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“Really? And who did you decideon?”

She slowly rubs my thighs with the tips of her fingers. “Me. I’m going to be on the cover. I got the idea from Daniella, Antonio Michaels’wife.”

“You? Oh baby, that’s brilliant. Your beautiful face deserves to be on that cover—well, on any magazinereally.”

“I’m pretty excited.” She lets out a smallchuckle.

“Yeah, you say you’re excited, but I still think something is bugging you,” I say, hoping she’ll openup.

“I won’t be completely happy until everything is finalized. Including the fate of theALLMecampaign.”

I rub her head. “Don’t, worry, babe. It’ll all workout.”

After our bath,Lauren climbs into bed, and sips on the cup of chamomile tea I prepared for her. Then I rub her head as she falls asleep, her head resting on my lap. And when she has completely dozed off, I slip out of the room, take Truffles outside to handle his business, watch the local news, then lock up thevilla.

When I climb into bed next to my sleeping beauty, she wakesup.

Lauren grabs hold of my face, kisses my lips, and murmurs, “Make love tome.”

So I do. And God, does it feelgood.