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Page 163

| mouth again. ''I see Ashton has told you a little about my past activities," he said, his dark eyes gleaming down into hers. |

| "Yes, a little," Sasha said, squaring her shoulders. |

| "That is unfortunate," Stanford said, giving Ashton a slow, smug smile. "I would much rather speak for myself." |

| "You have not said why you are at our sheep station," Sasha persisted, ignoring Ashton's hand that had deftly circled her wrist, trying to pull her back to his side. |

| Stanford's eyebrows rose. "You speak as though you and Ashton jointly own the sheep station," he said, looking from Sasha to Ashton. Then he focused his eyes purposely on the ring finger of her left hand. "How can that be? You are not married. I see no wedding band." |

| "One does not have to be married to be in joint partnership," Sasha told him. She gave Ashton a half glance, then looked up at Stanford again. "And, no, sir, we are not man and wife. Only business partners." |

| "Then that means that you are free to let a man come to call?" Stanford asked, smiling down at Sasha. |

| Sasha's mouth fell open. She would never have expected such a question from a man of such a questionable background and personality. "Why, sir, I" Sasha began, but Ashton quickly interceded. |

| "Get the hell off our property," Ashton warned darkly. "Sasha wants nothing to do with the likes of you." |

| "Oh?" Stanford said, arching a dark eyebrow. "Do |

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