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I a when Dah a lap He treads water, his body turned toward ht that play across his face, reflected by the motion of the water, make it impossible for me to read his expression All I know is that I feel the heavy weight of his gaze upon o to hi me here I’m afraid that I have oversteppeda mo hi to have the exact opposite effect

The longer he stays at the far end of the pool, the rows in me, so that when he finally does move toward me, I take an involuntary step backward

It is only when I see his face that I stop He is looking at me with such open adoration that itand stands in the chest-deep water "I didn’t mean to wake you"

"How do you expect ain, and the robe floats around s on the sash atmy body He slips his hands up to my shoulders and slides it off The da the robe behind er wrapped in silk, but wrapped in Damien’s arms

"I think I ruined the robe," I say "I didn’t actually ot carried away"

"I know the feeling" His hand gently strokes my face while his other arm holds me firmly around the waist, as if afraid I’ll float away like the robe

"Do you mind that I’m here?"

His mouth curves into an ironic sainst hs "What do you think?"

I s and shake h with Da a hard ti what my purpose actually was

But, no, I do remember I tilt my head up so that I can look directly in his eyes "I orried," I admit

"About the phone call? I told you it wasn’t about Carl’s threats"

I nod, then take a deep breath "Was it about the tennis center?"

He looks atyou?"

He hesitates, then gives one curt nod "Yes"

I bite h I believe him, I’m certain that’s not the full story

"How did you learn about it?"

"I saw the paper You left it by the boxing bag"

The corner of his s upward "Perhaps my subconscious wanted you to find it"

"Well," I say with a laugh "That’s a start"