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Summer shook her head "Do you ot to be a bit lad you were there," Suel You helped ht"

"You helped me, too"

"Me? How?" Summer could hardly believe that

"It’s true," Ja your pain re Christy"

"Was it worse knowing she’d married that sheriff?" Su about Brett’s wedding hurt thekind, were more than happy to relate the details and what they knew about his bride Every piece of inforry?" she asked How anyone could treat Jaed to a man as wonderful as James and then to secretlySury at first, so er cagression on the court It helped"

Suured that was a sport an attorney would enjoy

"Itout Brett was aze and nodded "Other than the first feeeks after he broke our engage was the worst It seemed so co so terribly If it was ever in me to hate him, it would’ve been then"

"And now?"

"Now," she repeated "I certainly don’t hate Brett, but I don’t love hi part oftime my world felt empty without him"

"Does it feel empty now?"

"Not in the least I’m happy, James, and I didn’t believe that would ever be possible"

"Then I was right It took you a year"

She laughed "I’ht"

"There isn’t anyone I’d rather be with on New Year’s Eve" He glanced at his watch and stood "I hope you haven’t eaten"

"I didn’t I only arrived a little over an hour ago, and I’, so her appetite had been nil all day Her stomach wanted to make up for lost ti through the crowds gathered around slottables With several thousand peoplearound outside, she’d assu

Ja it firood that felt By the tiant, romantically lit restaurant, Summer felt as if she’d survived a riot So much for all the effort she’d taken with her appearance She thought she was fortunate to be in one piece

After a five-minute wait, they were escorted to a booth and presented with elaborateshadows on the walls The noise and bustle upstairs and on the street outside the casino were blessedly absent

They dined in leisure, shared a bottle of white wine and a calorie-rich dessert They had so much to talk about--books, movies, world events, their families and enuinely interested in her budding career as an actress

When she learned he’d recently been appointed a superior court judge to the King County bench, she insisted on ordering chane to celebrate

"You should’ve told me sooner," she said "It’s such wonderful news--so well-deserved"

"It’s just te uncoe Killmar, who had to retire for medical reasons"

Summer wasn’t sure he would’ve told her if she hadn’t asked him about his own hopes and dreaoals to serve as a superior court judge

"You intend on running for the position yourself, don’t you?"

"Yes," he said "But the primary isn’t until Septeuarantees"

"You’ll win," Suer at hiine anyone not voting for you"

Jao," he said She thought she heard hinore that

By the time they’d finished dinner, it was close to twelve As they made their way out of the casino, someone handed Summer a foil crown and a noisemaker She donned the hat and handed James the whistle