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I pushed away thoughts of Stranger, and forcedI wasn’t sure I wanted to know "Why are you here, Deacon?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, his tone low and cautious

"I mean, what did you expect to come of this? What was your plan if it wasn’t tomore with you?"

He looked lost He blew out a slow breath and shook his head once "There was no plan, I just knew that I needed you"

"And what happens when my son falls in love with you?" My eyes searched his, my voice dropped to a whisper "What happens when I fall in love with you?" Because both are dangerously close to becoht

Keith already loved Deacon; there was no question about that And me? I loved the way he made me feel and the way he treated my son I loved the way he kissed me and held me, and the way he refused to letterrified at the thought, instead of ju ive "

My eyes fluttered shut, and his ripped atme not to let this end

And I loved the way he loved me, even if he didn’t realize it

Chapter Seventeen

Deacon

July 4, 2016

"YOU KNOW, HONEY, I’ve been thinking about--"

"Moirls you think I should roaned, and jumped up from where his mom had sat down between us on the couch, and took off for the kitchen

I shed, and nodded in the direction of the kitchen, but didn’t take , Mrs LaRue"

"It will be ready soon," she said in a dejected tone, but out of the corner of my eye I saw her sit up and turn her attention to me "Deacon, honey"