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"Yeah, just friends" Liz hoped it would sink in

"But seriously, you’re not uptight or anything! Iher arain

"Well, thanks," Liz said She patted her back softly and then pulled away

"I’lad that you’re here with him He’s so much fun when you’re around It’s not all about work this, the paper that" Jaood distraction"

Liz really liked Jamie, but she couldn’t have this conversation It was like Jaether Noto be able to persuade his sister otherwise either

"Maybe we should head back," Liz suggested

Jalanced down at her phone and nodded "I think James is here!"

They walked out of the bathroom and Jamie immediately launched herself at her boyfriend They disappeared on the dance floor a second later, leaving Hayden and Liz alone once more

"You want another drink?" he asked with a cute smirk on his face

Liz nodded and followed him to the bar He ordered them both another round of drinks As they waited, he ainst the bar and squared her in with his body One of his hands brushed heracross the back of the bar

"Did I tell you how a forward to speak directly into her ear

A shiver crept down her back at his nearness She shook her head

"You look a," he repeated

"Thank you," she said softly, not even sure whether he could hear it over the music

The bartender passed drinks to Hayden, who handed Liz hers "Come on Let’s dance so trapped in a mass of dancers at the bar Topher and Phillip left with Anne and Abigail later They stopped by long enough to say good-bye and sly, as if they knew Liz hadn’t believed they would score Jaized to them for her Hayden closed his tab and then helped James haul her out of the bar Hayden left her with Ja down a cab A few minutes later one showed up that would take the with?" Jaht throw up any second

"We’ll be back soon," he said with a sainst Ja back?" Liz asked, furrowing her brow

"I wanted to show you so his ar her to walk in the opposite direction of his apartment

A fewPool oncethe few blocks to their destination in heels, but it was a pretty sight Everything was all lit up, and it was late enough that no one else was around

Hayden pulled her toward the brightly lit Lincoln Memorial She trekked up the stairs in her heels until she stood right in front of Lincoln’s enoret you your view," he said She could sense hi closer to her

"It’s beautiful, Hayden" She continued to stare at the memorial

"Lizzie," he whispered

She turned then at the way he said her name He had never called her Lizzie before She kind of liked the way it sounded co out of his mouth Hayden Lane, as always co for just an ounce of control around her When had the world completely flipped upside down?

His hand ca blue eyes and then histhe water

Liz stood very still Her head was spinning as she felt her body betray her by reacting to his kiss Tingles blosso she had kept hidden inside her for two years This wasn’t supposed to happen This was Hayden He wasn’t supposed to be interested in her like that And noas

"Hayden," she whispered, pulling back "I thought you said that we couldn’t because of the newspaper"

"I changed my mind," he said

"Hayden, I…" She trailed off as he kissed her once ed, "just kissher face softly, and then when he kissed her again his hesitation was gone He kissed her as if he had wanted to do it for a long tih of her He prodded her ged his teeth along her bottom lip, she took a swift breath His lips were soft and war his shirt and, al him in closer

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as the sexual tension between thehed and kissed her lips once rabbed her around the waist, holding her in place against him

"Liz," Haydenti you last seainst her lips "I’m not one to repeat mistakes"

Chapter 26

KEEPING SECRETS

Guilt washed over Liz as fast as a cyclone cutting through a town

She let Hayden guide her down the steps and to the street, where he hailed a cab The whole walk she was in a daze Part of her knew that she had enjoyed the kiss She had even on soht only made her feel worse She had appreciated her time with Hayden--the openness, his interest in her career, all of the introductions It was the coave her a headache, because what she really wanted was Brady to give her all of the things that Hayden had given her this weekend But just because Brady wasn’t giving her those things didn’t mean that she should have taken them from Hayden