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Jack Sullivan

His dark eyes were intense as he held her gaze, and she felt every inch of her skin co in the cold for hours," she said as she held out his jacket "You should really have this back now"

But instead of taking it, he asked, "Where’s your coat?"

"It was surprisingly warured I’d be heading straight back ho one"

He took his jacket froain "It looks better on you"

He put his hand on the sh all of the fabric she could feel hoarm he was

They didn’t speak as they walked the couple of short blocks to the diner, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence On the contrary, Mary couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so immediately at ease with someone And yet, at the same time, her skin felt just a little too sensitive, her lips fuller and tingly, her breath coh they were on one of the rare flat streets in the hilly city

When Jack held the door for her, Mary took note of the sesture with pleasure She was all for wo her oay for more than a decade, but she couldn’t see why it had to ray-haired woreeted Jack like an old friend and eyed Mary with obvious interest "Two pieces of cherry pie, war fat scoops of ice cream on top?"

Mary smiled at the woman, who re that needed to be said could always be said with food Warm pies, cold ices and fresh baked bread all spoke loudly of love as well as words ever could

"That would be lovely, thank you," she said as she slid onto the shiny red seat in a corner booth "And some coffee, as well, please"

"I’ll take some java, too, Betty" Jack waited until Mary had taken off his jacket before saying, "I’ve never seen a o she’d learned how to accept a coht was at least as i how to take constructive criticisrapher, is wonderful to ith He makes the process as easy as possible for all of us"

Betty brought over their slices of pie, the ice creaes of the thick crust and warm cherries But it was the coffee that Mary went for first to warm her cold hands She held on to it for aa sip