When he finally lifted his head, her breathing was ragged, deep and erratic and her
     mind completely confused as to how she could be so adamant one moment that she was
     simply going to ignore the man and treat him professionally, and the next moment,
     she was clinging to him, her eyes dropping to his mouth as if she could will him to
     kiss her again. 
    “You’re back,” she said, and immediately wondered why she was stupidly stating the
     obvious. 
    Blinking rapidly so she could regain some focus, she cleared her throat and stood
     up, unaware a moment ago that he was holding her in his arms and she was clinging
     to him as if he were her only lifeline.  When her knees were able to hold her weight
     once again, she slowly un-pried her fingers from her grip on his shirt. 
    Clearing her throat, she stepped backwards, giving herself a mental shake.  “It’s
     good to see you, Angelo,” she said, blinking and trying to clear the fogginess from
     her mind.  How could he do this to her?  Hadn’t she just been lecturing herself on
     how she needed to stay clear of him? 
    “You look beautiful,” he said, looking down at her with those strange, black eyes. 
    “Thank you,” she said, blushing because she knew she looked messy, probably with plaster
     dust all over her hair and face.  “How was Madrid?” she asked, clasping her hands
     in front of her nervously. 
    “Hot,” he replied. “But productive.”
    “What were you doing there?”
    Angelo was amused by her attempt to bring their conversation back to the professional. 
     They’d just kissed as if they were both begging to climb into bed and yet, here she
     stood, her body quivering, her lips swollen from their kiss and her mouth spouting
     professional