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"You ready for this?"

She turned and found hi close His hand propped the door open, and a tiny smirk rested on his full lips His jaas clean shaven, and the delicious ocean scent of his cologne drifted froers itched to trace the faint scar that ran down his right cheek--evidence of a rock fight with his brothers that hadn’t gone well A reluctant s, or was she being paranoid? She fought the blush and ducked her head anyway "Ready"

She got in the car, and he ca out The sne wrapped around her Jazzher ears "You can put on the seat war"

"March is temperamental"

"Yes, it is"

Silence descended Sydney tried not to wring her fingers and stared out theOne hour and twenty-eight minutes left to their destination Could she pretend to doze? There should be plenty of rooh was just inches fros were practically naked and vulnerable to his gaze He kept his attention on the road, sipping his coffee, not seeht, she ht choke The chunky silver watch e tapered fingers She’d always believed he could be a concert pianist Lord knows he’d played her body like a maestro With his lips, too

Don’t think about it

"Do you knohat the goal is for thisto the subject like a jumper to a parachute "Contracts are finalized on three houses, but he’s holding out on the others I think he’s giving in is limited in order for this to be hile for our local suppliers, so I’ll need to be ready for negotiations"

"Smart I’ve met him a few times when I worked in the city He has an excellent reputation but is well-known to be ruthless Most good businessood businessman?"

"No, ruthless" Sydney wished she could take the words back They’d just popped out The boy she’d loved was no longer here, but the ued her For years, he’d been held under his father’s rule, until his a he’d once loved Including her

"When I need to be"

She believed hihtened on the wheel They were in new territory Since his return they hadn’t discussed his ti that could lead the truce, she ad a bit curious about those five years when he’d grown into his own man

His answer reflected no hidden tension "Yes I needed to go to New York and find out who I ithout my family Dad would never have allowed me to explore real estate It was difficult at first, but I hooked up with a decent fir In n courses and built my skills After two years, I was ready to step out on "