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He crossed home plate and didn’t stop His brothers, his whole team, stared at him as he trotted behind the protective barrier between hoht for Charlotte Excitedly, she launched herself into his arrabbed her around her waist, lifted her fro her down Her eyes shone with happiness and Jason thought he’d never seen a more beautiful wohed It wasn’t for several athered around theround, but kept his arratulate him, followed by several other teaested Jason bring Charlotte again, since she was definitely his good-luck char at hiaze away The urge to kiss her was so strong, he had to fight to restrain himself He would’ve done it, too, would’ve kissed her in front of everyone and ignored the consequences, if only his brothers hadn’t been present He held back more to protect Charlotte froet frory," Ryan, one of the twins, announced once the exciteonna eat?"

"Soon," Leah proht back," Jason said and, without thinking, did the very thing he’d decided against He kissed Charlotte briefly, before trailing after his brother to get the picnic basket in the trunk of his car

Jason couldn’t believe he’d done that Neither could Charlotte, judging by the look of surprise that flashed in her blue eyes

"Are you going to fess up?" Paul asked, holding a heavy cooler with both hands, studying Jason

"To what?" he de his brother would take the hint

"Charlotte"

"What about her?"

"Don’t go all defensive onhow youtoo touchy "She lives in the coood if he admitted Carrie had offered him money to take her h, will you?"

Paul’s eyes went solemn, as if he was offended by Jason’s remark Then he nodded "Whatever you want"

Paulto Rich, too, because when they sat down to eat, after pushing three picnic tables together, no one gave Charlotte h she’d been part of the family for years Which was just the way Jason wanted everyone to treat her Heaven forbid she figure out how special she was to hih fool of hi

Charlotte’s daughter had won a few hearts all on her own, Jason saw, secretly pleased Ryan and Ronnie had cla out Bethany, who cried with disappointirl on her lap

"I think Carrie’son a chocolate chip cookie His fourth, and he was ready for another

"She loves children She’s the type of kid who’d prefer to be the oldest of ten"

Jason watched as a sadness, however brief, flashed in Charlotte’s eyes It told hi only for Carrie, but herself, as well She otten He re Carrie had told hi more children At the tie and children on her ht didn’t terrify him nearly aslook of pain got to him He’d experienced the desire to protect her in the past, to guard her from hurt, but only when she was in his arht hurt her Now, the need to keep her safe burned in his chest He wanted to block out anything that would cause her pain Most of all, he wanted to meet the ex-husband who’d walked away froht

Although he didn’t know any details of the divorce, Carrie had told him she never heard from her father What kind of man would desert his family? What kind of man would turn a warm, vivacious woman like Charlotte into a near-recluse?

"I like your fa hihts

"Did Leah and Jamie bombard you with questions?"

"A few, but they’re so nice, I didn’t er to know, partially because it ht clear up a few questions he had himself Maybe Charlotte could put into perspective what he was feeling and was unable to define

She laughed, causing the others to momentarily look their way "Are you worried?"

"No" The question surprised him

"For a ht’ve told the you’d rather I didn’t"

"You can tell the it If she chose to imply that they were madly in love, then fine, he’d deal with it On the other hand, if she’d chosen to let his family believe they’d only just met, which wasn’t so far from the truth, then he’d live with that, too

"I told them we’re friends…special friends"

Jason approved He couldn’t have said it better

"Uncle Jase," Ronnie shouted, clutching a Frisbee "Are we ready to play?"