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She could refuse hio”

He exhaled a shaky breath that showed her how important her answer had been to him

Although it was after business hours, he called Jeanine and said he needed a plane and the best available suite at the Sterling hotel in St Pete Beach

Hope drove theht bag, and when she walked into the living room, she found the Colonel curled on Rafe’s lap

Hope stood there for a second, staring How is this even possible? “After I feed her, we can be on our way” As Hope spoke, the Colonel glared at her “I think she ht be your cat”

“Seems that way”

It wasn’t until Hope opened a can of food that the Colonel jumped down from his lap

“Traitor,” Hope said when the feline entered the kitchen She flicked her tail, then started to eat, ignoring Hope “I feel abandoned”

“Pets always knoho’s a good person”

“Uh-huh”

He picked up her bag and carried it to the car During the drive, she asked Skyler to cover, perhaps for an extended time Then she had Rafe ask Caroline to take care of the Colonel Caroline was shrewd She negotiated for another spa day, a hotel stay, dinner, and a bottle of chane

“You drive a tough bargain,” he told her “But yes”

Hope shook her head Was he going to be this much of a pushover when they had kids?

In his condo, he packed, and she watched the beginnings of the sunset unfurl across the sky

“We don’t have to live here,” he said, co up behind her

She’d been so lost in thought that his approach startled her “I haven’t said yes to e”

“You didn’t say no to shacking up” He gave an irresistible grin

“Shacking up?”