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Priss waved at him and beside her in the driver’s seat, Trace scowled

Da breath, worked up a smile and waved back Now in a rush, he hit the intercom and said, "Matt here, with Priss and Trace," because, really, that see that he’d come alone, uninvited

It was Molly who said, "Hi, Matt Coates opened and he entered, with Trace close behind When he parked, he found Dare standing there in front of the big house, arot a stranglehold on his throat, but Matt was nothing if not brazen "Hi, Dare" He waved again and left his car "Chris around?"

"He went into town"

Oh hell So they knew Chris hadn’t invited hi a smile pasted on his face, he asked, "Any idea when he’ll be back?"

"Probably within the hour"

"Oh…good" Nohat? He looked around, hoping for inspiration

Priss saved hi to talk to you about some stuff anyway"

Trace always looked like a thundercloud, buther arh Matt’s, she told her husband, "I want to surprise Alani with the works You know, top-to-toes polishing New haircut and style Maybe a deep conditioner Manicure and pedicure in some fresh, trendy color Maybe a facial, too, and lazed over by the details, Trace interrupted her to say, "Sounds good Have fun" He and Dare went into the house together

Snickering, Priss leaned into Matt "They’re so easy Talk about girl stuff and it’s all they can do not to yawn"

Chris was the same, at least in that respect He was so disinterested in the things that interested Matt

God, he didn’t knohat to think--especially when Priss steered him toward the yard instead of the house

"Want to sit on the dock and talk?"

And avoid Trace and Dare? "Absolutely"

As if she’d read his thoughts, she grinned "You know they like you, right?"

"Yes, of course The warmth is there in the narrow-eyed scrutiny of h "Hey, they allow you in, and that says it all" Still leaning into his side, she pulled out her phone and sent a e "Molly will join us"

With a distinct lack of enthusiasm, Matt said, "Yay" What were the wives up to? Matt had the awful feeling that he was about to be grilled

They were only halfway down the hill to the dock when Molly and both dogs caed down the hill, circled theain--and then to the dock, where they y dives into the water