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"But we’ve known each other forever," he reirl likes to be a little bit of a aze scanned me "Oh, you mystify me plenty, Pepper" The way his eyes rested on htheartedIt wasn’t hard to read hisfro out had been kissing Nothing ht at his place he’d slipped a hand undersoure out the question on his id?

It just felt too soon Too fast

You took things fast with Reece Shaking off the annoying little whisper, I looked straight ahead, willing the line toaway from the cashier and off to the side to wait at the bar for her drink She was hard to miss

With sleek blond hair that fell to her waist, she was stunning She wore a black fitted leather jacket, leggings, and heeled boots that reached her knees Emerson would die for her jacket The boots, too I was still ad her when Reece joined her

My Reece No Not round to a halt Except the two of theirl He’d obviously just paid for their drinks They didn’t touch, but their body language was familiar as they stood comfortably side by side She leaned toward hi his arm

He stood in his usual casual manner, one hand slipped halfway inside the back pocket of his jeans as he listened to her, watching her like he used to watchwas riveting

"Pepper, the line uidedintome Closer up in line noere just a few feet away fro out, but I had never counted on seeing hi that he lis He ran every ue Fixed the Campbells’ sink and whatever else broke in their house He was out there, coexisting in the same world with me I should have anticipated thisto Mulvaney’s didn’t ain

"Pepper?" Hunter stared down at me in concern, his forehead creased "Are you okay?"

I nodded, co cal that Reece and the gorgeous girl had slipped out the door by now

Reece stood directly in front of me "Hi, Pepper How are you?"

His voice sounded exactly as I remembered Deep Calm and even His face revealed none of the intense emotions that had been there the last time I saw hiood How are you?" Was that croak my voice?

He nodded "Good"

Check yes for useless pleasantries

He reached out and lightly brushed the arirl beside him "This is Tatiana"

Oh my God Her name was Tatiana? Only supermodels and Russian ice skaters were named Tatiana Which one was she?

"Hi" She saze traveled to Hunter, re me that it was my turn "You remember Hunter?"

"Yeah Hey, er than the last ti hands with the guy I’d kicked out of inity I just didn’t think a latte was going to cut it for aze drifted back to me "Well, see you around Take care"

I nodded nuaze unreadable as it locked with one With a hand on Tatiana’s back, he guided her outside I couldn’t resist sneaking a look behindthe front s They made a beautiful couple, and that only made me want to throw up

When I turned, it was to find Hunter watching htful look on his face

I flashed him a pained smile and stepped up to the cashier I ordered my scone and latte "See," I said as we moved over to the bar "You do knoell"

"I want to"

So in his voice drew ly, his brown eyes probing Like he wanted

I placed a hand on his chest and leaned in to give hime more exuberantly than he ever had in public

When he pulled back, he said, "I want to know you If you’ll letit impossible to speak My latte and scone appeared at the bar and I stepped forward to clai if I could evenwas becoly clear to me No matter how much I tried to pretend otherwise No matter how much I tried to deny it

Reece had ruinedthe door on Madison’s room, I moved on to Sheridan’s bedroom at the top of the stairs The seven-year-old slept, too, her thuirls iped out We’d colored and played Candy Land and hide-and-seek All before dining on pizza and Rice Krispie Treats in the shape of Christmas trees Satisfied that both were settled, I headed downstairs The Campbells’ new puppy had its paws up on the coffee table in an atte, I scooped up the little fur ball and cuddled it for aChristes and addressed the puppy "All these shiny boxes, and you go forate my homework"