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"Better She’s been taking it easy ever since the heart attack My dad is doing his damndest to make sure she doesn’t experience a second of stress He’s taken over the cooking, cleaning, pretty much whatever he can to ood I keepto drop by and visit her, but…" There was an aard note in her voice "I’uess"

"Why? Because we broke up?" he said lightly "That doesn’t matter, Darce Mo with Reed now?"

AJ shook his head "I don’t talk about Reed much when I’m there You kno they are"

She s of him From what I’ve been told, he was a total troubleestured to Reed’s office door "I just brought hio around if you’re hungry"

"Naah, I already ate, but thanks" His gaze strayed to the end of the hall again, but he tried not to reveal his iht be friends, but he definitely didn’t want his ex-girlfriend knohat he was up to tonight

Hey, Darce, there’s a hot chick inforthere He could already picture the look of disapproval that would grace Darcy’s face, though he wasn’t sure why it even mattered to him Darcy ith Reed now She had no say in his life and absolutely no right to judge hi only illustrated howfrom his relationship with Darcy Darcy eet and funny and wonderful, yet he’d always kept a part of himself hidden from her

"Anyway, I’m sorry I can’t stay and chat, but I have an i okay?" she said with concern

"Yup Just need to call one of our liquor suppliers"

The wary flicker in her eyes told him she didn’t believe him, but he didn’t particularly care at the h

As his impatience spilled over, he planted a brief kiss on Darcy’s forehead before calling out a hasty good-bye on his way down the hall He registered her bewildered response, but didn’t turn around Athe door behind him

"Hi"

Brett instantly shot up from the visitor’s chair and sht, and the silky black strands lingered right above her shoulders, providing hie She earing a silky black dress that stopped h and the leather boots she’d had on yesterday, and with her tattooed arirl vibe that he was totally digging

And she hadn’t been off base earlier--she wasn’t his usual type Norirls with fresh-faced good looks, casual clothes, and down-to-earth personalities Pixie bad-asses with ink hadn’t played much of a role in his love life before now