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He went on "But if so I can do to bring you back" By the darkness in his tiger’s eyes, I saw that he’d realized what his luck could do to e in the world will offer help for that I need to know you’re safe, that’s all"

My heart gave a ard lurch I tugged his hand away froe to kiss his palm "You want to send me away because you’re worried about me?"

"Yeah" His voice ca you into this I just keepthe same stupid mistakes I still don’t deserve you"

"Nobody deservesdifferent

"Come here," he whispered

I slid from the chair to my knees, let myself lean into him His arms came around me but I didn’t want to hurt his back Chance brushed his lips againstthe heat of his mouth

"Aw, man," Chuch said fro it onConnections

I scra this?"

Chuch threw hiuess How bad could it be?"

Hm, I wish he hadn’t put it like that

"I’ll call Jesse then" Though I wasn’t exactly eager, I wanted to do so Up until now, it seees I felt like Jodi Foster in The Silence of the Lales while I fumbled around in the dark

Chance offered his hand and I hesitated only a second before I took it He didn’t need race I’d never possess I didn’t knohere we stood, but his hand in the small of my back said he had some ideas I just wasn’t sure whether they correlated with ainst hih, I dialed Jesse’s cell He answered on the third ring "Saldana"

"This is going to sound strange"

"I expect that of you What’s up?"

"Do you have anything that belonged to Maris?"

"You think I’ trophies? Look, I may have a lot of exes but--"

"No, that’s not it" Hoeird that he ih Just how far did his range stretch? Could he senseto try to contact her Just because she’s crossed over, it doesn’t mean we can’t find out what she knew" Put that way, it sounded callous If he was innocent, he et mad

"It doesn’t alork," he said, his voice subdued "And when they coht You better be sure you knohat you’re doing"

I ignored that "Can you help or not?"

He sighed "Hold on Let me take a look around"

That must mean he was home Well, I didn’t knohat to ry or unwilling But lanced at the clock After six No wonder dinner sood I’d taken only a few bites of my parrillada before the Camry blew up Man, I didn’t envy Chance the conversation with the rental con

When he ca in o in there or I’d have sent it back to her"

"Co chicken noodle casserole and then we’re raising the dead We’d love it if you cahtened his arave me a little squeeze I didn’t know if it was rinned at him over my shoulder Even if I let him hold me for a minute, it didn’t mean he had me

"Sadly," Saldana said, "that’s theinvitation I’ve received all week Give me half an hour?"

"Excellent See you soon" I hit the off button onat us I really hate a uess you two are--"

"None of your business" I narrowedif I needed to ht, that’s all"

"Does he?" Chance found the sweet spot at the base of my skull and worked his thumb so that a pleasurable chill rippled over me

"Yeah He does"

"Oh" I heard the disappointered on ht hurt you," I said "Maybe when you heal up some"