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She forced a sht In fact, she’d never even met him and was already jealous of the relationship he had with Jazht in front of her--and she found her tongue stuck to the roof of herfor her to reply

"Yes, hi," she said and dropped theliquid over the edges Wiping her wet hand on her white apron, she ht smile "Yes, I’m Ali’s sister"

On closer inspection, she saw that he was tall and apparently very fit So, but Shana decided she didn’t Brad was just as tall and equally fit--fro himself in all the mirrors Adam’s hair was a deep chestnut shade, si that distinguished His was plain brown He ht’ve been considered handsome if not for those small, beady eyes Well, they weren’t exactly s to be as objective as she could He hugged Jazmine and looked at Shana and--no

But he did He looked at Shana and winked The eous This was the very man Jazmine wanted herfor two full days until Shana thought she’d scream if she heard his name one ht hand

She offered her left hand because it was dry and nodded politely "You ht the sarcastic inflection in her voice

He grinned as if he kne much that irritated her Okay, now she had to ad at all In fact, soht even be attracted to him That she could even entertain the re Wasn’t it only a few days ago that she’d declared to her sister that she was co all shaky inside and acting like a girl closer to Jaze than her own This was pathetic

In an attempt to cover her reaction, Shana handed Jaz scoops

"Uncle Adam wants one, too," Jazmine said excitedly, and then turned to him "What happened to your arm?" she asked, her eyes ith concern "Did you break it?"

"Nothing as dra the ar "I had a problem with my shoulder, but that’s been taken care of now"

Jazht, aren’t you?"

"I’ll be fine before you know it"

"Good," Jaz Adam by the hand, she led him across the restaurant to a booth

Shana could hear Jaz up a stor said Working as fast as her arm muscles would allow, she hurriedly dished up a second bowl of ice creaht this business, no one hadsome impressive biceps

She smiled as she carried the second dish over to their booth and hoped he enjoyed the bright teal-blue bubblegum ice cream After she’d set it down in front of hi

Jaz her niece this happy about anythingher best to s her pride, she continued to stand there, unable to think of a thing to say

Her niece glanced up as if noticing her for the first ti Uncle Adairls just wanted to be friends I didn’t believe hiht have been able to fade into the background then if Ada hiirls gave it back?" Adaaze returned to Jazmine

Her niece nodded "Madison asked me to sit next to her at lunch today and I did"

Adah five "That’s great!"

"Can I get you anything else?" Shana asked, feeling like a third wheel These two apparently had a lot to discuss, and no one needed to tell her she was in the way Besides, she had a business to run Several custo the list of ice-crea, thanks" He dipped his plastic spoon into the ice creaain and their eyes s He see about her seeh he was sure he knew her fro can you stay?" her niece asked

Adam turned his attention back to Jazmine

Shana waited, curious to know the answer herself

"Just a couple of hours"

"Two hours!" Jazot to get back to base for ainto the conversation "He has to go back to Everett We wouldn’t want to detain him, noould we?" She didn’thim on his way, but she wanted him out of there Shana disliked how he made her feel--as if…as if she was on the brink of some important personal discovery Like she’d told her sister, she was off et Brad out of her systeured Now, all of a sudden, there was this man, this uncle Adaood sensation for her to be having It contradicted everything she’d been saying--and it ain soon," Ada directly at her as he said it

"I want to knohat happened to your arm," Jazmine insisted