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Five ht’ve been skeptical Still, it would have been a possibility But if anyone had predicted he’d be crazy in love with his fiancée, as living in one side of a duplex with hihed Yet that was exactly as happening and he felt helpless to do anything about it

He didn’t knohat had possessed hiee quick kisses and hold hands Unbelievable! They hadn’t even been engaged aan additional five seeed couples were in love and acted like it

The harder he ran, the clearer things became He should’ve realized it earlier Mary Jo enjoyed his company and his protection, but she wasn’t in love with him If she was, she wouldn’t have been able to , she kept a respectable distance

What also becas she had for hiiven her She’d been desperate to get away froerness to bring her and Noelle to Cedar Cove, he’d ed She needed space and time to deal with her emotions and resolve the issues with David by herself--without hi decisions for her

Instead of recognizing Mary Jo’s need to handle her own life, her own affairs, and raise her daughter as she saw fit, Mack had been trying to play the role of hero Hoping to smooth the way for her, he’d robbed Mary Jo of the opportunity to prove herself When he’d enuine choice He’d stacked the deck by renting the place to her so cheaply, without ever revealing the truth He’d made it impossible for her to refuse Mack had si brother she both loved and resented

What an idiot he’d been Mack liked to think of hient andto see what he’d done His emotions had blinded him to what should’ve been obvious His love for Mary Jo and Noelle was suffocating her

Even when he’d talked to Linnette, Mack had been so focused on hiht to Mary Jo’s fears No wonder she held hith

Decisive action had to be taken Difficult as it was, he had to step away, give Mary Jo the independence she needed and pretend he didn’t care

Depressed, Mack finished his run He did so to a trot to cool down As he reached the duplex he ca the ay; she often did light yard work on Sunday afternoons She s away but not before he saw her frown in confusion He’d planned to think about everything hly but since she was available to talk now, perhaps it would be best not to delay the inevitable He walked toward her

"Hoas your run?" she asked

Consuhts, Mack didn’t reply "Do you have ato avoid chitchat

"Uh, sure Is so his head back and stared up at a cloudless sky He didn’t offer any reassurances and gestured toward her side of the duplex instead

He followed Mary Jo inside and into the kitchen Knowing he liked iced tea, she kept a pitcher filled inside the refrigerator Mack had taken it as a sign that she cared and realized now that she would’ve done it for her brother or a friend or anyone

"Thanks," he said as she took a tall glass from her cupboard

"What’s up?" Mary Jo asked as she handed him the tea

Mack took a deep s of the cold drink, savoring the liquid as it slid down his throat He tried to cohts When he’d drunk solass on the kitchen counter Mary Jo stood on one side of the room and he stayed on the other

"I run forher eyes "It gives me a chance to think"

She didn’t comment

"While I was out this afternoon, it occurred tosaze flickered, as if she was slow to co

"We both love Noelle" Finally, he looked directly at her "You’re her irl captured my heart the moment she drew her first breath"

Mary Jo re for him to continue

"I’m afraid my love for Noelle…confused me, and I assu this afternoon, I figured out that my emotions were all juht it was" He nearly choked on the words but soed to ," she said after a strained pause

"I guess I’ to explain that when I heard how David threatened to take Noelle fro you seemed like a viable solution and now…"

"It doesn’t," she finished for hirateful she’d said the words Even now Mack wasn’t convinced he would’ve been able to spit the in this world, wanted her as his wife

"About Noelle…"

"Yes, Noelle The engageed and thenyou"

"But the only reason he’s interested in Noelle is because he thinks he can ht" Mack nodded "If you have any more problems with him, just let me know"

"What will you do?" she asked

Mack didn’t have an answer for that "I’ll sort it out when I have to But rest assured, I’ happen to Noelle" Or to Mary Jo, either "I’ll help you whenever you need hed "And you realized you can help without the necessity ofme"

"Yes," he said "Instinctively you knew that"