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Once securely in her car with the doors locked, Chloe allowed herself aback, she breathed in the fresh eable level, she started up her Volvo and navigated her way out of the parking lot Sticking around to see just how angry what’s-his-name ouldn’t be the smartest of ideas

Halfway ho her so bad her heart nearly flew out of her mouth

“Shit,” shewheel buttons to lower the ringer’s volume then accept the call “Hello?”

“Seriously, sis? It’s ten on a Saturday night Why the hell are you answering your phone?”

“Scotty!” Man, it was good to hear her brother’s voice “Are you in the country? Please tell me you’re home?” Nine years older than she was, Scotty had enlisted in the arhteen Noith nearly two decades years under his belt, he was a Ranger and deployed more often than not

His laugh, healthy and strong filtered through the car’s speakers “Yeah, sis, I’m home Arrived in country yesterday”

She couldn’t hide the sigh of relief Another deployment survived

“How long you here for this tihway that would take her back to Pigeon Forge Or at least in that direction; she lived right outside the vacation town that was the home of the flashy Dollywood tourist attraction

“Actually—”

Static had her sh the jolt would so Always happened on this stretch of the highway

“Sorry, Scotty, dead spot What did you say?”

“I said I’ to visit you”

Her heart si with her, and an end to her nocturnal activities Scotty would flip his shit if he found out what she’d been up to these past few months

Nerves skittered down her spine Since she’d o, she hadn’t ether without those nights?

“Nothing? Thought you’d be at least a little excited”