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Chloe

Iht now, she snapped Either take et out of my way so I can call a cab

If there was a Guinness Book of World Records for the Most A ard, Miserable Car Ride in History, Chloe knew this would be right there at the top of the list Brendan tried to talk to her a couple times, but she simply looked out the , her arms crossed over her chest, knees drawn up

Shed refused to put on her seatbelt With a sigh, Brendan had reached across her He probably hadnt noticed how she closed her eyes, tightening into a sainst the brush of his body as he pulled the seatbelt over her, guiding it with firht position before he snapped it in place

A fter that, there was the brief stop at his place She went in to retrieve her bag He stood at the door, waiting on her Because she didnt want hi her few items in, and then sped back past him, across the threshold

Chloe

She shook her head, beat him to the car by several moments while he locked his door, came after her The drive out to her place wasnt short, and she kept her attention turned to her open , her face in the rushing wind Hea couple times, but she didnt listen One part of her wanted hi to show itto the cocoon of silence, sure that any attempt to strip it aould be more than she could take

She didnt think about the darkness that would soon cloak her home, or the remoteness of her place Hell, if necessary, shed sit on the back porch all night, hidden in a small corner where no ax murderer would think to look for her He could look for her in all the usual places Bed, kitchen, even bathrooht itself E, coh her, because there was nothing left to take, at least for tonight

She wasnt a drama queen She knew this would pass, because all pain did But this was one too ain, like it could be okay, shed grab onto that illusion until she lost herself forever

When the Jeep crunched down her driveway, she saw St Frances sitting on the porch, his eyes glowing in the deepening twilight Shed had a neighbor checking in on hi him food and water, so he looked well fed, only e as soon as he had a person to curl up against in the bed, to give him extra tidbits Co to coo

Ill wait out here, she said tonelessly She felt hiot out, caress abruptly and turning back to the openBefore she could draw back, hed put his hand out, curled it around her neck, tilted her chin up with his thumb

Chloe, dont do this Please talk toyou want to know

I dont want to know anything She pulled away, shook her head I cant handle knowing, Brendan

So tellI can ith, Chloe Letyoure feeling like this He leaned against the , so close that if the door hadnt been in the way, their bodies would have brushed She was cold Shehow theyd arrived at the coffee shop earlier, his arer hooked on his belt, hips buht already be sleeping together, or just indicating the inevitability of their doing so

She stared at his hand, gripping the fra, she knew she couldnt end this, couldnt escape A nd fortunately or unfortunately, so up inside her at his words I did it in a church once, when I was sixteen, she said at last Had sex in a park after sundown Stripped off all s uerite told me more about her lifestyle

She curled a lip God, I hate that word Its like a choice between Cape Cod or Victorian architecture, living on a six-figure incoure one Its a stupid word

Yes, it is, he said cautiously She glanced at hiood listener He was A nd he hadnt lied to her Though it didntHe orried how she felt It mattered to hi, and painful

I guess Ily adventurous and trying to figure out things beyond your nor of the way the world is No point of reference, right? She suppressed a frustrated sigh Then theres realizing I I dont like it

He closed a hand over hers, hard I didnt want to hurt you, Chloe A nd I dont kno to tell you not to be jealous, but its different with MistrMarguerite