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She sighed and stared at the fountain Gray was right She could have it all She had to continue to believe in herself "Thank you"

"For what?"

"For believing in the things you think I can do You don’t even know me" No one knew her She did her job and did it well and efficiently That’s how she ended up working for soh up the political ladder as Senator Preston She had a social circle of friends who knew her, at least knew the Evelyn Hill she wanted them to know But no one knew the child she had been, knew her drea

Now Gray knew He was the last person she would have thought to tell that story to

She figured hi type,about her life

Yet here they sat in this garden while she had done all the talking He asked all the right questions,she so rarely did Usually she was the one asking all the questions

What a twist

"Hey, are you two hiding andout here? We’re about to set fire to hed at Craig, then he held out his hand for her

"Wouldn’t miss that for the world," Gray said, and he led her down the path toward the house

SEVEN

THE CAKE WAS THREE TIERED, AND CRAIG WAS RIGHT, IT had been filled with candles--definitely more than thirty It took him three tries to blow them all out After everyone ate, they were led out a side door where a band had set up on the deck People took seats around the deck and pool area where the band had started to play

Gray led Evelyn to a cushioned love seat near the pool They still had a great view of the band and the dance floor that had been created in front of the deck

"In college, Craig always aspired to be a deejay," Gray said "And a singer I wouldn’t be surprised if he got up and sang with the band tonight"

One of the singers got up to jam a seriously cool hip-hop tune, one of her favorites

She half turned to face hi like that"

"Oh, you eneration"

"Not E ca by a female member of the band with a voice as smooth as melted butter

Gray stood and held out his hand "Dance?"

She shouldn’t, but she loved the song and couldn’t resist "I’d love to"

He led her down the path froainst him, she couldn’t resist the thrill as her bodyher in his arms The patio was croith people and they weren’t alone Other couplesto find their own spots to dance There was nothing intiers grazed up and down the bare skin of her back Electricity sizzled between theaze, and it suddenly occurred to her that it didn’t matter how many people surrounded theet

There could be a thousand people dancing nearby and it would seem as if it were only the two of them The music was slow and sinful, her pulse had kicked up, and Gray only looked at her

She was grateful for the public venue, because the intent in his eyes was clear And if he leaned in for a kiss, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to say no

Fortunately, she was fairly certain he wouldn’t do that in this crowd of people But suddenly heher away from the others to a side patio shielded fro from the backyard to the front, only no one was here

No one but Gray and her

He took a step forward, pressing her against the side of the house, the brick still retaining the day’s heat Not that she needed it Her body was already in flames, and as he bent and put histo say or do in resistance, because kissing Gray see

He brushed his lips across hers--a tease, maybe, or a test to see if she’d push hi that Her breasts swelled and her nipples tightened, and with his body flush against hers, the only thing she wanted to do noas deepen the kiss and explore So when he did, pressing his hed in content her Gray’sdown ti of desire that enveloped her in a hazy cloud Gray swept an ar toward her butt They were just resting there--he was being such a gentlerab her ass and draw her closer

And what kind of sex-starved wo dry spell, but she worked for his father, and now they wereout in the dark at his friend’s house and she was h?

If this kiss had been happening in her hotel roo out a way to get him out of his clothes With her hands on his ar of his biceps She knew he had a body and she longed to see it, to feel it, on top of her, inside her

She shuddered and his fingers dipped lower, his tongue delving into her rabbed a handful of her ass and drew her against his erection

Oh, yes

He slid his lips fro his teeth to nip at her flesh Goose buine his mouth--his teeth--on other parts of her

Oh, et hi and Miranda had an extra bedroo