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“I—” Her eyes ide as if she were looking for a reason to say no “What time?”

“I’ll need to be at the ht, I want everything checked thoroughly Every piece of equip”

The microwave beeped She popped the door open and re them on the table The sweet scent of chocolate curled into the space between them Brooke scooted her chair close to the table and reached for the e

“Okay” Siiver he adored The pressure lifting off Gabe was iht?” she asked

Considering he’d never sat across the kitchen table fro to share his concerns about work, Gabe wasn’t sure where to start When had anyone been willing to listen at that hour?

Never Until now A near stranger, who didn’t feel like a stranger, wanted to know and seeenuinely interested

So he told her And she listened

He wasn’t sure what to do with the feelings churning beneath his rib cage What exactly was he feeling? War, which s considered Yet, there it hirling around inside hi and wonderful

Many times in the past he’d arrived home late fro hours Too keyed up to sleep, he’d sat alone, flipping through channels or prowling the downstairs like some nocturnal creature He hadn’t h to expect anyone to get out of a warm bed for his sake

Maybe that’s why calling Brooke tonight had been so difficult He didn’t like asking anyone for favors Yet, Brooke was still here long after she could have returned to the co to help hily, to be AJ’s regular caregiver

A et used to this kind of attention She was not only good to look at, she was a nice woman

Hands cradled around a cup of instant hot chocolate, Brooke leaned toward hi the side of her face, drawing attention to her full, curving lips “What made the police think someone was in the mine?”