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"Okay," Liaain," Kelsey told hio Kelsey was very afraid that the mood was broken, but Liam’s arain, he swept her off her feet They entered through the faht to lock the door

"Ah, hell, the front!" he said

She laughed as he whirled her around, pretending to whack her head into the wall as he hurried through the house to lock the front door

He started toward the stairs, and to her surprise turned back Still balancing her weight, he headed to Cutter’s office He opened the door, turned on the light and looked around He turned off the light and headed for the stairway again

He ht on this, really," he said softly

She didn’t protest He carried her up the stairs, and once in her rooasped drahed

He fell down on the bed, reaching for her

She eluded hi up to run to the bedroo, but she ran for the bed and pounded down on it, crawling on top of hi her arms around his waist as she leaned down to kiss him

Neither of them asked any more questions

The funeral home had served the residents of Key West for years It would be on the ghost tour tonight, but hopefully, the visitation for Cutter Merlin would be a quiet and decent affair

Liam and Kelsey , to finalize the details

They were both stunned to see the ements of flowers that had arrived, especially since the event hadn’t been well-publicized

"Wow," Kelsey whispered to him "And sadly, Cutter would be horrified He would have told people that they had much better use for their money these days I should have written somewhere that he would have preferred donations to charity"

"I’m sure some of these are from the old-timers here and around," Liam told her "And they would feel that a funeral needed flowers, no matter what you had said"

She nodded They spoke to the director for several ements had been made, the director asked Kelsey, "Do you want an open or closed casket?"

She opened her , apparently taken aback by the question

"Closed," Liam said firmly

The director scratched his answer on his notepad

"And what about the fa first?"

"No," he said, answering for Kelsey again

"As you wish Then, we’re all set The hours for visitation have been set from seven to nine If you arrive about six-thirty, that will be fine"

They walked out into the bright sunlight

Then Kelsey asked him, "Why were you so deter about his death that you haven’t toldto tell her the truth and not really wanting to do so

"Liam, I want to know," she said stubbornly

He looked down the street It was just after ten Music was beginning to pour from a nu at her at last, "I told you--he wasn’t found immediately"

"I know that," she said quietly "But the funeral director didn’t make it sound as if it were so terrible that I shouldn’t have seen hi the bodies of those I love when they’re in their coffins"

"I don’t think you should see hiave you his belongings His ring, his watch--and the book and casket he was holding when he died"

"You’re still not telling ht, Kelsey It appeared that he’d been scared to death"