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“What are you doing over here?” She tucks a strand of her long curly hair behind her ear It’s a beautiful auburn color, like trees in autumn, their leaves about to fall “You took your life in your hands venturing out into this weather”

“I wanted to check you were all right,” I tell her “I didn’t like the idea of you being alone”

She gives me a wry look “I’”

“I know”

She oes to lean on the wall that surrounds the animals I join her, our arms a few inches apart The animals are quiet at theof the rafters

“Where’s Jack?” she asks, referring to the Jack Russell who’s usually by my side

“Back at the Ark I didn’t want to bring him out in this weather”

“Any news on the cyclone?”

“We’re in the middle of it now I think we can expect another couple of hours of this”

She nods “I brought a sleeping bag I thought I htened”

“I’ll stay with you, if you like”

Her green-eyed gaze coain “You don’t need to do that”

“I know” I take a deep breath Time to show my hand “I want to spend so to you?”

Her eyes widen Albie told et subtlety, and that she won’t believe I’ht up—that she would think I’ polite when I try to talk to her, and I realize he was right