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And stopped in the doorway She hadn’t really looked at the rooe, easily as big as her Brooklyn apartment

Except, her place overfloith, well, with just plain stuff

Jesse’s dressing room was so close to empty, it was Spartan

Shelves and cubbies lined the walls, but most of them were empty Only a couple of narrow sections contained clothes A couple of wool sport jackets hung from a rack; jeans, sweaters, T-shirts, sweats—tops and bottoned on the shelves Boxer shorts and socks were alongside

At the far end of the roo suspended fro luster, stood directly beneath

Sienna set the lantern on an empty shelf Was her reluctant host a soldier? It was none of her business Still, she crossed the room for a closer look

Her breath caught

The jacket bristled with medals and ribbons She had no idea what any of them were; she didn’t even knohat branch of service the uniform represented, but whatever it was, Jesse must have served it well

She couldn’t iine him as a soldier He was too independent to take orders froh…

She juainst the still-shut outer door

“Hurry it up,” Jesse barked

Sienna alave the all-but-empty room a brisk salute

The kitchen was easy to find

The lantern provided plenty of light and all she had to do was follow the smell of…

“Chicken noodle soup?”

Jesse turned as she entered the candlelit roo-sleeved chambray shirt, the sleeves rolled back on his tanned,a fresh pair of jeans and his hair was drawn back froth of rawhide He stood at aaway on the burner of a ca stove, a wooden spoon in his hand, a nonco look

“I see you found so to wear”

Sienna glanced down at herself She earing heavy gray cotton sweats—classic, basic gy rooiven to anything that defeated the utilitarian purpose of sweats, or to silly designer logos

She couldn’t iine he ever would be

“Yes” She decided to test the waters, offer a s hi I have on two of your T-shirts And—” she raised one foot “—two pairs of socks”