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Jace and I walk down the sidewalk, just a few blocks up fros of people and shops, restaurants and offices The cityour turn to cross the street When the signal turns, Jace takes ers to cross the road He’s done this before He’s a chivalrous guy

When we safely reach the other side, I go to pull o And I don’t fight it

"Let’s go into Nordstroh "What? I want to look at their shoes"

"Seems I can’t avoid Nordy’s this week," I reply "Noel called o to the seet you instead" He winks down at reat Busier than ever Her business has exploded this year"

"Good for her," he says as he pulls the door of the store open, holding it for me, and my hand feels cold when I lose that connection with hi?"

"For her, it is," I confirm "Lead the way I have no idea where theis in here?"

"Can’t say that I do," I reply with a laugh "You know I’m not a shopper That’s Noel’s department"

"I promise this won’t hurt a bit," he says as he leads ship store, and it’s et lost in here

The er than most other department stores, and from the look on Jace’s face, it’s what dreaht want to wipe the drool off your chin," I suggest, earning a tug onup a pair of tennis shoes "I won’t apologize for it"

"You have more shoes than I have hairs on my head" I lift a pair of Guccis, and about choke at the price on the sole, i it down before I ruin it and have to buy it

Jace ignoresand proceeds to try on about six pairs of shoes before deciding on two of them When he’s finished, we return upstairs to leave, but the sunglasses catch my eye

"I could use a new pair of these," Ithe to say, ‘I’m Elton John’s love child?’"

"No"

"Then they’re not for you" He laughs and searches with lasses He’s in a black T-shirt and khaki cargo shorts His arms flex as he reaches up to pull a pair down "Try these"

"Hey, they’re not bad" I turnin the mirror "You like?"

"Yes, ma’am"

"Sold"

"That was easy," he says

"Why make it hard? I like them, and I hate to shop, so we’re done here" I lead hilasses, and then we’re off, back on the busy sidewalks of Seattle

"Let’s take these to the car and then get a bite to eat," Jace says "In fact, you choose a place, and then I’ll just run these to the car myself"

"I haven’t been to the Palomino in a while" It’s ood," he says "Plus, we’re parked near there, so it’s perfect"

We rush the few blocks to the restaurant, which isn’t busy yet, and are seated quickly True to his word, Jace hurries over to stow our bags before returning to browse the menu

"God, I don’t think I’ve been here since we cao," he says as he sets his menu aside and takes a drink of his water

"Sa on the steak frites "It’s so different at lunchtirees "I can actually hear you"

The waitress coone, Jace reaches over to hold rabbed my hand to cross the street, he doesn’t randole uptheh this thin, pink T-shirt