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A weariness that can only co pulled at his iven him as Alexis’s address She’d warned hi; he was almost past the shrub-surrounded entrance before he realized it Braking heavily, he turned off the road and into the driveway

His heart began to hammer in his chest and nerves clutched at his stomach Should he have called ahead? What if she refused to see him?

“A fine ti about this now,” he said under his breath as he traveled up the lane and pulled to a halt outside a quaint turn-of-the-twentieth-century cottage The skies opened as Raoul got out of the car, releasing a deluge of bone-chilling rain that forced him to run toward the wide covered veranda out front

Even though he’d run, he et through when he got to the front door He dragged a hand through his hair, ski off the excess of water that threatened to drip in his eyes and down his face He caught sight of his reflection in one of the front s Drowned rat Not exactly the best foot to be putting forhen hoping to appeal to the wo else for it but to push forward

He stepped up to the door and knocked Inside, he heard steps co Alexis again and yet yearning for her so strongly that it was aled with all the words he wanted to say but he was forced to s theray hair and the type of tan and deep lines on his face that spoke of a lifetime in the outdoors

“What can I do for you?” the lish

“I ondering if Alexis was home,” Raoul said aardly

In all the ways he’d i her father first He felt about as nervous as he had as a teenager going to pick up his new girlfriend on their first date

“I am her father, Lorenzo Fabrini,” the man said, his dark eyes full of questions as they narrowed at hirizzled brows

“Raoul Benoit,” Raoul said, putting his hand out in greeting

Alexis’s father flatly ignored it and Raoul let his hand drop His sto well

“So, now you cohter?”