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‘Sure What else?’

She gave him a pained look ‘Yes, I did My mother always said they would fade because I had Nordic blood and fortunately she was right’

‘So as the Viking?’

‘My father And he’d love that description He thinks he’s invincible and not at all like your typical acaderinned ‘But he is’

Dare stared, transfixed by her avid face as she spoke of her parent ‘So you come from a smart family?’

‘I suppose so My mother is a teacher as well, and’

She stopped and Dare studied the way she stared at her plate as if she’d just discovered a fly on it ‘And’ he prohtly

‘And nothing’

‘You know, Red, talking to you soet blood from a stone’

A hesitant se to reach across and—oh, hell—before he could control it he caught her chin between his thuer, leaned across the table, and kissed her lips softly Good God, that felt good, and all he wanted to do was sink into her softness again

Slowly, reluctantly, he drew back She blinked her eyes open and looked at hireen

‘Why did you do that?’

‘You looked sad’

She bit into her lower lip and worried at it Dare was quite sure she wasn’t aware of the action, or what it did to him

‘I was going to say my sister was a social worker’

‘Was?’

‘She died a year ago’

Dare grabbed hold of Carly’s restless fingers on the tabletop ‘I’m sorry, Red How did she die?’