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Ah, crap He’d seared that memory into her brain forever This bar would always carry the delicious secret of surrender, the shattering of hertenderness when he held her afterward, worried she’d walk away

She couldn’t Not yet Sohts ago, and they hadn’t seen each other since He’d called and said Morgan needed him to track down a certain supplier, so he was in Ver to score a special order of Douglas fir at the warehouse He spoke like he wasa billion-dollar deal, his voice hushed with respect for the reed Asex for the first tihly suspect Raven waited for the slap of betrayal or anger to hit Nothing did Simply put, she believed hi or reassurances She’d never experienced this rightness before with a man--as if they completely understood each other on a deeper level and didn’t need to steep themselves in endless analysis of each other’sbetween them was a mess of complications, she didn’t want to break it off yet Soon After all, their odd relationship had no future, and continuing it could just lead to disaster He was also owed the truth, and she needed to tell hian ca neatly above her shoulders Sydney was at her side, a coht yellow shirt, green eyes sparkling hat seemed like anticipation Raven had liked theht she’d served the, the three ingredients Raven sought in a fean’s relationship with Cal, but tiet to see Izzy much, since they were both so busy It would be nice to an and Sydney Soirl tian said, her white Chanel purse swinging on her aret away froht and began wrestling on the ground like toddlers, and knocked over the Waterford vase I stomped out and swore there’d be no dinner for the next week, and then I had to deal with the puppy-dog eyes and the prohed "I’ Frozen for the billionth tiles!"

Sydney not only worked at Pierce Brothers and ran the offices with an iron fist, but also had a five-year-old daughter whoave her a lot of credit for being such a dedicated single mom "Sweets, there’s no strippers here You buy in with chips, and I happily take twenty-dollar bills"

Her face fell with disappointment "Oh You know, the bank teller looked at les Should’ve known"

Morgan ripped out a hundred-dollar bill with glee "I brought a hundred!"

Raven pressed her hand over hersession, ladies I don’t think we’ll be playing for such high stakes yet"

Now Morgan looked disappointed "Oh Maybe next time?"

"Definitely I made some new cocktails for you to try out Come over to the bar and I’ll show you"

"The place looks aaze swept over the restored bar, new stools, and the rearranged tables and decor "Dalton is a s

"He is" She refused to let anyone know they were sleeping together It would only raise further complications "This is a twist on a key liirl products, so calories are raham cracker crumbs, added a slice of lilasses of water with lemon "I won’t serve you another drink until you hydrate with one full glass of water in between Limit is three per person, but you have to blow into this before I let you go home" She pulled out her Breathalyzer "Can’t be too careful, now"

Sydney sighed "Is it okay to have a girl crush? ’Cause I have one on you"

"A, I’hter "I love it! I swear, you’re like my heroine"

Raven leaned her elbows on the bar "I heard you have a pink ha boots It doesn’t get any better than that"

Morgan tilted her head, considering "Yeah, you’re right I guess I have a bit of cool in hter, who you show every day by exa you want if you work hard enough That’s as badass as it gets"

Sydney stared at her, gratitude gleareen eyes "Thanks Sorabbed her friend’s hand and squeezed "Not supposed to be easy, is it? At times I feel like women have all this stuff inside that trips us up, hts and emotions and worries Expectations and analysis It’s exhausting"