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She didn’t think I would think it was i to re ht Lame as it was, I had to make sure in front of Alex and Sutton that this was justout his eout with soood food, and probably better conversation than I’ve had in a very long time

Nope

No way

"You didn’t have to do this," Kate says quietly as we drive to the restaurant

"But I wanted to," I tell her simply "Birthdays are special Yours should be celebrated"

Turning oncenter I drive around the periht in front of the restaurant

"Krill?" Kate says in surprised delight "This is my favorite restaurant"

"I know," I tell her as I put the car in park and shut it off, turning to look at her

Her head swivels my way and her eyes are skeptical "How do you know it’s rip the back of her headrest, I say, "Kate…you may not realize this, but you babble And I mean a lot You may also not realize this, but I do listen to what you say even though it may look like I’, I’ve learned quite a bit about you"

Her eyes sparkle and she grins at me "Oh, yeah? Like what?"

I nod toward the restaurant "Krill is your favorite restaurant You’ve only been here once and that hen your ex-boyfriend brought you here for your first date You hate beets Loathe the You like milk chocolate but aren’t partial to dark However, if you add sea salt onto dark chocolate, you like it better than milk chocolate You’re not a fan of country s is by Tim McGraw and it’s made you cry every ti you did often with your father, but you don’t like eating it particularly Christifts to other adults is overrated You prefer to bake cookies for people and also because it’s more affordable However, you are of the firifts at Christ Day, and of course now Ben will expect soh at corny jokes, tell even cornier ones, and take dorkdoernails when you’re nervous, but chew on your lip when you’re just being thoughtful, and when you chew on your lip it driveson it In fact, you’re doing it right now…"

She blinks at me in surprise and her bottom lip pops free from her teeth and she whispers, "Oh"

"Yeah…‘Oh,’ " I say,her as my hand drops froers curl around her neck tight and I pull her toward me, insanely needful to have ly and I kiss her slowly but surely

I pull back and grazeher cheek "Happy birthday, Kate I’hs in contentment and rab the door handle "Let’s go get soet into the restaurant, it’s no surprise there’s a bit of a wait, so we head to the bar It’s crowded as well, but we e to find one available stool, which I pull out for Kate

Taking etto hit the restroom"

"Okeydokey," she says as she takes the card, and as she turns from me, I hear her say, "I wonder what the rin to myself as I ht out with Kate to celebrate her birthday A night out with a beautiful woh

I make short work of my business, but a for an autograph I don’t h…part of the business and all

When I o up when I see a guy standing next to Kate’s stool, his hand resting on the back of it She’s laughing at so at her like he wants to eat her up

And ouldn’t he? She’s spectacularly beautiful tonight She wore a deep red skirt that is narrow, hugs her hips, and comes just to her knees A black turtleneck and a wide black leather belt set off her black boots to perfection She has pulled her hair to the side, where it hangs in one thick braid over her left shoulder When Sutton complimented her on it as she cae to Katniss Everdeen," but I had no clue what that ot ue to keep fro next to reed ree…not out loud Not in front of Alex and Sutton Not in front of Ben Definitely not in front of Kate, whom I very