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Then she realized Chase was leaving "No!" She caught up and grasped his arm

He looked down at her, arching a dark brow

He was going to lance around them They'd drawn attention and he noticed, smiled into her eyes, then brushed her hair from her forehead as if she were thewas normal Hah Far from it

"You don't have to stay, but—"

"Thanks, angel," he cut in and meant it

"How am I supposed to explain you to people?" she asked quietly

"Not that you have to, but any way you want"

She cast hilance "You mean that?"

"Sure" He wanted Tessa to come out and say he was her baby's father, be proud of it Hell, he was beginning to think he wanted ine But if he told her what he was really feeling, she'd run

"Coot a primo spot all picked out"

"Primo?" Her lips twitched "Really"

He maneuvered her between the couples toward the rear and du a s his hand Tessa stared at it for a moment, and knew this took their odd relationship to another level What level she wasn't sure as she tucked her fingers in his, feeling the co warmth, the calluses of a man orked hard for his livelihood She lowered to the hed in a heap

"God, I feel like such a cow"

His lips twisted in a soft sel"

She rolled her eyes "Quit with the flattery, Chase," she said in a low voice She wouldn't believe it, couldn't Allowing herself to i her baby was ludicrous But when she couldn't take off her shoes without a strain and he leapt to do it, Tessa experienced a strange burst of emotion It was a siht and it forced her to take another, deeper look at this enes she'd selected