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“It’s not always about money,” Liam threw in

“I know that For people like Angelina—and Alec, too—the jobs they doto them They are protectors It’s in their nature” Her voice dropped “You too, Lia my life I should have thanked you yesterday, but I”

“I’ for thanks”

“I know you’re not But I’rateful anyway” She drew a deep breath “I don’t want you to think I take you for granted That I take your protection for granted I I don’t Even though it ”

Liam wasn’t sure what to say Part of him wanted to tell Cate the truth—that she’d hurt hi her And that he was falling for her But another part of hi about that She was starting to trust hie step for Cate He didn’t need to throw anything else at her Not now Not yet Ti was the real thing, and not soht-errantry

So all he said was, “I understand So long as you understandyou safe”

“I do”

“Okay then”

Another long silence was broken only by the voices from the front of the plane Then Cate said, “Tell me about your family About your brothers and sister”

“What do you want to know?”

Her tone istful “I was an only child, and after her brother’s death so was Angelina That’s one of the reasons we’re so close, I think It e family”

Liam chuckled “Well, when I was little I wanted to be an only child, so what does that tell you?”

“You did?”

“Don’t get ,” he said “I love my family But sometimes a kid can feel as if he’s lost in the shuffle when there are so ht the quizzical expression on her face “I wasn’t the baby of the faer sister But I was the last boy out of four boys It see I wanted to do had already been done by my older brothers Better than I could do it, too”