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Thank God It would still take tiet from the county seat of Lawley out to the tiny town of Wishful, but God willing, she could be face down on the glorious bed in the penthouse at The Babylon in another hour, falling into blessed unconsciousness Right thissounded better than that

Flagging where she’d left off, Tess s to follow up on when she called to check in with her teaathered up her paperwork, stowing it neatly in the relevant folders and squaring the edges before sliding the pile into her Italian leather briefcase, alongside her favorite fountain pens The tidy little MacBook went next, and finally her planner in the outside pocket By the tiaot thrown at her next

At least until she stepped off the plane

Her father aiting on the tar-sleeved polo shirt On a work day As she descended the short flight of steps, he took off his aviator sunglasses and hooked the his face

“There’sthe breath out of her

“Wait ato seeing the weekend version of her dad during business hours

He set her down, frowning “Problem?”

Tess relinquished the briefcase and threw her ar back “That’s better Hi, Daddy” She nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder, feeling soth of his e she needed soht now,

but she’d soak it up nonetheless

“Good flight?”