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Isabelle hadn’thad sped He could feel the quick expansion of her ribs under his thumbs and itched to slide his hands up to see if her heart was pounding faster, as well

He kneons of arousal, and Isabelle was showing too h the air was cool, a fine sweat had broken out over her skin, orhot at the chance to touch her He was careful not to press his body against her sore back, but he was close enough to feel the heat co from her

She still hadn’t moved, and he wasn’t sure if it was because she wanted him to make the next move, or because she didn’t He didn’t want to push her, but he also didn’t want to o, either If she wanted hie To hell with the consequences

Maybe itto touch more of her Tasteunder his hands, ood to ht

"Would you likethe waters

"I think I can get it I’ll juainst her silky hair A short growth of stubble caught and held the fine strands "You sure?"

She stood there for so long, he almost wondered if she’d heard his question "Yeah"

Disappointish, but he took the hint and released her

Isabelle turned around, still holding the front of her jeans closed Her eyes were dark, and her cheeks were stained with the blush of arousal

She wanted him Grant was certain What he didn’t understand hy she turned him down

Of course, women were co the trait And he didn’t have to understand a refusal to respect it

"You’ll call if you change your mind?" he asked

Isabelle nodded but stood there as if she wanted to say soe her mind and invite him to her room, but when she looked down at the carpet, he kneasn’t to be

"Thanks for being there tonight," she said

"It’s why I’ before I leave for work?"

"We’ll have breakfast together, you, me, and Dale," he promised

"Sounds nice" She left, and Grant watched her walk away a little unsteadily

Nice Breakfast would be nice, but getting there was not going to be any fun at all, not with the erection he had now

Grant briefly considered hopping in his car and finding soh to do, but it wasn’t what he wanted He wanted Isabelle

The knowledge shocked hiood as another, as far as he was concerned What was different now?

Maybe he just didn’t want to leave Isabelle and Dale vulnerable That was probably it Nothing else made any sense

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Isabelle couldn’t sleep She could still feel Grant’s big hands on her body, his thu her skin That sih he was no longer touching her, she hadn’t stopped shaking None of her past lovers had co her feel like this, but a few strokes from Grant’s hands and she was halfway to ood intentions and go clie that Dale was in the roo to set a bad exa with a man who’d been back in her life for only two days What a lousy role model she’d be if she did that

Isabelle squirht She couldn’t sleep comfortably on her back, so whenever she would doze off and roll over, it woke her up By the tiue Her joints ached, and her eyes were hot and dry

No aoing to wimp out and call in a sub She wanted to see Rachel andup okay If Ah to pick up on her mom’s tension A sub would never kno to deal with that

Isabelle pushed out of bed, stifling a wince of pain Her back and neck muscles were stiff, and there were new bruises on her forearrabbed her

By the tione, but it was going to be a long day

Grant and Dale were already at the breakfast table when she ca down a pile of scras and toast "Wow Someone cooked on a weekday?"

"Don’t look at me," said Dale around a bite of toast

She looked at Grant, enjoying the view His hair was still da it look darker than usual He wore a tight gray T-shirt that showed off his muscular chest and made her question the sanity of her decision to sleep alone last night

He gave her one of his patented smiles that sent her stomach for a loop and said, "We saved you so that she already had a cup of stea for her "Thanks"

"No problereeable when I asked you for a favor"

Doing favors for Grant sounded like a nice ti like that "What favor?"

"My buddy David wants to test out this new security syste you’d let iveone into an older hoh"

Isabelle was sure that asking for her agreement in front of Dale was not a coincidence It sounded like a cover story to her--one that would keep Dale fro about why she’d need a security syste like that"

"Not a problem David said he’d coreed, he’d have to let "

Grant shook his head "David would never go for that Sorry You should still do it, though With Wyatt sniffing around, I’d feel better if you had sohtened at the thought of hi She didn’t feel vulnerable when he was in the house He oing to ht about Wyatt She would feel better knowing she had soht hold and what shewith the other foster children she’d take in Dale was nearly a er children she ht care for She owed it to them to do what she could to protect them