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"I’ve known irls Any man who didn’t fall at their feetthey considered it an insult and a challenge"

"You speak of beautiful women as if you weren’t one I assure you, you are The freckles are an especially nice touch"

Grace hoped the low light in the roo blush on her face

"I’ree with you My husband would, but Zachary’s a freckle fetishist, if there is such a thing"

"Your husband and I have excellent taste in women"

The blush deepened at the insinuation Grace took a deep breath Show no fear, Nora had cautioned Now she knehy

"Nora was right about you"

"About what?" Father Stearns asked "Or do I not want to know?"

"She told me you’d play with me, play with my mind You inti to gauge my reaction?"

"Perhaps It’s not typical wifely behavior to show such concern over a woman who her husband has been with"

"You can play all the e is better than it’s ever been because of her It’s the two of us in our e for the first tiuilt"

"Doth the lady protest too much?" Father Stearns narrowed his eyes at her and Grace found herself squiraze

"No, I’ the truth I love Nora She’s a dear friend, and considering I slept with soht with your Nora, I think all is forgiven between us and then soht about you"

"Was she?"

"She told me to show no fear around you Said you’d play with it like a cat with a catnip toy"

At that, a laugh filled the room, warm, rich and masculine It made every nerve in Grace’s body want to stand at attention and salute soh died and Father Stearns closed his eyes again Once ainst the bed He seeive y "I try not to--" he paused as he seeht word "--inflict this side ofI’m afraid it simply coain so that their legs were h right above his knee She wasn’t sure what possessed her to do that other than she’d touched Zachary asupport or comfort

"The woman who you’ve loved for aled and handcuffed to a bed You’re a Catholic priest and if any of this gets out, your reputation and career will be ruined Please" Grace squeezed his leg and felt ize toto help this horrible situation at all If at the very least I can be a sympathetic ear, then please, inflict whatever you need to on me"