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What a shame there hadn’t been time to ask her father for her hand But that didn’t make sense Cole hadn’t even known her yesterday, wouldn’t have ever sought her out if not for his grandmother’s wish

"Thank you, Mr Davis" He shook her father’s hand, a strong handshake from the kind of man Cole would have loved to have had around when he was a kid

"Call me John"

Anna’s mother turned and walked into the kitchen and Anna stiffened against him

"Go," he said in a low voice that only she could hear

But when her hand slipped out of his, he found he already missed her Not just the soft press of her curves, but the sweet pleasure of holding her hand in his, of knowing that he could fall back into pass coverage if she needed his support

But he didn’t have long to dwell on the thought, not with seven people he was now te him with questions and compliments

"Are you mad at me?" Anna asked her mother "Should I be?"

Anna’s hters with a hug and smile and chocolate And, soh love

Anna wished there was so for her to do in the kitchen, for some place to put her hands and eyes so that she wouldn’t coe is really unexpected, Moaze on a swift intake of breath It was the one question she’d hoped no one would ask, the one thing she’d hoped they wouldn’t pick up on from her explanation

"He’s a wonderful rand her--couldn’t possibly be bad Even the fact that he’d lied to her no longer see out the lies by the bucketful

"That wasn’t what I asked" Her lance "Do you love him?"

Anna didn’t kno to lie, not to one of the people who loved herelse in the world

But just as she was about to say, "I don’t know," she realized it wasn’t true

Oh uely aware of her own gasp, of heraround her

"Oh, Anna You alere different"

Anna’s chest clenched "And you’ve always felt sorry for me" At her mother’s shocked look, Anna forced herself to step away "The rest of your kids were all tall and blonde, they were all so popular, had so many dates, and won so many awards I’ve never fit in, no matter how hard I tried"