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"The one She lives with her trainer and we're not violating any laws or rules and ould never, ever put Saer" Zoe's once self-confident voice took on a pleading tone as she obviously realized she'd slipped with her adht to reassure her "I can see that you wouldn't" Unable to stop himself, he reached out and touched her hand

The spark of awareness was instant and energizing His gaze ireen eyes, he saw equal doses of surprise and pleasure

He felt the same and knew he shouldn't because of who he was But he let his fingertips linger Her skin was soft, the texture as intriguing as the woman herself He'd never felt such instant desire How ironic it would be with a woaze and smiled, a full, honest, interested smile Ryan didn't find trouble often, but he'd found it with Zoe Costas

"Do you want to meet Sam? See for yourself how happy she is with my parents?" Her voice was a touch hoarser than before The desire and awareness between the

He nodded "I'd like to

Her eyes lit up as she reached Zoe "Hey, sis Having fun?"

Sis He shuddered at the memory the word evoked and at the fact that his niece obviously already felt like part of the faestured toward Ryan

He straightened his shoulders, suddenly feeling stiff and uncomfortable as Sam looked him over from head to toe, then frowned "I hope he's not your boyfriend" She wrinkled her nose in the disgust only a teenager could de He tried not to let it bother him since she didn't know him yet

"Sam, that's not nice," Zoe chided "And Mr Baldwin happens to be Katherine 's replacement He's your social worker, not lanced down and began fingering old keys that dangled from a chain around her neck

Scared? Chastised? He wasn't sure but finally she looked up again, aze

"Hey, ot them shoes," Sam said, her joke an obvious attempt at bravado in the face of her rinned, clearly aed "Okay, I'll play Where'd I get ot 'ehter at her own joke

He didn't catch on i with Sam

Zoe shook her head and tried to control herself Sa but poor Ryan Baldwin and his blank, lost stare She wondered if it was painful to be that uptight and straitlaced Oh, well As Sam's new social worker, a couple of days with the Costas clan would cure him in no time

She had to admit that his sandy-blond hair and brown eyes e, despite that he was a social worker and by definition a stickler for rules She reminded herself that he was a led and constrained way more than even the safe house had done Still, she found herself tempted to test the waters and wondered how he'd react if she reached out and pinched his—

"He's got a stick up his butt— " Sae whisper

Ryan's eyes opened in shock

Zoe refrained frolare Thankfully Sa contrite for Ryan's sake Zoe knew she was probably anything but