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"And?" She spat out the word

"And I want to bring her home"

"What if that isn't what Sa shuffled from foster home to foster home, she finally has a family Here With us"

If Ryan had admired this woman before his revelation, her spunk fired his blood now Even their differences didn't stop the desire racing through his veins

"Do you really think you can show up, wave some documents that proclaiain You're years too late to do Saood"

He sed hard, because Zoe had voiced his biggest fear But that didn'tinto her personal space "No court's going to hold it againstto track Sa the blood rush out of her head Her fae was faced with choosing between this man, who had blood ties to Sam and who seemed impeccably normal, or her wacky family, the Costas clan didn't stand a chance

She understood this just as she understood the ramifications of Ryan Baldwin's claim A claiot Quinn and Connor digging into the man's past and present, she needed to buy her and her family some time

No way could he reveal the truth to Sam or Social Services just yet "Please don't tell o your way," she said with sugared sweetness

He shrugged, but there was a definite arrogance to him she hadn't noticed earlier Hadn't wanted to notice, she was forced to adood looks and suckered by his claim that he was a public servant

Now that she allowed her training to kick in and looked more closely, she realized his European suit was more expensive than any social worker could afford and his voice held a trace of a fine New England accent Which ht her family in court, should it come to that, but probably the financial athered her wits and her defenses and pulled on every shred of self-confidence she could o toe-to-toe with hi were at stake "Okay, let's agree on a few points, shall we?"

He raised an eyebrow "Go on"

"Right now my family has custody and controls access to your niece You need that access as well as a se so far?"

"So far, yes" He studied her with those astute brown eyes

"I' to hand Saoing to want to knohat kind of home you plan to provide for her Fair?"

He inclined his head, but didn't answer

She studied his expression closely Ashe'd just said had put hie

She intended to push hied?"

He shook his head

"So you're a single guy then Interesting," she said, referring to irl "Youbut you never mentioned other family Are your parents still alive?"