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“You know,” he says in a playful voice “I bet I could ”

Oh, man Really?

But I’m not ready to roll over and expose my belly so to speak I try to snatch the duster back froe, faster than he gives me credit for, and my hand latches onto a fistful of feathers I jerk hard Toa ray feathers

The force causes ainst so

I hear a crash As I turn to see what I just knocked to the floor, my stomach knots in horror as I see it was the picture of his dead wife and him It lays face down on the hardwood floor, but I know it’s the one with Michelle It’s the only picture he has in this office

“Oh, Jesus,” I moan as I scra his hold on erly pick up the frame Glass falls loose onto the floor I turn it over to see Michelle slass still hanging onto the inside

I turn to look at Asher, feeling like I’ to throw up “I am so sorry, Asher”

He just sits in his chair, staring a little blankly at the picture frame in my hand My stomach knots even more

“The picture is okay,” I rush to assure hi back down at it one more time to reassure myself that it is And it is The picture inside looks unscathed My gaze goes back to Asher “I can run out right now and buy another frame I’m sure I can find one just like it Christ… first the Chihuly and now this I’m such a klutz”

I’m startled when Asher reaches out He doesn’t take the picture froivingsmile “It’s okay, Hannah”

“I feel terrible,” I say weakly

Asher stands froladly Without even looking at it, he sets it on the desk and then pulls me into him

His ar so he can brush his lips across mine My entire body wants tocry