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As for how he felt? He told himself it didn’t matter, that this was about Bailey, not him

The mural itself was the talk of the resort It was nearly done now, the colors vibrant and gorgeous against the lodge, a set of siblings whose stories seeer than life

And it was almost done He’d always known he was on borrowed time but that point hit hoed the conversation or steered it away from ould happen when Bailey finished came back to bite him on the ass

At the end of the day he walked into the offices It was Saturday and his mom’s real birthday The plan had been for Kenna to drive into town, pick Carrie up along with her favoriteher back to the resort for the evening Everyone would make their way to the conference rooot to the offices a fewhow fast he could get himself and Bailey in and out and then up to his place for a quickie without anyone noticing

And that’s when he got the text fro Jacob

Our boy’s finally confirets

Hud let out a breath and felt a slight release in the knot in his chest as he entered the conference roo sodas out of the serator on the other side of the rooestured to the table "I caught Gray and Penny on the table in the staff room last week You don’t think they’ve been in here too, do ya?"

They both eyed the table and shuddered

"They need to keep it to his office," Aidan said "Like normal couples"

"Is that why your office door’s always locked now?" Hud asked

Aidan smiled "Hell yeah And you’re one to talk There’s been plenty of times when your door’s been locked over the past two months"

Yeah, the best two months of his life, which were just about over

Aidan, taking in his expression, got serious "What? What did I just say?"

Penny came into the room "Looks like you’ve just told hi on him about Bailey," Aidan said "Which started, FYI, because of you and Gray"

"Aw," Penny said "Using us as sterling exa the perfect Kincaid couple?"

"Bailey and I aren’t like that," Hud said, finding his voice

"Really?" Penny asked, tongue in cheek "So when you’re holed up with her in your suite or your office, you’re what, just checking each other for ticks? Because the couple who fights off Lyether? Is that it?"

"We’re not like that," Hud repeated "Not in the way you seem to think"

"And which way is that?" Penny asked

"Married" Hud looked at Aidan "Or nearly married"

"Okay," Penny said slowly "So for the record, ould you say you and Bailey are like? And be careful here, Hud, because I’ve seen how she looks at you She’s not justaround She’s a keeper for you"

Hud took that in and told hi around That was the whole point "She’s not a keeper toaround after the mural is finished There’s no reason for her to"

Because he hadn’t given her one and he knew it He opened his mouth to correct himself, and maybe to throw hiht turn this around when a sound had hi to the doorway