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That he cared enough to ask, coupled with his gruff voice, had her getting there "Yes," she said "Thanks to you"

"You have enough wood loaded in your place?"

"I do," she said Also thanks to him "I haven’t used toolance

"She looked pretty tonight, don’t you think?"

He grimaced "Yeah"

"And happy" Lily shook her head "I can’t believe you and Gray tried to sabotage her date"

"She’s not ready to go out She’s …"

"Feeble?" she asked dryly

He sighed

Lily found a laugh "Aidan, she’s fantastic Really"

"She’s not ready for a man in her life"

"Why not?" she asked

"Why not?"

"Yeah, why not? She kicked your father to the curb a long tio"

"She’s … frail"

"Because of her hip? She says it’s feeling better every day Besides, that shouldn’t keep her froht men"

She stared at hiht?" she asked gently "Doesn’t everyone deserve their own version of a happily-ever-after?"

"Yes," he said fully, and slid her a look

"Oh, no," she said "We’re not talking about me"

"We should be"

"But we’re not"

They drove in silence Aidan handled his truck like he handled everything in his life--with easy, effortless confidence It wasn’t fair at all He pulled into the lot of her building, and Lily hopped out of the truck practically before he’d stopped When she turned back to close the door he was there already standing before her, big and rock steady

"In a hurry?" he asked, brow raised

"Yes" In a hurry to not kiss hiain