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She blinked, as if waking, then pushed to her feet
"Aidan called earlier when you were sleeping
It’s probably hiain"
Connor rose as well and followed her into the kitchen Stacey picked up the handset, revealing the caller ID Best Western Big Bear The tension that gripped Stacey’s small frame was palpable
She hit the "talk" button and lifted the receiver to her ear "Hi, baby"
He placed his hands on her slight shoulders and began to knead gently, fighting the tightening that threatened to knot the an, which resulted in a long barrage of argument fro tih
"Fine You can coht"
The exciteh the receiver
"Okay" She tried valiantly to sound cheerful "I’reat tiht you for Christh
"Yeah, who knew you’d actually use the da? Of course… Don’t worry aboutThe Muood flick! Okay…
Goodnight… Love you"
She hung up and the aresture
"Hey," Connor th of her arers and set it on the breakfast bar "It’s okay He’ll be back soon"
"That’s just it," she said, turning to face hiht her shoulders and forced her to "I don’t know if he will come back, or if he’ll stay with me when he does"
He stared down at her unhappy face with its pink-tipped nose and turned downher cheek, he brushed his thumb across her cheekbone
"He’s fourteen years old," she said mournfully
"He wants a dad, a man he can emulate and learn frola on every minute Justin hates it here in the Valley He says it’s boring, and for kids his age, I know it is I moved to Murrieta because it was cheap at the time--I could buy a house and save on my taxes--
and because it’s quiet There isn’t e boy into trouble"
"See?" he said "A practical wo woman A woman he admired
She faked a sut He hated the façade for his benefit He wanted her all, the real deal Connor Bruce, best known as "the guy hoet emotional," wanted Stacey’s e a father full-tio
Toether"
Her head fell forward, hiding her features in a mass of dark curls "Tommy would probably sue me for child support, too, which would make his life easier And even if he didn’t, I would still send them money God only kno they would eat otherwise One h to be working for once!"
A soft sob rent the air and Connor did the only thing he could do; he caught her chin in his fingers and lifted her entle offer of co from her and offered consolation the only way he kne "You’re getting ahead of yourself, sweetheart," heher nose with his
"I’m sorry" Stacey kissed him back, tiny kisses
Sweet kisses "I’ I swear I aly, it was
Stepping back slightly, Connor bent and caught her up behind the knees and lifted her into his ar roo room, where he sank into the down-filled couch with her in his lap She fit perfectly there, her lush body settling warainst his bare skin He tucked her head under his chin and rocked her
Taking and giving The connection he’d sought and needed so desperately earlier, reestablished without sex and yet strengthened by their earlier frantic otten the anis, laying them out in the open between them
Understood and shared
"Thank you," she whispered wearily, curling tighter against hi told hiht She was at his ho
He hoped it was of hith of the rock-lined hallway
to
the
main