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Since when had she ever noticed ato her?

“I like toa very lopsided curtsy in an atte washerself look like a bit of an ass That seemed to be her specialty But it didn’tIf she didn’t care, no one else sees were, hoard she felt, if she didn’t

She straightened and s she didn’t blush

“You certainly do that” He walked toward her, the easy grace in hisher with one part envy and nine parts desire He really was gorgeous

“Ha Yeah My blessing and my curse”

He put his hand on her lower back and heat fired through her from that point to the rest of her body He propelled her forward into the dining rooain Not because she was that big of a klutz, not usually, but because his touch washer limbs feel rubbery

She sucked in a breath when she saw the table It was laid out special—gorgeous platters with appetizers and there were candles It was very real, suddenly Like an actual date, which she kneasn’t

And she shouldn’t let it make her feel any kind of pressure He wasn’t interested in her that way, and that was fine with her She didn’t have the time or inclination for it

“This looks great,” she said, too brightly

He pulled her chair out for her and looked at her, waiting for her She just stared

“Would you like to sit down?” he asked

“Oh, uh…yes I’ my chair out for me”

“Then you need to associate with better men”

“Or eneral”

“I i life is somewhat hobbled by recent developments”

“Yeah, recent develop life” She sat down and he abandoned his post at her chair and went to sit across from her She took a salmon roll off the platter and put it onto her plate, her sto her it was late for dinner “So,” she said, “you want to talk?”

“We need to talk I’m not sure I particularly want to talk But we need a plan If we’re going to be a couple, to both child services and the media we need to know about each other”