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Mack frowned "Is it possible that David assuive hi with hied her voice "Maybe"

"He didn’t seriously think you’d just hand Noelle over to hiain

"Did he say he was co back?"

"He said he was and that, when he did, he was bringing the authorities"

Mack nearly laughed out loud "That’s a bold-faced lie" He clenched his fists, wishing he’d been hoht be able to intiladly have taken him on

"I don’t care if he co Noelle"

"What are you going to do?"

Mary Jo’s eyes bri back ho I’ve said about ue He’d gotten accusto Mary Jo and Noelle so close, accusto had been going so well He’d thought Mary Jo had begun to return his love, but obviously she wasn’t ready…

"Isahat you really want?" he finally asked If he voiced his objections too strenuously, she’d guess the strength of his feelings, and that ht scare her off He sensed she still wasn’t ready for a new relationship, other than being friends

"No!" She buried her face in her hands "It’s the last thing I want, buttakes precedence overI can’t do?" he asked, hoping she’d listen to reason

"No…I don’t suppose they could But there are three of theic As much as he would’ve liked to spend every uard over her and Noelle, that would be ie with Linc and asked him to contact me as soon as he could"

"I see" Mack’s heart sank

"Leaving Cedar Cove isn’t what I want," Mary Jo insisted again "But I’m afraid, Mack"

The way her voice shook told him how upset she was He offered reassurances but he wasn’t sure he’d convinced her "David’s bluffing," he said "This is just another scheazed up at hi on her lashes "But I can’t be a hundred percent certain and neither can you"

"I could beat him up for you," Mack said, half-humorously

Mary Jo punched his arm playfully

"Have you discussed any of this with Allan Harris?"

"My legal situation is coed David as the father and the DNA test confirhts and he claims he wants to exercise them So…" She took a deep breath "Allan tells ri to miss you so much," Mary Jo said tearfully

"And what about heraway, Mary Jo gave a slight shrug "I didn’t think I could…" Her voice trailed off

"Didn’t think you could what?"

Avoiding his glance, she whispered, "I didn’t think I could ever trust a rateful for that much, he wanted more He wanted her love Before he could for and a panicky feeling trapped the breath in his lungs

Mary Jo stood up to answer, but Mack stopped her, catching her hand "Let ht be David"

"Oh…" She seemed to collapse onto the sofa

Mack rabbed the receiver "Wyse residence," he said in hisat my sister’s place?" Linc demanded rudely At least he wasn’t David

Mack answered that question with one of his own "How quickly can you get here?"

"Why? What’s happened?"

"We need to talk The three of us" Mack wasn’t interested in relaying the details over the phone

"Give round; Mary Jo leaped to her feet and hurried into the baby’s roo in the doorway He watched as she took the infant froed her diaper Noelle turned her head and gazed at Mack while her mother dressed her She cooed contentedly and waved her arms

"Who was on the phone?" Mary Jo asked "My brother?"

"Yeah, it was Linc He’ll be here in a couple of hours Probably around eight"

Mack grinned at the baby, utterly enchanted by her He couldn’t stand the thought of not having her and Mary Jo in his life anymore Yes, he could visit them in Seattle, but it wouldn’t be the saested "You could use a distraction for an hour or so"

Reluctantly she shook her head "I couldn’t eat Thanks, anyway" She lifted Noelle into her aro ahead, if you want" But even as she spoke, she reached for his hand