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"No," he ad Were you ever jealous watching me in bed with Kimber?"

Luc paused But the ansas easy "No Though you two had a bond, for a long time I felt completely involved in the relationship"

"I couldn’t stand watching you touch her," Deke ad killwith Tyler?"

"I knew you weren’t going to hurt Kied

But did he really believe that Tyler would hurt Alyssa when he was trying so hard to guard her?

"Okay, forget this guy What about Jack Cole? If Morgan was out of the picture, would you share Alyssa with Jack? He’s a stand-up guy, and I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be the first time he’d had sex with her Sure, it’s been a few years--"

"Shut the fuck up," Luc growled

The i his chains and cuffs and corinder

Truth was, he didn’t want anyone else touching her

"Okay" Deke held up his hands "But take s for a woman, jealousy comes with the territory" He stood as his wife approached "Especially when the wo okay?"

"Great" Then she frowned at Luc "You all right?"

No Leave it to Deke to throw the fact he felt more than lust for Alyssa in his face What the hell was he supposed to do about it?

"Fine" He did his best to sound sincereand knew he fell short of the mark

"I have my next doctor appointment in a feeeks, and Deke will be out of town Can you take er will you be here?"

A pity invitation, and he was desperate enough to grab it Any small involvement with Deke and Kimber’s baby was likely noring E Alyssa like a sch how he felt He brought her close for a long hug "I’d love to I’m only here until Thursday"

"Oh, just a few days, then" She sreat!"

Deke clapped hiful stare "Make the ht, Alyssa shut the doors to Bonheur A weight lifted froe success, and everyone who’d coht said the food and service were spectacular All wanted to come back, and she finally believed she had a future coers The evening really couldn’t have gone better

Except watching Luc with Deke and Kis for his cousin’s beautiful ould be stating the obvious He’d hugged her, looked into her eyes The moment hadn’t seemed sexual, but they were in public And Deke supposedly didn’t share anymore Still, the embrace had unnerved Alyssa Was the other woive o?" Tyler asked, hovering near her as he had all night

"I’ll take her ho behind her

"It’s my job" Tyler crossed his arhtly as he would leather pants

Luc ignored him Instead, he turned to her, face solemn "I’d like to take you home We should talk" She hesitated, and he pressed "Please"

What did he want? If she went, she risked further heartbreak But if she refused him, she’d never know What if he wanted to renew their earlier arguht" She avoided looking at Tyler "I packed up your things They’re inyou"

At that, Tyler smiled She also read the hurt on Luc’s face For her sanity, she had to sideline him to Homer’s, but she should have done it when they were alone

"Fine," he bit out

Telling her that it wasn’t fine at all

"You sure you want to ride with hiet one up on Luc "I can follow you, ive you any issues"

She leveled him with a no-nonsense stare "He’s a chef, not a serial rapist I’ll be all right We’ll talk to for her Luc was faster and closer, wrapping his arnored Tyler’s not-so-silent curse

Outside, she locked the restaurant’s door and let Luc lead her to his SUV His touch lingered at her waist, and she tried not to notice her quivering knees

Once they were on the road and the beautiful night air sifted through her hair, she turned to Luc "Spill it What did you want to talk about?"

"Everything"

Alyssa had this niggling suspicion that Luc was going to try to talk his way back in her bed And where he was concerned, she was so, so weak Though she should give hi the conversation head-on, she really didn’t knohat to say that wouldn’t lead to her ads for him and them undressed and entwined

"I’ed off "Can’t it wait until tomorrow?"

"It shouldn’t take ize"

She whipped her gaze around to hi, dark hair whipping around in the night wind He looked gorgeous, so capable and sensitive She fell for him a bit more

"Don’t look shocked, please I’ve had a few hours to think about what happened earlier I rong to ju to be with Tyler It’s none of my business You have a lot on your ed "I won’t lie and say I like the way he looks at you I have no doubt his thoughts are totally unprofessional I also won’t lie and say the thought of you with hihter "But that’s between the two of you, and I have no right to interfere"