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Shana didn’t resent the fact that her niece called Adam her uncle anymore It seemed natural for her to do so What didn’t seehts And, in all honesty, that wasn’t just due to Jaz," Adam said as he ait that said he was ready for action He wore black jeans and a casual denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up

"Hi" Her voice faltered a little This was one attractive nore Nonetheless, her hands trembled as she reached for a paper towel and wiped theht her Rollerblades" Thankfully it was early enough that the ice-cream parlor didn’t have any custo lot"

"Oh" Now that was an intelligent response and Shana resisted the urge to kick herself She intensely disliked the way Adaer Until recently, she’d considered herself a competent professional, a woman who could cope with any social situation, and it irked her no end that this itate her like this "Where are you two headed today?" she asked conversationally, hoping to hide her coister, apparently in no hurry to leave "I haven’t decided yet I thought I’d get soestions from Miss Jazz"

"Good idea" Before she sent hihten hi efforts to match up the two of theo?"

"Sure" He slid onto one of the stools

Rubbing her palhts "I don’t know if you’ve noticed," she began, "but Jaz the two of us together" She paused "This is in spite of your…little talk"

Adaot the hint in our last phone conversation, when she startedyour name in practically every sentence"

"She does that to you, too?" Interesting And, she supposed, predictable "You’re a frequent topic of conversation yourself"

He chuckled "She’s been e- me updates on you"

"Updates on what?"

"I haven’t paid a lot of attention"

She was unexpectedly miffed by that but decided his indifference was probably for the best

"By the way, how’s Brad?"

Shana nearly bit her tongue in an effort to hide her reaction "I thought you said you weren’t paying attention," she said "Brad isn’t important"

"Really? That’s curious because--"

"I have so hiot sidetracked by the unpleasant subject of Brad

"Have at it," Ada toward her

"First, since we’re both aware that Jaz matchmaker, it seems the best defense is to be honest with each other" She half expected an arguree"

He seeht as an overwound guitar string

"Okay," she said, taking a deep breath "I think you’re wonderful with Jazmine and…and o and she wasn’t about to give hiement

"Really?" He perked up at that

"Yes," she admitted reluctantly, "and there are probably a few other positive traits I could add"

He checked his watch "I have ti into why I feel a relationship between us wouldn’t work--"

"Aren’t you being a little hasty?" he asked without allowing her to finish

"No," she insisted "Besides, I’ht spelling liar was flashing over her head She was interested, but she suspected this whole attraction thing was just the result of being on the rebound She needed to take it slow, ease into another relationship Letting Adam Kennedy sweep her off her feet was definitely a bad idea

He stared at her blankly "Interested in what?"

"You I don’t mean to be blunt or rude, but I felt I should be clear about that"

"No probleed

"I didn’t mean to offend you"

"You didn’t," he assured her and he certainly didn’t look put off by her confession

"It’s just that this isn’t the right tiet involved," she rushed to add, confused now and ht this through more carefully "I’ve only had the business a short while, and all y and resources are tied up in it"

"Of course Thatto do with you personally" She was only digging herself in deeper now but couldn’t seem to stop

"Shana, it’s not a proble, it’s a relief"