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A lie, as it turned out, because the thing dropped from the wood in her arms and slithered across her boots

Game over

She screamed even louder than before, tossed the wood, and started to run away, her feet scra like a cat on linoleum

"Lily"

She jerked to a halt in shock No But sure enough when she turned around, there Aidan stood in the parking lot, fraeous, the bastard He wore dark sunglasses and a long-sleeved Henley with a Cedar Ridge Resort e on his hips, had a rip in one knee that she’d bet was genuine and notback on his truck, arms casually crossed, he seemed amused by her snake dance, but not particularly happy to see her

Well, the feeling was entirely rimly

"Need a snake inspection?" he asked

Yes If she was being honest, she wanted a serious snake inspection and also, at least in her dreams, she wanted it to involve his hands on her All over her--Gah "No"

At her e here?" she asked, not having to fake the irritation in her voice She was irritated, starting to sweat, and--dauy jeans

"I was on my way to my office," he said

She slid a look at the resort’s office building and ain "You work here too?"

"I help Gray run the place"

This was curious "You used to say you’d join your father’s business when you were cold and dead Or when he was cold and dead," she said, "whichever cae"

That si unco for up there on the mountain yesterday?" he asked casually

What was it about him that made her want to both kiss him and yell at him at the same time? Because once upon a time you wanted hi back to her now, and her spine snapped straighter "I told you," she said "I was just trying to get h to just nod and let her have the lie Instead he called her out on it "Or you were thinking of Ashley," he said with a gentle directness that nearly broke her

She paused a ood-bye," she finally said

His expression tightened a little at this "You were going to free-cli shape," she said "Nor used to the altitude either I was just going to hike to the top But as it turns out, I’ moment "I’m surprised"