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He let out a deep chuckle that ay too sexy forbefore setting some pill bottles of his own on top of the dresser close toanywhere" He popped the top of his first bottle and let a few slide into his mouth I watched the muscles in his throat bob up and down as he sed He stared just like I had at the second one, but he ignored it as well

"Pain runted in response and I smirked at the fact that we both didn’t see of sound mind around him and I wondered if he felt the sa and then to ed the back collar of his shirt over his head Myanytime soon His body was unreal Literally, it had to have been soht out of ination

The ance that I had never thought possible for soed and flexed with the raceful line of his spine created the perfect symmetry for each side of his well-defined back The line was a tease that disappeared into his shorts and I let hts of what his butt looked like Probably perfect

His skin was smooth and a blank canvas, all except for a little bit of script low on the back of his neck I couldn’tabove his shoulder blades

He leaned toward the mirror over the chest of drawers and examined the area on top of his shoulder that was covered in white surgical tape and gauze He began pulling back the tape and I watched the creases in his eyes as he winced He moved to the other side and tried to pull the tape from there, but I could tell thehihed and walked toward hi up all of histo do it, I needed light and I didn’t want to disturb Kate and Braden He stood there frozen, still leaning toward the h the double doors and a few beats later he shadowed behind me

I pointed to the chair near theand went to the bathroom to washthe chair in front of the lass, probably so he could watchyet another one of his lines back to hiruffly

If I could have, I would have dug ers so far into his shoulder he wouldn’t even consider saying soain Instead, I kept it short and sweet "I kept your daughter alive for four years If that’s not trustworthy, I don’t knohat is"

A harsh breath rushed past his teeth and he closed his eyes, not willing to look at es of the tape on his shoulder and quickly yanked it back I was mindful of his injury, but I could really care less if the skin around it becah!!" he yelled, but it was ood ar that I’m a kidnapper," I whispered "I would never" My eyes becalassy and I stifled the sob in er Never" My last word carumbled, like a child who had just been repri me that I don’t pay you anymore and it’s just weird Too forer than ht And you’re what… twenty-four?" he returned

I nodded and said, "Okay Lane" I took a deep breath and thought about the best way to approach this without having to drag it into a prolonged conversation I really would like to catch so "She tricked ainst me and she did it well I just assumed she was soirl’s life at the park" I used soan to take a good look at his shoulder "I was an idiot"

He hung his head do for a few longintently I couldn’t see his facial expression, or tell what he was thinking, so I took the opportunity to get the bandage change out of the way I let my eyes roaain It si that should have looked strange on his masculine body, but it didn’t It was perfect

"You shouldn’t have been carrying Kate around You’ve already pulled a stitch out" The cut on his shoulder looked angry and red, but it wasn’t any longer than about two inches It was slender like a knife Had he been stabbed?

"If holding her causes all of them to pull out, I won’t care Won’t stop me," he whispered sullenly down into his chest

"I didn’t think it would I’ether with two pieces of tape anyway"

He shrugged his shoulders, indicating he could really care less

"Is this a stab wound?" I asked curiously, because I couldn’t ever see

"Yep"

"Should I be worried that you get yourself into situations that cause you to get stabbed?" I asked, trying to get him to elaborate

"Worried about me or worried about Kate?"

"Just worried" I didn’t care to clarify

"It won’t happen again I used to enter these underground fighting matches a couple times a year because I knew that Flores would be there He was a hardcore gaet close to hiot a little ht as well have He told ht" The break in his voice causeda knife could do"

"Oh, Lane…"

I couldn’t i like that My heart hurt for him and the man he must have been after that kind of news His emotions had been tossed about just as ive hi so down the injured area with antiseptic and some of the clear ointauze I couldn’t help but to let er than necessary on his war sure the tape was properly adhered, but if I was being honest, I just wanted to touch him

I had been so starved for touch fro that his beautiful, honed body seeh my veins The first time I met Lane for my job interview, I’d been attracted to him It would have been impossible not to be Even before he was built like a brick house, he was gorgeous His sandy blonde hair looked striking against his lightly tanned skin His hazel eyes soreen, which only caused

Of course, I never acted on those lustful feelings Ash had been, single mom with a baby Yes, Lane was nice to look at, but that was all he had ever been toeye-candy