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"You keep thinking that I’ht at Colin’s"

"I wish you wouldn’t"

"Why? Don’t you want to have the house to yourself tonight?"

"That’s not fair"

Trey shrugged and headed for the French doors "Nothing is"

After co myself, I checked on the status of food and drinks and, once satisfied everyone was happy, tried to enjoy ently hts Jackie hung looked ical Someone cranked up the music, some old Van Morrison that seearden were not overpowering but subtle and soothing, a perfect ," Sean said as he caainst n feeling, and I tried not to analyze it

"I really hope so I’ve been working pretty hard to keep thearden is hard work" While he talked, he slipped one hand aroundisn’t Want to give it a whirl?"

We got a few raised eyebrows, but more smiles, as he spun me around the patio Rhiannon and Byron soon joined us, followed by Seth and Glynnis, a very serious expression on her face as they held an intense conversation while swaying to thetoward Byron, and I watched heartache dull her eyes

"You’re pretty good at this," Sean said, but it was he who kne tosomeone’s lead, but he sensed that and effortlesslyto ask you," he said softly as he broughtcold on my shoulder Sean’s eyes widened, but he didn’t step back, and held on as I turned to see

Mr Eckhardt His face resery, expansive He hooked one long finger under the strap of my dress

"Hey," Sean said "Take your hand off her, sir"

Mr Eckhardt ignored hied hard on the delicate oers drew closer, like bees to the draer and confusion, but not the healthy dose of crazy I expected to find ju up and down behind his irises Instead, sadness put a fillaucoma

"I found it," I said, voice shaky "I found it in the backyard"

Mr Eckhardt stepped back and nearly lost his footing on the edge of the concrete He shookthis on purpose You want to torture ry with your lot in life that you have to make others feel badly? That’s a pathetic trait in a person I don’t think much of you, but I did think you were better than that"

I blanched "Can we talk about this inside?"

Mr Eckhardt glanced around at the others "Why? Because you don’t want theood, solid people?"

I crossed my arms over my chest protectively The dress suddenly felt too fli from you"

"No," he spat "But you did steal from someone"

"From who?"

"My wife"

"Let’s sit down and have a talk," Sean said as he ushered us into the kitchen "I’ll get us some drinks, and we’ll pretend we’re all nice, civilized people"

"I’ainst my counter

"But you’ll stay?" Sean asked

Mr Eckhardt’s eyes reement transpired between theh for Sean He dashed out to the bar, leaving hbor