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"So that you look more like a lumberjack than a mechanic, especially with your beard"

"Does it bother you?"

She shook her head "Not at all I like it You keep it triers into the coarse hair and rubbed her palm down one side "I’ve never kissed anyone with a beard before I had no idea it would be so good," she said, and immediately looked away as if she hadn’t meant to say the words aloud

"Did it tickle your nose?" he asked

"A little It’s not as prickly as I thought it would be"

Saers explored his beard until they were in her roorinned, before tearing her gaze away fro toward the other side of the rooht, babe, you’re tired"

"We had a deal," she hurried to remind him

Still, Sam hesitated "I don’t want you to wear yourself out"

"I won’t"

He wasn’t convinced

"A deal is a deal No far do I need to walk before I get my reward? Don’t make it too easy for me, either"

"Beth, no"

"Please"

Sa

"I want to show you what I can do"

Frowning, Sa corridor "To the nurses’ station and back" It was only a few feet away He didn’t want her collapsing

"I can walk farther than that"

"Do you want your reward or not?" he asked

"Okay, okay," she said with a laugh

Sam helped her to her feet and noticed how she held the walker in a death grip This was a bad idea and he regretted agreeing to it almost immediately

Beth’s first few steps looked unsteady and were little e, Saave out or she needed assistance

Her progress was slow andgreat," Sam told her

She bit into her lower lip "If you knehat I wanted for ht want , babe," he proh Turn around"

She paused and looked up at him "Have I mentioned how much I like it when you call me that?"

"Babe?"