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This tiuys To be hurt, you have to fall for a guy and that's definitely not my MO"

Both men snorted "Like it was either one of ours?" Connor asked

"Hey, just because the two of you are nohipped doesn't mean I'll end up the same way"

She didn't intend to live by her parents' example Her parents were and always had been head over heels in love, which usually ies that ended up with them in the bedroom, locked inside for hours She and Ari had learned to keep thee she probably shouldn't have been aware of what the glow on her mother's face afterward really meant But they shared a roive and take between her parents represented the best in a relationship, but they'd ot, thedoith any man after all her years alone would mean compromises that would chip away at the essence of who she was A person that was still too undefined, she thought

Zoe had had her share of relationships and men If love had been in the cards, she would have definitely discovered it by now At the very least, she'd have been through devastating heartbreak Instead she'd been disappointed at times, hurt on occasion, but she'd always bounced back, never truly having had her heart broken Never having said, I love you

"I guess it's not inaround with Ryan Baldwin and keep a close eye on hi eye

"Just be careful," Quinn said "I don't want you hurt You're like a sister to me and if Baldwin turns out to be who he claims he is, I'd hate like hell to have to beat the crap out of Sam's uncle" He slammed his hand on the desk andto kill everyone involved"

Connor nodded "Let's just hope like hell we find dirt on his family and maybe then there'll be some way Zoe's parents can keep Sam"

Zoe shuddered The entire situation was a in to decipher Instead, she waved at her partners and headed home— before Ryan could show up and possibly alert her parents or Sa

Chapter Three

AFTER THE MEETING at the office, Zoe rushed hoet there before Ryan showed up for his visit She'd expected to find Sae Instead the kitchen was e frolass door and onto the large patio Her mother was nowhere to be found, but Saether in the yard That by itself was enough to jolt her syste a hole in the grass, a rush of adrenaline and desire raced through her veins

The man was handsoined the body hidden beneath the well-cut material His back was already deeply tanned fro her each tiining what his smooth skin would feel like beneath her hands or how his hard body would mesh perfectly with hers