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The

“You’ve been crying,” he accused

She swiped an oversize sweater sleeve across her eyes “I’m okay”

“Right” She didn’t look okay He glanced past her into the living rooone, the rooet another phone call? So you?”

“No Not exactly” She looked over his shoulder, frowning toward the car He’d expected her to get all bubbly when she saw the Mustang, to get excited and want a ride “Where’s AJ?”

“At his grandma’s house”

“I missed him I hope he has fun”

He wanted to ask if she’d missed him, too He’d certainly missed her One day without her sunny presence and he couldn’t get her out of his head

“I feel weird without hiht Grand back to Denver tomorrow” He reached into his hip pocket “Got us all soame Me, you, Macy and AJ”

“Oh”

Again, he’d expected excitement She loved the Rockies Instead, her “oh” sounded like distress

A dozen thoughts shifted rapidly through his o with him She didn’t want to be AJ’s nanny anyet lost and not come back

His goodfast

All day, while he’da client lunch, his mind had wandered to Clayton, and AJ’s nanny Manny had noticed his distraction, but he’d bla issues at the mine That was part of the proble in front of him with a red nose and puffy eyes

He’d prayed about her on the way back fros for the nanny By the time he’d pulled into the yard he’d decided to treat Brooke Clayton as a kid sister A kid sister as helping hiood sense No a solved any issues of impropriety