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Shana knew better than to pretend she didn’t understand that her niece was referring to Lieutenant Commander Adam Kennedy "I think your uncle Ada, which gave Jazmine cause to look at Shana intently But really, what else could she say? Her unexpected attraction to this man had completely overwhelmed her She could only hope it passed quickly How could she be devastated by her breakup with Brad and at the same time, experience all the symptoms of extreme attraction toward another man? A man she’d met for about five ht

"He’s really cute, too" Jazed to remind her of this

As if Shana needed a reht, he’s cute" The words nearly stuck in her throat, but with no set theirl see up until she got Shana to confess she was interested in Adam Kennedy She wasn’t, of course Okay, she was, but that was as far as it went In other words, if he asked her out, which he wouldn’t, she’d refuse Well, she ht consider it briefly, but the ansould still be no

Jazave a soft laugh "I bet you’re hot on hiue The last thing she needed was Jaz Adam this "No way," she denied vehemently She could only pray that wasn’t what Jazz had said to Adalance told her Jazmine didn’t buy her denial She shouldn’t have bothered to lie

"You’re saying that because of your old boyfriend, aren’t you?"

"Absolutely not," Shana protested She stepped hard on the brake at a stop sign she’d aloodness for seat belts Glaring at her niece, she asked, "Who told you that?"

Jaz to you I wasn’t listening in on your conversation, either, if that’s what you’re thinking I tried to find out from Mom, but all she’d tell me was that your heart was broken, and that’s why you ue and too emotionally drained to be upset with her sister If Ali had told Jazmine about Brad, then it was because she felt Jazmine needed to know "I’m completely over Brad I’ot involved with hiun to sound like a worn-out litany

"Brad," Jazmine said, and seeled to hide her reaction Even the ht have worked the last twelve hours straight, and on her feet at that, but she had enough energy left to e toward Brad Still, she would’ve preferred never to talk about hiain

"You still have a heart, though," Jazht?"

"Of course I have a heart" Shana didn’t knohere this was leading and she didn’t care, as long as it didn’t end up on the subject of Adam Kennedy

"That’s why you’re so hot on my uncle Adam" Darn

"I am not hot on your uncle Adam"

"Are too"

"Ahed and despite her irritation, Shana smiled This was not a conversation she wanted to have, but she’d walked right into it and was deteret ," she said in conciliatory tones "I think he’s a very nice et involved with anyone at the moment Understand?"

Jazue, but apparently changed her ?"

Shana decided to nip this question in the bud "Forever"

"That long?" Jazmine threw her a crushed look "You don’t want children? That means I’ll never have cousins!"

"Okay, ree to just about anything

"Months," Jazmine repeated She seeurateful to be hoestions?"

"I can open a can of chili," Jazry, either "Sounds like a perfectly good dinner to me"

"Let me do it, okay?"

"Thanks, Jazz" Shana had no intention of turning down this generous offer "Fabulous" Then considering her role as guardian, she felt obliged to ask, "Do you have any hoood substitute et dinner; Shana would rustle up a decent meal while the kid did her schoolwork A wo that can of chili herself But not one with tired feet and the start of a throbbing headache, brought on by all this talk about Adam Kennedy

Once inside the house, Shana left the front door open to create a cooling breeze She lay back on the sofa and elevated her feet It was little wonder the Olsens had been ready to sell their restaurant This was hard work For part of each day, Shana had her face buried in three-gallon containers of ice crea from permanent frostbite

Jaz pans, clanking one against the other "Do you need any help?" Shana felt she had to ask, but the question was halfhearted, to say the least

"No, thanks"

"This is really very sweet of you"