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The second they were inside and alone, Jack pushed her back against the door and slid both his hands into her hair Their earlier kisses had set her heart racing and her blood pu in the taxi and on the sidewalk and steps

But this kiss lit a fuse in her very soul

During each photo they’d taken and during every interview they’d given today, she’d been drea into bed with Jack But there was no way they were going to make it that far

She raked her hands over his broad chest to tear open the buttons on his shirt, and his hand slipped up her thigh to undo the clasp on her garters Every touch, every gasp of pleasure as bare skin met bare skin, was absolutely perfect Especially when Jack began kissing his way from her mouth, across her jaw to her neck and into the hollow behind her collarbone She was tilting her head back to give hirowled against her skin, letting go of her to snatch the phone out of its cradle "I told you, Mary is done working for the night" But listening to the person on the other end of the line had his expression changing in an instant "Hold on a moment" He covered the mouthpiece and held out his free hand to her "I think it’s your father" Concern furrowed his brow "He sounds upset"

Mary’s heart dropped into her stomach and her skin, which had been so warm just seconds before, was suddenly ice cold

"Papa?"

Her father’s words cauish She worked to stay calm to listen to the details, then told her father in Italian, "I’ht from San Francisco I will be home tomorrow"

The phone would have fallen from her numb hand had Jack not taken it fro fro stomach "She’s never sick Never" Her father hadn’t stayed on the line long enough to tell herso badly that he’d decided to take her to the hospital "I need to go to her To theht"

She started toso hard that when Jack brought her over to the couch and ht hiet you a drink to steady your nerves, and then I’ain, she was too shell-shocked to argue, to do anything but accept the glass of whisky he handed her a few seconds later But just as she was lifting it to her ht

He had already picked up the phone and was dialing the airline when she put down her drink and went to hi to come with me?"

"Of course I am"