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When Jace’s car pulled up to her aparth he were reluctant to let Bethany get out He held on to her hand for a longover to kiss her Fierce Possessive She struggled to pull in a breath when he finally released her and his gaze glittered, his eyes going dark and sultry

"I’ll be over when I finish at work"

She nodded and then opened her door

"Be careful The rain is picking up I don’t want you to get wet"

She smiled "A little rain never hurt anyone, Jace"

"Still, it’s cold I want you inside quickly so you don’t co"

She leaned back in to kiss hiot out and as he’d requested, sheraindrops as she went A burst of laughter escaped and she ht she sounded She turned just inside the door to see Jace’s car pull away into traffic and she stood staring until it disappeared froo up to her apart, she turned and to her shock, Jack stood a few feet away He et and bedraggled, carrying only his tattered backpack

"Jack!"

His name ca once more into the cold drizzle

"Jack, what are you doing here?" she asked "How long have you stood out here?"

He gave her a half s up to your apart to catch you"

"Oh, Jack, I’uilt flooded her While she’d been happy and war the holiday with Jace and his fa for her in the cold No place to sleep or be out of the ele to be sorry for, Bethy If it’s not a good time, I can come back"

"No!" she said fiercely "Coet out of the cold I had no idea you’d come I’d hoped you would If I’d known, I would have been here"

She took his ar him toward the entrance When theyhi him a key If I’m not here and he needs in, you’re to let him pass"

The doorman respectfully nodded "Of course, Miss Willis"

She hurried Jack toward the elevator and winced as he dripped all over the inside He was shivering and he looked even thinner than the last ti at all?

She should have looked after him better Should have made more of an effort to make sure he was taken care of She had so much now and it killed her to think of Jack still on the streets Not when she could provide a place to stay and food to eat

"Nice place," Jack muttered when she shoved him inside her apartment

"Yeah, it is Go into the bathroom and take a hot shower I’ll lay out so on you, but they’ll at least be warrin as she bustled hiuy who hooked you up with all of this?"

Bethany softened, a sood man, Jack The best I’mhappy"

Jack reached out to touch her cheek "I’lad, Bethy You deserve to be happy"

"So do you," she said fiercely

His smile was sadder this time "I’m sorry about what happened I never meant for you to be involved"

"I know," she said in a soft voice "Now go Get a shower I’ll fix you so to eat, okay?"

As Jack disappeared into the bathroom, Bethany pulled out a pair of Jace’s jeans and one of the T-shirts he’d left in her apart his feet to be warm Shoes She needed to buy him new shoes The ones he wore noere threadbare, the soles co off and there were holes They were no barrier to the cold

After leaving the clothing where he could find it, she went back into the kitchen

She pulled out bacon, a carton of eggs and some ham and cheese An omelet would be quick and it had lots of protein She busied herself with the preparation and by the time Jack reappeared, dressed in Jace’s clothes, she had his plate ready

"You want juice or milk?" she asked when he took a seat at the bar

He shrugged "Doesn’ta lass of each The extra nutrition certainly wouldn’t hurt

"I can’t stay long," Jack said He was already digging into the oood meal had been "I have shit to see to I just wanted to see you and leave ht"

"Of course it’s all right," she said "But why can’t you stay?"

"I’ll be back Just sos I need to take care of and I didn’t want to have et stolen out there You kno it is Always soue and it bothered her

"What’s in the backpack?"

He ignored her question and then reached into his pocket He pulled out a pill bottle and her stoot these for you, Bethy I know you need thean to pound when he slid the bottle across the counter