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So then why did vague discontent gnaw on the outer edges of his satisfaction, blunting some of the pleasure?

"Cannon?"

That faint, whispery voice drew hi thoughts, Yvette stood in the doorway, her body outlined by the floodlights out front

As usual she wore jeans, but these were a boyfriend cut, not like the tight deniht was cool she’d pulled on a hooded sweatshirt a few sizes too big Her long dark hair trailed over her chest, around her brsts

At his continued scrutiny, she shifted

Realizing he was staring, Cannon unglued his feet "Hey" He looked beyond her but didn’t see her grandpa "What are you doing here?"

"I’m sorry to bother you" She, too, looked around "You’re closed?"

"Just locking up, yeah" Since he wasn’t working at the bar tonight, he’d planned to find a little feht But despite the ill-advised kiss he’d given into in her bathroom, Yvette wasn’t an option For a dozen different reasons, she was off-liht you’d be at the bar, butyou weren’t"

She’d gone to Getting Rowdy looking for him? "You’re not twenty-one" Nuet hio in there"

A smile teased the corners of her mouth "So Rowdy told me, very quickly" She continued to stand in the doorway instead of co in "He’s the one who toldand ih so much Number one reason he had to keep his attention off her curvy little body in the slouchy clothes "You’re okay?"

Nodding, she said, "I wanted to talk to you I "

"Come on in" He held the door wide and then secured it behind her "How’d you get here?"

"I drove" Trailing a hand along a rack of weights, she explored the rec center "I’ tio"

No, he didn’t know that And he’d be better off thinking of her as twelve "I thought you just graduated"

When she looked away, he wanted to kick his own ass Way to bring up a failure

Gliding over to a speed bag, she gave it a shove, watched it a minute, then said, so softly he barely heard, "I live with Grandpa because one They died with I was thirteen Ilost a few months of the school year and had to redo it Only I wasaround a lot, froed "I hadn’t attended enough school in any one place to count the year"

That had to be really rough "I’m sorry" He came up behind her, but not too close No reason to tes didn’t work out with the other relatives?"

She pushed back the hood of her sweatshirt and gave the speed bag another tap "I guess not" Flashing him a smile, she asked, "How’s this work?"

Drawn to her despite his better sense, Cannon stepped up to the bag "It’s hung a little high for you" He ht angles "Like this, okay?"

She nodded

"After you’re in the proper stance" He struck the belly of the bag and immediately circled his fist back "You count the rebounds to knohen to strike again" After showing her what he meant, he did a thirty-second round, repeatedly and fluidly hitting the bag

S, she said, "Youwhy she was here, what she wanted What he wanted

Turning away and heading for the heavy bag, she laughed "Actually, youseem easier"

Cannon watched her "If I could, I’d make it easier for you"

She kept her back to hi "I’ht"

His heart skipped two beats "What does that ht and co back to California Remember the aunt I mentioned? Well, she’s ill and could use some help with her store I’ll stay with her and in ree and" She stopped Cleared her throat "Grandpa is going to retire He’ll sell the pawnshop and just take it easy He said he can visit often, or I can visit him And of course, I’ll have to come for the trial ButI can’t stay here"

Cannon took a step toward her but she held up a hand

"No, please Don’t tell me I can Don’t tell me it’ll all be okay" She closed her ar over every little sound, and I smell kerosene even when there’s none around and" She held out her hands "I can’t stay" Now she cae help To me and to Grandpa" Her hand touched his chest, but not for long She was already walking ahen she said, "I can’t thank you enough, and I won’t ever forget what you did for us"

By the ti She fuot it open A bell chiht

Cannon hadn’t yet moved He had his hand over his chest, on the spot she’d touched so very lightly