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I sigh "I just hope she’s not at one of her famous parties with a dozen of her chattiest friends"

Merendsen exhales a laugh, speaking with a s to be a problem"

Before I can ask him to elaborate, the call connects and the picture pops up There’s a woer For a nize her without the hair, the , trying to connect this sleepy-eyed, fuzzy-haired girl with the heiress to the LaRoux fortune She’s pretty--beautiful, even--but nothing like the creature I think of when I think "Lilac LaRoux"

"Tarver," shea bit of sleep out of the corner of her eye She’s clearly been woken up; she’s wearing a silk robe over whatever she was sleeping in

"Hi, beautiful" His voice is soft in a way I’ve never heard fro out yet?"

She wakes up a littleher features as she leans a little closer to the screen’s carory, a her face "Have any of the nasty swamp people shot at you yet?"

I have to stifle a protest, sing it down It’s clear Lilac LaRoux can’t see round

But Merendsen just snickers, as if she was joking "No, but it’s still early days How are things at home?"

"Good I haven’t had a chance to try the bathtub yet" Lilac’s leaning closer still, one hand appearing as she lifts it to trace the neckline of her robe Coy, flirtatious, her ely envious of that skill I look at Flynn again, but this ti his eyes averted froot to test out the new plu, make sure it all works" Merendsen’s amused, his voice low and private

"Do you have a little ti the comscreen with er pulls the neckline of her robe open a little

I see just enough skin to realize she’s not wearing anything under it before I jerk et why Flynn’s watching the floor with such dedication

"Oh, co, do you have to torture me? And, uh"--his voice turns a bit sheepish--"Lee’s here, so you lances over his shoulder at me