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Then, what?"

He shrugged and drank sos changed"

"You lost track of each other?"

"Life happens, you know?"

"Sounds to me like the two of you did more than just drift apart" She carried the plates past hiot the impression that there's so happen to cause it?"

"Yesterday's news" He prowled after her and settled into a chair near theHis expression e the topic "How are things going with the Children's Art Show project?"

Well, it wasn't as though she had any right to push hi in the first place, she thought

She gave hihtest smile and sank down onto the ar white skirt drifted around her ankles Swinging one foot lightly, she took a fortifying sip of wine

"Very well," she said, lowering her glass "I' to have nearly a hundred entries Not bad for a small town like this"

"No" He stole a glance at her gently swinging ankle "Not bad"

The casual thing worked right up until the full fury of the stor the last of the dishes when the lights flickered twice and went out

The sudden onslaught of darkness paralyzed her briefly Her hands stilled in the soapy water "Oh, damn"

"Take it easy," Nick said from so big storenerator?"

"No"

"Flashlight?"

She cleared her throat "Well, yes, as it happens, I do have a flashlight A nice, big red one with a special high-intensity bulb and an easy-grip handle that I bought last winter after a y So powerful that it can be used to signal for help if one happens to be lost at sea or on a ot to buy sohed softly in the darkness and cairl Don't worry about it, I've got a flashlight in the car"

"Soripped the tiled counter edge on either side of her body In the shadows she was intensely aware of the heat of his body so close to hers There was suddenly so enerated both outside and inside the cottage that she was aet her hands out of the dishwater, she thought A woman could have a major household accident in a situation like this

Nick put his lips very close to her ear "I was a Boy Scout You knohat thatthrifty and neat?"

"Wrong" He grazed her earlobe with his teeth