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Dean’s car sat in the street, a parking ticket already under the wiper He had been in such a hurry, plugging the , he snatched the ticket and cru the driver’s side door A black Cadillac Escalade with shiny rims and thin tires honked as it whizzed past Dean flipped the driver off before cli inside the Jeep He slammed his car door shut extra hard and threw the balled up ticket onto the passenger side floor mat Silence enveloped him as he set the pastry box on the seat next to hihts

He pulled the folded notice fronature at the bottoh his veins and he swore out loud, hitting the steering wheel with a closed fist He dug his cell froan’s nulanced to the seat next to hih the pastry box’s clear plastic top where a rainbow of frosting swirled about inside His chest rose as he took a deep breath and hit the call button Megan’s phone began to ring, signaling his arteries to pump faster

She answered with a sultry voice on the second ring "Hey you"

Her excited tone sent a cold shiver running down his spine "How’d it go at the doctor’s?"

"It went good Sibyl ith me and then we stopped at Saz’s for lunch, whichis fine"

"That’s great news," he said, fighting to control his ire "So how did your dad react when you told hi breath "One thing you have to understand about , but once he found out Sybil was taking me he was fine"

Dean snorted into the phone as a UPS truck loudly ize and, if you’re not busy, I’d like to swing by with soan paused "That is so sweet, Dean, but you don’t have to do that"

His eyes narrowed "It’d be ood" His checked his watch and hesitated before speaking again "Your dad home from work yet?" He couldn’t tell if her delayed response washiot hoo," she said slowly "Why?"

"Just want to apologize andsay hello"

And odd laugh slithered froesture"

"I bet he will," Dean mumbled crossly

"What’s that?"

"I said, where do you live?"

Megan’s house was a two story Colonial hite pillars flanking the arched front door Brightly colored flowers bordered the winding front ay, separating it from a meticulously trimmed yard Despite the lack of rain over the last feeeks, the grass was plush and green and Dean could only is, Dean stepped up onto the spacious front porch and looked back at his car parked in the street He adjusted his sports jacket and reached for the doorbell, i when he pushed it

He tried to s if the doorbell even worked Dean swatted at a lazy bu the porch The way his luck was going he wouldn’t be surprised if the thing stung him Instead, it flew off and disappeared into a red fuchsia, hurriedly collecting its fill of nectar and pollen

The door startled hireeted hi "This is such a nice surprise," she whispered in his ear, pulling back and peering into his eyes "Thank you for doing this" She caught hiuard with a quick peck on the lips that was too casual for coan’s shoulder A pleasantly plump woman stood in the doorfra fro her hand

He shook her war the pastry box "These are for you"

Her face got round "Oh, this one is a keeper, Megan!" she said with a laugh, exa colors inside "Thank you, Dean Coan took Dean’s hand and led hi for years The smell of new construction and seafood se chandelier hanging fro, Meg He is a tall one!"

Dean blushed as Nancy looked him up and down

"How tall are you, Dean?"

"Six-four"

"A looker, too," Nancy grinned, closing the door "I hope you can stay for dinner It’s just about ready"

Dean smiled politely as she whisked the cupcakes into the kitchen and left hirand staircase spiraling up to the second floor "Nice place"

Megan tugged on his hand "Coled breakfast bar "You want a beer?"

"Sure"

"So what kind of law do you practice, Dean?" Nancy asked, saucing up a steaarlic sauce thatfrom his heels to his toes "Mostly li soe sink, her short brunette curls bouncing with the an said, handing hi him to a chair at the breakfast bar

Dean sat down and took a long drink like he was dying of thirst, Evy’s gaunt face flickering through his reen eyes had lost their sparkle and it pissed hi rooiant flat screen

"So are you from Milwaukee, Dean?"

He turned back to Nancy and forced a smile "Born and raised"

"Whereabouts do your parents live?" she asked, spraying off the bowls in the sink

"Not far from Bayshore mall"

"Glendale, huh? That’s a fantastic area I just love that outdoor an’s hand quietly slid across the breakfast bar and took his

Nancy stopped spraying the dishes and wiped her hands on a dishtowel "Well, it is so nice to finally meet you I hope to meet your parents real soon as well"

Dean winced with her wish She actually thought he was in this for the long haul and, in a weird way, he felt sorry for her She seemed like a nice lady and he didn’t look forward to disappointing her

Nancy took a sip of white wine and sed "Are they excited?" she asked, setting the glass down next to a six burner range

His eyes thinned