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"That’s still a possibility," I told hi Abe frown at Caleb

"She’s a kidder," Caleb assured hiood word for it"

Abe shot Caleb a sly look "Oh, I like her You deserve her, buddy I’ how this plays out You in a relationship? That’s like one of those shows about guys restle ild gators I don’t kno it’s going to turn out, but it will be bloody, and I’h"

"Is Trixie here yet?" Caleb asked, ignoring Abe’s jab "I would like to snap her up before these guys figure out I’ly"

"She’s not due for another thirty ot a minute, man And I need a favor" Abe jerked his head toward his office Caleb gave me a skeptical look, as if he didn’t want to leave me alone, but I waved him off

"Go have fun," I told him "I’ll be fine"

"The last ti to show Jerry your boobs," he said

Abe’s ry?" The blond ? You’re with Caleb ‘Jerky Hog’ Graham Of course you are"

Before I could respond, Caleb protested "That was one ti in the truck What was I supposed to do? Starve?"

Abe shook his head, giving ed down his bartender, a pretty brunette "A beer and a crab special for the lady Anything she wants is on the house"

I started to protest, but Caleb lifted me up and deposited me on a bar stool

"Eat," he told me "Sit here Stay in one place Please try to stay out of trouble"

"You’re not the boss of ht, but as soooda sign that says, ‘Here I A red letters"

I hated it when he ru but trouble," he toldThis isn’t funny It’s adorable I wasn’t expecting adorable I hate adorable" He grabbed the scruff of Caleb’s neck and dragged him toward a door marked "Office"

"I will never understandon her shirt identified her as Pam

Pam shook her head "We’re not supposed to, honey"

"Well, that’s coly delicious sandwich consisting of a whole-wheat roll stuffed to the brireasy fried bar food I’d come to expect I dived into that sandwich as if seafood was about to be declared illegal The cold, delicately seasoned crab was perfectly co It was the perfect accompaniment to the creamy wild-rice soup and beer I hadn’t eaten this well since the valley I savored the dish and the opportunity to eat in a little island of silence in the crowded, conversation-filled rooave me an opportunity to consider the implications of our conversation with Mary Ann Caleb was one of those olves who played sex roulette with tavern wenches Hoas I supposed to feel about that? But I wasn’t sure I wanted to follow Mary Ann’s act She looked like the kind of girl who knew tricks Or turned them

"Don’t pay what Mary Ann said anya fresh beer in front of me "She’s been after him for the better part of a year Never could take a hint"

"So they never" I left that question hanging in the air, along with several vague hand gestures

"Oh, no, they probably did," Pa"

I thunked roaned

He’d never made me any promises, either He clearly liked h I’d tried to skirt around those feelings for a good while, I knew they were there I still believed in love It was impossible not to when you were surrounded by a bunch of people who mated for life I sa fiercely olves could love, with everything they had But Caleb neverabout love, just safety and protection And he certainly didn’t say anything about the long ter he wanted me beside him

"But I’m sure that you two" Pam continued I looked up at her, eyebrows furrowed She pursed her lips "I’ now"

"Probably for the best" I nodded

Pa me to pick at the remains of ure out that I was in love with Caleb It wasn’t unreasonable There were so many reasons to love hi But Caleb was also a good matic when it came to his job, but he was kind He didn’t hurt people because it felt good to hiressive When he was upset, he still talked to h, even when I didn’t want to He didn’t tell me what to do, what to wear, who to talk to If he toldto do He wasn’t trying to separate ht see what he really was, hoas treating me, that e had wasn’t norood inprecious Not untouchable, not some ideal version of myself that I couldn’t live up to

How had this happened to me? I was on the run from the man who’d promised me the world And I’d fallen in love with an e