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Bruce rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand "I’ve missed you"
"Me, too," she said breathlessly "Are you sure about this?"
He grinned "Why not? I want to be with you, and if thatfor a room, then so be it" He was already halfway out of the booth
"Bruce," she whispered "We don’t have the bill"
"Don’t worry, Goldie will get it to us" He peeled off a five-dollar bill, dropping it on the table for a tip, then extended his hand to Rachel
She stood and Bruce bent to kiss the side of her neck
Sure enough, Goldie appeared with their billwith the food?" she asked
Theirwas fine," Rachel said
"Do you want a take-out bag?"
"No, thanks" Bruce placed his hand on the serness to be on their way
"You two still fighting?" Goldie demanded
"Not anymore," Rachel told her
"We’re about to kiss and make up," Bruce added
"That’s what I like to hear Good for you!"
"Yup, good for us" Bruce grabbed Rachel’s hand They paused only long enough to pay for theirlot, Rachel felt alainst the side of his car and kissed her with a hunger that assured her she’d been greatlyher arms around her husband’s neck, she returned every kiss in full et a hotel roonored that "I think you should check on Jolene first"
"No way Like I said, I’ me home earlier than I want to be" Bruce was farher
"Wait," sheher lips frohtened "For what?"
"I drove my own car here"
"Oh, yeah" He stepped back--and just then, his cell phone rang Rachel froze
So did Bruce He pulled out his cell and his shoulders tensed hat could only be dread
"Go ahead and answer it," she whispered
Reluctantly Bruce did "What?" he snapped His eyes locked with Rachel’s "Sorry Yes, of course I’ll be right ho?" she asked even before he could disconnect
"It’s Anne from next door"
"And?"
"Jolene called her over She’s been throwing up all night Anne said she hasn’t been able to keep anything down She’s afraid there ood idea to take her to the ER"
"Then you should go," Rachel said
Bruce reached for her "I’m sorry"
"I know I’m sorry, too"
And she was, far more than she dared ad Miranda Sullivan was getting into her car to run errands when her cell phone chirped Digging in her purse, she retrieved it, all the while wondering who’d be calling this early Caller ID identified Will Jefferson He’d given her the day off and she planned on putting it to good use
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" he asked
"On oblins who’ll be coht, it’s Halloween Aren’t you doing this a little last-minute?"
"Maybe, but if I buy candy too early I tend to eat it myself"
"No willpower?"
Miranda frowned and refused to take the bait He knew exactly which buttons to push with her "Is there a reason you called?" she asked
"Actually, speaking of last- you’d be able to work this afternoon"
"I thought you said you didn’t need me"
"I didn’t then, but I do now My sister wantsout… "
"What?" She’d counted on a free afternoon and wasn’t giving it up without a good reason
"Okay, if you hed "Olivia and I have appoint complexes in the area"
Miranda did sympathize but she had her own appointment at Get Nailed "I have plans this afternoon," she said
"Oh" He sounded somewhat morose "So you can’t coallery, I suppose It probably wouldn’t hurt for one afternoon Only I hate the idea of doing that… "