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"You’re looking good. I mean, you’re looking well—fully recovered." said Vivian.

"I feel it." He raised a dark eyebrow. "Aren’t you going to invite me inside?"

"Of course!" She opened the door wide and as he walked into the hall she thought that the fact he had had to ask spoke volumes about the distance which had grown between them. As did the fact that he hadn’t touched her—and the coolly remote look on his dark face which showed no inclination to do so. She faced him awkwardly.

"Where shall we go?"

He wondered how she would react if he suggested the bedroom, but, while that wasn’t quite the last thing on his mind, that wasn’t the reason he had come here today. "Is it warm enough to sit outside?"

"I think so. Shall I make us some coffee and bring it onto the balcony?"

But he didn’t want a social ritual. He didn’t even particularly want coffee. He shook his head. "Not unless you really want some. I’m fine."

"So am I."

He hadn't forgotten just how beautiful it felt to be around