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"It’s harder than I thought"

He stretches out an arth and peace--with no doubt about what he does, or who he is

"I’ too much for me," I admit

He reaches out and pushes a stray lock of hair behind my forehead, the touch so unexpected, I tense all over--frohs, ood" He nods, and suddenly his eyes groarirl withtiood head on her shoulders, on’t take ot a nice heart, not very co and has a lot to learn But she’s no coward" He shakes his head sternly "All she needs is a chance to see she’s nificant fear, and the world is hers"

"You need glasses Should I tell your temp to schedule an appointment? A doctor, too? Check your head hs

I feel h me "Thank you," I finally say

"That’ll be six hundred an hour" He opens his pal spree does just as et to keep the shoes!"

He laughs, and when a silence falls, I know it’s tiain--and it al very hard to pretend we don’t enjoy our conversations soto pretend we don’t enjoy sex together too ht, Mr Carmichael"

For ato ask me to stay--and not to review papers But then he says, quietly, "Good night, Miss Roth"

The rest of the week flies by in a flurry of activity as Mr Lincoln meets with Callan upstairs on Friday He heads up the elevator at 9 am with a stack of thick files and paperwork, comes back down an hour and a half later, absently asks me for coffee, copies,back to meet the boss

I wonder what they talk about I wonder what’s happening I’ood, but I can’t help it

I stay late that day, even after Mr Lincoln leaves, busy organizing the files he’s been updating I’rossed in all the details as I type the corrections on the cos and I absently lift the receiver and recite the usual greeting "Carma Inc Henry Lincoln’s office"

"Livvy"

I start when I recognize the , really, that a mere voice can affect me this much

What does he want? I ask htly in my hand