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was a man without drive, ambition or potential. Despite the fact that he didn t even
have the wherewithal to keep his car running.
With nothing more than a sexy saunter and a low-slung pair of faded jeans, he d
wormed his way right into her unhappy heart.
Bolt s voice startled her.  You re still mad at me.
 No, she responded sharply, willing her voice not to crack as she pulled her face
out of her hands. She even managed the semblance of a brave smile for the man who
stood in the doorway.  It s something else. I ve just received some bad news.
 Bad news? Bolt s eyebrows crushed together in an expression of concern.
Tavia ignored his expression as she forged on.  My accountant cleaned out my
bank account ten days ago, she informed him.  I ve had the police on him. They just
called to tell me he left the country a week ago.
Bolt just continued to frown.
 I m broke, she told him flatly.
 You have another phone line? I didn t hear the phone ring.
 The call came in on my cell, she told him.
He nodded stiffly as though holding back a rage of emotions.  You should have
told me, he finally said, tightly.  I m sorry.
She nodded without looking at him.  It was really none of your business.
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Madison Hayes
 But you can keep writing. His voice was surprisingly gentle.  It won t take long
before you re back on top again.
She pushed out a bitter laugh. The guy was tenacious. Why hadn t she seen this in
him before?
 Anything I make for the next several years will go to pay off the debt my
accountant ran up in my name. I ll have to stop work on the house and put it on the
market.
Tavia watched as his fists bunched and his eyes narrowed to frigid slits. His mean
mouth settled into a stubbornly vicious line. Tavia shook her head. You d have thought
it was his money that had been lost.
Abruptly, he shook out his hands though he still glowered.  I m sorry. He scraped
a hand back through his stiff, rowdy hair.  But I was getting tired of this place
anyhow.
Tavia clasped her hands together and locked them against her chin to stop it from
trembling. She might have expected this from the almighty prick.
He nodded grimly.  I think you ll like my place. It s smaller and cozier. He lifted
one shoulder as he forced an apologetic smile onto his mouth.  I d like to kill the guy
who did this to you, Tavia. But& it s just money. I m sorry. I m not a multi-millionaire
but you won t starve as long as I m around.
At this point, Tavia had to remind herself to breathe. Her heart felt like it was about
to explode. The rest of her felt like she was melting. Maybe that s why all that liquid
was running out of her eyes. She was melting. That was the only explanation.
 Tavia!
The next thing she knew, Bolt was on his knees beside her. Reaching out with one
hand, he cupped the side of her face as she tried to hide her tears in his hand.  Tavia,
don t cry, baby doll. It s only money! You ll like my place. And& and I can t wait to
introduce you to Mindy, my next-door neighbor the mining engineer! She s been
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Miss October
trying to get me hooked up for years. He glanced back at the door.  I was just on the
phone, teasing her about you.
Tavia squeezed her eyes closed and hid her face in his hand, pressing her lips
together as tears flooded her eyes. She had been ready to cry. But not like this. She had
been ready to cry in anger. She had been ready to shed tears of pain. But she hadn t
planned on crying because the male animal kneeling beside her was the most incredibly
wonderful man on the face of the earth.
It wasn t the money. He didn t care about the money.
And Mindy was his best friend.
Tavia might have been the happiest woman on the planet, except for one thing.
She d just lied to him.
And that just made her cry harder.
 Tavia, he murmured, drawing her into his arms and rocking her in his big strong
embrace.  Tavia. Don t cry. Don t cry, baby doll.
 You re& you re just so sweet, she sobbed.
He looked both shocked and affronted as he leaned back and held her face. His
wide thumbs smoothed over her tear-streaked cheeks.  Hey, hey, hey, he argued
softly.  Don t get all sentimental on me now. You re scaring me. Remember me? I m
Bolt. I m the fucking prick who kissed Maria.
Tavia laughed. And she cried. And she buried her head in his shoulder.
* * * * *
 Are you mad at me? Tavia asked Bolt after she d confessed her lie.
 Hell yes, I m mad at you. You thought I was only interested in your money. I m [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]