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"It’s almost done" She placed two plates on the counter, then filled our glasses with ice "Do you want a soft drink or sweet tea?"

"Water is fine withsoft drinks and you shouldn’t either because they’re not good for you"

She whirled around and looked at ive you cancer, but you won’t drink a cola?"

"I didn’t say I never drank them I said I don’tI haven’t had a cigarette since Tuesday o"

"Whatshe was ht think, I laid it all out for her because I wanted her to see what I illing to do for her "I’ it for you, Princess, because it’s what you want and I want toon the barstool, wrapped her arms over , "Thank you for doing it forit for you"

I took her face betweenfor you because that’s how much you mean to me"

A serious look came over her face and it worried me a little, then she said, "I broke it off with Forbes today"

I wanted to jump up and down, maybe even do a cartwheel, but I convinced o over?"

"Let’s just say it didn’t go well"

My heart sped and ht on the stool "Did he hurt you? I’ll kill hi like that, but he was really upset I’ soone, so I co for the uy and when he sees your truck, I’m afraid he’ll have a come apart He really, really hates you"

"Well, I’m not in love with him either and he can have a little hissy fit onor I will take hiave me a quick kiss on the lips "Let’s not talk about hina is done and I’ry?"

I nodded and said, "Starving"

"Good, because I have plenty" After taking the lasagna out of the oven, she cut two servings and placed one on each plate next to salad and garlic bread "You can take our drinks to the dining room if you’d like I’ve already set the table, so have a seat and I’ll be there in aroom and sat with extreme care to not spill our drinks because the formality of the room made me extremely nervous When Claire came into the room, she placed my plate in front of me, then lit two candles on the table and sat in the chair next to na was fabulous, so she passed the wife material inspection by Earl’s standards "This is delicious Who taught you to cook so well?"

"My , but she cooks traditional food She’s afraid to try new foods, so I watch cooking shows because I like to try new ingredients Soreat Other ti what not to try I kept it traditional for you since this was your first ti I didn’t want to scare you off"

I don’t think she could scare me off if she fedto the trouble of cooking for ht isn’t over,"she said, then blushed a deep cri"

She covered her face with her hands "And you’re pointing it out"

"Only because I’h her fingers atout what had her so anxious was killing reed to drop the subject for the tiet"

We finished dinner and I volunteered to clean, but she only agreed to allowrooh the channels until she came across a movie only a chick could want to watch "You want to watch this?"

"It’s Princess choice night since you cooked all afternoon for me We’ll watch whatever suits your fancy" I reached for her feet and said, "Here, put your feet in my lap and I’ll rub them for you because I know you stood on the ceraladly kicked off her heels and spun around I took her tiny feet in e while atched the movie She occasionally h and a et turned on by the sounds co from her because I knew she didn’t intend for theet, the worst it got and s

I stroked her calves up froain, over and over Her freshly shaved legs were so soft and sainst my palms and I ached to feel more of her, but didn’t dare push further

She took her feet fro her too far "I’m sorry, Princess, I shouldn’t have…," but she scooted closer and interrupted ently She put her hands in the back of ainst hers and when that wasn’t close enough, she fell back against the couch, pulling ainst her and bent her knees to tuck s around ainst mine, I decided I had to tell her that I needed a minute