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"Anna, honey, I can’t believe you think that"

But twenty-nine years was an awfully long time to hold it all in, and now that the da out "I picked out a new J narade Jennifer But I never had the guts to tell you I wanted to change Anna so that I could be like the rest of you Plus, I kneouldn’t be enough I’d still be me"

She hated the spike of tears in the corner of her eyes Da Cole had helped her leap last night, showed her the strength--and adventurousness--she hadn’t seen in herself every ti to hurt when their e ended and they went their separate ways, she’d always be grateful to hi to have to take what she’d learned and trust that she kne to fly on her own

"You were Anna, honey, right froht from the first time I held you in ed But you always did Your differences have always been special Precious to me and your father and your sisters"

Anna had needed to hear that for so long, she could barely take it in And yet, at the same time, she couldn’t just back down Not this tiht, Mom I am different And this is hoant to live my life Cole is my husband I’m his wife I’m sorry you didn’t ht"

The pain in her y And then her ’s for certain He’s very good-looking," and Anna knew that herto mend the hole in their relationship any way she could This was her way of saying she’d accept Cole, if that hat her daughter wanted

Cole stood in the doorway and watched Anna laugh with her mother Tension rode him froht Anyone could see that Anna was different from the rest of her family Not just the first letter of her name, not just her looks, but her spirit

So full of sweetness it took his breath away

She turned and saw hi her eyes as she held out her arm for him

And as he walked toward his wife and took her in his arms, he wanted her with an intensity he hadn’t known he could feel

But most intense of all, far nificent woman he held in his arms

Anna was brave Compassionate Sexy as hell

And all his

Two hours later, they were back in his car Anna hadn’t said h dinner and everyquestions about his career, about the Outlaws’ Super Bowl prospects this season, he’d been watching over her, keeping her hand safely in his whenever he could She hadn’t pulled away, but hadn’t held on too tight, either Still, he’d known that small connection helped "You okay?" He reached over, stroked his thumb across the sensitive skin inside her wrist

"I think so" The h for hireat, Cole Thank you"

"You don’t have to thank , Anna" Hell, he was the one who should be down on his knees thanking her "And your fareeht Cole sat at the ereen

They hadn’t done enough sleeping the night before for hiet an opportunity to watch her like this Her pretty face relaxed, her eyelashes long and curved across her cheekbones The pulseevenly at the side of her neck