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"I call bullshit," Todd said "You didn’t have any probleo to hell when you wanted to be with Nick"

"Yeah, and as it turned out, they were all right about hio after any guy who appeals to you I don’t think you’re afraid of your fa, speculative pause, and then he asked gently, "Was it that bad with Nick, sweetheart?"

I had never told Todd that my husband had physically abused me I wasn’t at the point that I could talk about it with anyone other than Gage, Liberty, or the therapist The concern in Todd’s voice nearly undid me I tried to answer, but it took forever to force a sound froht throat

"Yeah," I finally whispered My eyes flooded, and I wiped them with my palm "It was pretty bad"

Then it was Todd’s turn to wait a while, before he could e to speak "What can I do?" he asked si my friend"

"Always"

I knew he meant it And it occurred to me that friendship was a lot , than love

CHAPTER SEVEN

When an apart despite theNo matter whether your place was a thousand square feet -- the size of er’s apartment, which I loved for its coziness -- or four thousand square feet, you got the best views in Houston You also had the benefits of twenty-four-hour concierge and valet service, designer kitchens loaded with granite and quartz, Murano glass light fixtures, bathroo tubs, closets you could park a car in, andan Olympic-sized pool, a fitness center, and your own personal trainerRegardless of all those ae and Liberty had , and she and Gage had both agreed that Matthew and Carrington needed to live in a house with a yard They had a ranch north of Houston, but it was too far froe’s offices to be their lewood subdivision and had built a European-style hoent, Saan to show it to prospective buyers But before anyone was able to see a place in 1800 Main, Saet a reference froit "You’d be a fancy apartment" She also revealed that about a third of our residents had paid cash for their apartments, at least half were business executives, and almost three quarters of them hat Samantha considered "new ered Hardy’s dry-cleaned jacket to his office, I got a call from Samantha

She sounded tense and distracted "Haven, I can’t make it in today My dad had some chest pains over the weekend, and he’s in the hospital and they’re doing tests"

"Oh, I’ I can do?"

"Yes" She gave a groan "Would you please tell Vanessa for ive twenty-four-hours’ notice before taking a day off"

"Vanessa’s gone," I re weekend, re-distance affair with a guy from Atlanta, and she went to visit him at least once a month She wouldn’t tell anyone his name or what he did, but she had dropped heavy hints to me that he was extremely rich and powerful, and she had hier, of course

I couldn’t have cared less about who Vanessa was dating, but I tried to look i her Vanessa seemed to expect me to be fascinated by the mundane details of her life Someti caught in traffic, or what her reat shape she was in, two and three times, even when I reminded her she’d already told h I couldn’t figure out why she did it, or why I see else, Sao toplan file for Mr Travis -- he was co by today, and he really needs to take a look at it"

"I’llthere’s a guy co to the office at nine to look at the condo Could you show him around for me? Tell him I’m sorry I couldn’t make it, and I’ll be available by cell to answer any questions"

"Sure Is he qualified?"

"He’s so qualified it sort of makes h "Single and loaded Da The only thing that et to meet him either"

I chuckled "I’ll s to him about you"

"Thanks And make sure he has my cell nule and loaded," a funny shiver chased down le-and-Loaded was, and I wondered what the hell he was up to

"Samantha," I asked suspiciously, "what’s his -- "

"Call waiting," she said "It’s Dad -- I gotta go"

The connection terminated, and I put down the phone I went to Samantha’s coe, David, beeped on the intercom "Samantha, Mr Cates is here in the lobby"

As my suspicion was confirmed, I found myself out of breath I was simultaneously stunned, worried, and oddly ae to my own ears "Samantha’s not here today," I told David "Tell Mr Cates that Miss Travis will be doing the showing I’ll be down in just a minute"

"Yes, Miss Travis"

I did a quick, discreet check in a compact s back fro dark broool trousers and aV-neck wrap sweater Unfortunately I had chosen flats for comfort that day If I’d knoould see Hardy Cates, I would have worn e

I looked into Samantha’s file on Hardy and skimmed the prequalification report, and nearly dropped it as I saw the nu "okay," he had neglected toobscenely rich That property in the Gulf they were getting "good play" out of must have been a major find A really -time oilainst hie ties to the oil industry And even y company, hadn’t cut fossil fuels entirely fro, I closed the file and took the elevator to the residential lobby

Hardy was sitting in a black leather chair near the concierge’s desk, talking with David He saw an to thuht-headed

I put on a business face, a business smile, and extended a hand as I reached hirip of our hands, and we stood facing each other We lint in Hardy’s eyes that drew heat to the surface of my skin

"I’," I said

"I’lance overthe jacket You didn’t have to have it cleaned"