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His words sent a shockwave of forbidden want through her Nobody had ever wanted her this way And she had never wanted anyone else

Maybe it was okay that this was all they were Friends and neighbors who could etic kind of way

“So do we talk about it?” he asked quietly

“Talk about what?” she replied, keeping her voice light

He turned his head slightly and looked at her She looked back For a moment his expression seemed almost tender, and she could have sworn she saw a thank-you in his gaze Maybe a sorry somewhere in there, too

But then he reached down by his side, picked soh

“Ouch,” she yelped, realizing she’d just been slapped with her own spoon

“Coroaned, but let hiain”

As usual the banana bread never happened

But round two definitely did

Chapter Twenty-Four

I KNEW IT SHE looks just like azed down at his days-old niece, and felt his heart lurch as one of her tiny arht pink swaddle blanket, her features peaceful as she slept

“Sure, if you look like an adorable Craisin,” his sister said, cohter Jamie leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the baby’s forehead, then each of her cheeks

“Did you just compare this lovely lady to a dried cranberry?”

“I did She’s all sorts of wrinkly pink goodness, and the ree Marian Margaret Clyde was pretty much perfection in his eyes His niece had come into the world hearty and healthy, if a bit late by her ht down to Nashville once his brother-in-law had given hio-ahead