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"Just fine," I said with ue I’d known for three years turn into toast before my eyes, I wasn’t sure why I was in such a foulin a completely understandable way hadn’t affected me in years I couldn’t remember the last ti over Jared It could be several things, but I was sureform was the culprit

Jared returned to e on the ht, not unlike any other hotel room I’d spent time in

"This is nice," Jared said

"Have I ever told you that you suck at smal talk?" I smiled I walked the few steps to reach hiainst his chest

Jared laughed and kissed my cheek "Yes"

I went tot he bathroom and splashed water on my face The puffy towels siveaway that eren’t at horoaned and stretched A bel y nearly in ful blooether I felt stiff and groggy

"Nap or beach?" Jared said He pul ed off his boots and slipped his bare feet into a pair of leather sandals

"Both sound equal y appealing, but a walk on the beach after being stuck in the car is the better option"

"Agreed," he said, holding his hand out to me

We lazily walked to the near-private beach of the Grande Dunes, letting the new summer hip around us The scene looked like a postcard; everything I iine the perfect beach to be Jared picked a spot and unfolded a blanket He sat with his elbows resting on his knees as he looked out toward the ocean

"It’s al back in Little Corn"

"Almost"

Jared peered up atI was about to play into my childish insecurities "They were attractive"

"Who?"

"The girls behind the desk"

Jared laughed once, and then crawled onto his knees He leaned toward me and placed his hands on each side ofabout you that I couldn’t shake Even when I didn’t want to love you, I was drawn to you I couldn’t think of anything else Now you’remore beautiful than that When you’re sweaty and exhausted holding Bean, then that wil be theI’ve ever seen When I see tears fal froarten… that wil theI’ve ever seen When you co; on every one of our anniversaries; and when you’re hair turns gray Every one of thoseI’ve ever seen"

He nuzzled his nose into my bel y, and then wrapped his ar," I whispered, touching his ears

He looked up atmore beautiful existed, I wouldn’t notice You have my constant, undivided attention You always have"

I smiled "Only because I pay you"

Jared’s white, wide grin was a contrast against the tan tone of his face "Not any more When you marry your boss, you can pay yourself"

I playful y nudged hi on the blanket, atched the sun slowly ainst the ocean I wondered if the sky looked the same on the other side of the world If once we arrived in Jerusaleain until the baby was born

I relaxed back against the blanket, looking up at the sky The stars were visible on the eastern half of the sky, but they were stil burned out by the sun in the West Jared grabbed my arm, and I froze

"What is it?"

Jared smiled and pul ed out his Glock "You alun? Worried the grains of sand would shel ?" I s, it’s impossible to knoho’s a threat and who’s not That’s e can’t get to the Sepulchre fast enough as far as I’m concerned I almost wonder if they didn’t blow the Beemer on purpose If they knew our plan--and I’m sure they did--if they didn’t kill you in the process, they thought it would keep us fro theerous"

I nodded "It’s not fair that with everything else we’re dealing with, your senses are overwhelmed, too" I frowned "Now that I think about it, none of this is very fair"

"Considering the circumstances, I think it’s clear we have so for us That’s a huge advantage in and of itself"

"It doesn’t feel like it," I gruain I closed ht while Jared took the phone and pushed the silence button He buried it into the tote I had carried with ainst his chest

"You can tel her goodbye before we leave She’l only feel this way for a few days and then you can coet all about it"

"No, she won’t"

Jared took in a deep breath and wrapped his ar to help"

"I know I know you are It’s just that I feel I’ her intentional y It’s not fair that she is the only close friend that isn’t in the loop"

"Do you real y want to expose her to all of this? More importantly, do you think she can handle it?"

I shook ht I don’t want to tel her, I just feel like a jerk ‘Jerk’ doesn’t even cover it I’m a bad friend--a bad person"

"She’l be able to close her eyes every night not wondering what’s with her in the dark, Nina I’d say you’re being kind"

"Maybe Can you i for Israel in a few days? She’s going to freak out I don’t even kno to explain it to her"

"Then don’t It’s not a necessity to tel her we’re going to Jerusale"