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There was the North she knew But … she didn’t know hiold was suddenly struck by how badly she wanted to know him

She moved toward hi how close she was standing behind him He didn’t step backward, and his confidence didn’t waver "So you’re saying there’s a box"

His voice was so deep that it rattled through her "Yeah There are two"

North smiled "Care to describe these boxes?"

"One is for an old Fisher-Price castle The other is for a Fisher-Price Tudor house"

"I don’t think I’ve seen those yet" His voice had gotten even deeper, somehow Even--okay, she could admit it--sexier Deep and sexy … about Fisher-Price boxes

She turned away fro to drink? Water? Coffee? Tea?"

He seemed amused by her amusement Even if he didn’t understand it "Yeah Coffee, thanks"

The kitchen was a wreck, but--unlike how the rest of the apartment had been--it contained old brewed the coffee, North grabbed a round patio table and two dining roo area in one corner of the living roo up or at her desk She couldn’t reether

North appeared behind her, pointing at her coffee- device "What’s that?"

"A French press"

"Fancy"

She shrugged "My mom doesn’t believe in electric coffeehed as she res (hand local artists) from the cabinet "How do you take yours?"

"Black," he said

"Figures A hearty lurinned "I take mine black, too"

He leaned over the island in the kitchen, leaned his tall body toward hers "And here I had you figured for an herbal-tea kind of girl"

"Right" Marigold rolled her eyes She handed him his coffee "Because of the restaurant"

"Because of the solstice And your na "What’s the restaurant?"

She’d forgotten that she hadn’t told hiold sat down at the patio table, and North sat across froan comfort-food restaurant don," she said in one breath "Yes, I know It’s very Asheville"