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Blinking, Sara glanced down at her hands, the only part of herself she could really look at "And you’re sure?"

"Positive"

Bonding

HE CHECKED HIS REFLECTION AS HE PASSED THE oversized gilded mirror in the lobby of the upscale boutique hotel Typical, he thought This is exactly the type of place she would want to meet Someplace where she could remind hirinning at the ie that stared back at hiawky child he once was No longer bashful and afraid No longer ordinary

A wo jewels turned her head She practically tripped in her expensive heels, so she could watch hi her date’s--or possibly her husband’s--are he presented to the world He was tall and handso

But, of course, he could appear serious and shy too, when the need arose

He’d beco of a chaht noever, in this instance, the look he was going for was refined, and he smoothed his hands over the front of his jacket one last ti rooed in the past years His stomach roiled nervously, despite his constant internal reiterations: I ah She can’t hurt me unless I let her Words are only words

He hated that she still held this row clu to trip in front of her, and as he reached the table he straightened to his full, i nearly as pathetic as he felt

She glanced up, as if she’d only just realized it was hiaze on him the entire ti a spectacle of yourself"

His jaw clenched, but he took a seat without a word

A pretty, brown-eyed waitress brought their irl he’d norht another woman demanded his attention

The waitress ser than tonic water He needed to keep a clear head He couldn’t afford to give his e She took far too et it You don’t have a chance," hisback painful childhood memories