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He nodded "Would you mind if I took the casket back and asked Ted and Jaden to take a look at it and see if they can find out anything about it in their reference materials?"

"No I don’t mind at all," she said

He sat back She smiled at him "Liam, the more I’m in it, the reat house," he said flatly

She seemed more at ease "So, why don’t we talk about you for a while? It’s not a surprise that you’re a cop, you know You alanted to solve every riddle So…what have you been doing all these years? Did you graduate, go right into the police force?"

He shook his head, wishing that his tension would ease "I went to the U of M I went into criminal studies, spent some time in Miami, took special classes that were offered up in Quantico, thought about the FBI and careat place to live, but I missed the water Yes, it’s on the Potoo in every day"

She laughed "That was an easy roundup of a lot of years!" she told hi, and about her partner, Avery He was a ith ani her own boss "Which, of course, is why I’m able to spend time down here now," she said "But you’re kind of the boss now, aren’t you? I heard about the shake-up in the police depart home to vindicate hireat guy I’m under him," Liam said "But since I’m known to work all hours and all days, I can take time when I need it, which I did recently, when I went off with David, Katie, Sean, Vanessa and others on the fil the recent massacre on Haunt Island"

She set a hand on his "That’s the problem, Liam You’ve been so busy with really horrific events Please--you’re worrying about me too much I’m fine"

When she touched hiertips created an instant tension in his erous things to happen to his state of arousal

He drew his hand back "I just want you to be careful, Kelsey, that’s all"

She seemed troubled that he had draay He didn’t want to explain

Soon after, they finished and walked out on the docks They could alrowing pines obscured it, but she had left on lights in the front and back of the house, so a glow could be seen

"It’s pretty, huh?" Kelsey asked

"Uested

They drove back to the house When she unlocked the front door, he was tense again He didn’t knohat he expected That so appeared to be any different

Kelsey see drinks and cookies out to the sand, since they had passed on dessert He agreed They went out through the family rooainst the shore was a pleasant sound Light glowed froht clouds could be seen drifting over the water

"It is really beautiful, isn’t it?" Kelsey asked

"Just like Eden," he said dryly

She s to just touch his shoulder!

"Hey! It’s beautiful," he agreed He was quiet apiece of property, with the best view around It still worries me I still wish you’d stay with me Or Katie and David, or Sean and Vanessa, or--"

"I’ with any set of lovers, thank you very much"

"Jonas runs a B and B," Liae you"

"Then I wouldn’t stay there And it actually isn’taccounts, and, thank you, but my career is actually lucrative!"

"I assumed it was You said that it would be silly"

"It would be silly"

"What about staying without on the water A slow smile touched her lips, and after a moment she answered softly, "I can’t stay with you"