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Paige paused in the act of threading her needle She blinked twice "Really?"

The innocence was too studied, too forced "Is there?"

"Special Agent Vane said pri a house By the way, Mia told the entire faainst the sofa "Tell "

"Not even a little Of course now everyone is distracted by the news Joe was married before, if that helps"

"It doesn’t"

Darcy was stunned "There is so on"

"No, there’s not But…" She hesitated "There was A lot of years ago Alex and Ifor each other But when training was over, we both decided our careers were more important than any relationship and ent our separate ways"

Darcy hadn’t had a clue She supposed no one did, except Mia, and that was the point "And now?" she asked

"Noe’re protecting you"

Darcy didn’t think she believed that was the end of it "Nothing else No lingering sparks?"

Paige sht be so"

"Because Alex is such a tight-ass?"

The srin "You’ve noticed"

"Hard not to The guy practically invented the word He needs to lighten up"

"He wants to keep you safe"

It was a philosophy Darcy could get behind Except, over the past couple of days, she’d found herself being less afraid Less wary of every noise and person sheto pursue it?" Darcy asked

"Not a clue," Paige admitted "What about you? Lieutenant Corabbed her fabric square At the ht and her face felt hot

"He’s okay," she said quietly

Paige laughed "Honey, we all know he kissed you out in the vineyard You were observed by an agent"

Darcy looked at her "You’re kidding"

"Sorry No"

Great One of therelated to the president At least they didn’t know about the kiss in the exercise room

"He’s cute and all," she aduys" The ones she’d met wanted her either for her sister or for her family connections

"Are you worried he’s only interested because you could help hie asked

Darcy hadn’t considered that "Could I?"

Paige looked at her "Honey, with a couple of phone calls, you could practically get him his own ship I doubt he’d be interested Not in any command he didn’t earn He shares that with Alex"

Darcy chuckled "Are you saying Joe’s a tight-ass, too"

"Pretty much"

Darcy hadn’t touched that particular body part, but she’d leaned against a lot of him, and he was rock solid everywhere A quality she’d never considered in a man before but now found very desirable

Colleen walked into the living room She carried a tray heavy with sandwiches, cookies, and the inevitable bottle of Marcelli wine This one was a cab- about?" Colleen asked as she set the tray on the coffee table and sat in the wing chair opposite the sofa

Paige waved her scrap of fabric "That I was never very good at the do un"

Darcy watched her go, then turned to Joe’s mother "I’m afraid I’m not any better at this My stitches aren’t even"

Colleen opened the bottle of wine and poured thelass "I wouldn’t worry about it At the rate we’re going, one of ed before Mia ever considers settling down" She handed Darcy a glass, then relaxed in her chair "I love Mia so much, but too many days with her around exhausts s I thought Lorenzo was going to have a heart attack when he realized Ian was sharing Mia’s roo people today…" Colleen stopped and frowned "My God Did I actually say that? ‘Young people today’?" She closed her eyes "I’ accent"

Darcy laughed

Colleen looked at her and setting older"