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"Protection from what?"

"Bad dreams, for one"

"Huh" Mr Caldani looked nonplussed "Nadia’s really not the superstitious type Let’s see Here’s where the books live"

The shelves were overladen with books new and used, paperback and hardback He began searching through the

Mr Caldanion It could be anywhere in here"

She looked at hiht flashed in the rooh Mr Caldani wouldn’t be able to see it All he would be able to see--all he sa, as he slowly turned to see her--was how beautiful Elizabeth was

How incredibly, irresistibly beautiful

Noould be blinded to the fact that this was his daughter’s roohter’s friend; he would only see Elizabeth’s y body, the perfect oval of her face, the brilliance of her eyes

He is s to me

"There’s no rush to find the book," sheout in here for a while"

Mr Caldani sed hard He was struggling Fighting it Soht

"Is it on this shelf, maybe?" Elizabeth stepped next to hile between his body and the bookshelf Her shoulder brushed against his chest

"I--hmm Don’t see it"

"I’ll check down here" She sank to her knees by his side, but Mr Caldani immediately backed away Elizabeth frowned "Are you okay?"

"Yes, of course But I, ah, have a conference call for work that starts soon, and really--you know, just get Nadia to bring it to you tomorrow at school How’s that?"

Elizabeth hesitated, then rose "All right" She strolled out without a backward glance, saying nothing besides a very ordinary farewell; she pretended not to hear the strain in Mr Caldani’s voice as he wished her a good day