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Fool’s Gold offered that He wasn’t fitting in as quickly as Jack and Kenny, but he was okay with that He was s He kneelcome here But that was only a piece of what he wanted There was also the ive her his heart

For a second he thought of Dellina From what he could tell, she was exactly who she seeaiven up her own dreams to take care of her sisters He liked her A lot She was smart and funny and when they were in bed

He took a sip of chane to hide his satisfied smile

But there was more to love than sex There was trust and he didn’t think he had it in him Not yet Not after what had happened Hoas he supposed to believe that she wouldn’t turn into God kneho in a feeeks or years He would never have guessed Siirlfriend would sleep with each of his best friends Or that the girl he’d fallen for in college would stalk hi across the country to avoid hi to be a hermaphrodite

Better to be alone and be safe, he told himself As he always had tried to do But for once, the price of that safety seeh Which left him with a difficult dilemma

DELLINA HESITATED BEFORE walking into Jo’s Bar She lovedthe Score party behind her meant she had a lot to celebrate Whatopen the door was her concern that everyone would take one look at her and know so and wonderful and

Even as she tried to get annoyed, she couldn’t help s Aftershocks froh her Just when she thought she had recovered fro from somewhere deep in her belly That sensation ain

She had loved being with hiether She didn’t love thefor love and Saht all relationships ended in disaster What she meant was—

“Hey,” Larissa said, co up behind her “I heard you were a wild success I’m sorry I missed the party”

Dellina opened the door and stepped inside “Me, too I could have put you to work”

Larissa laughed “You say that like I should be scared, but I spent the weekend withon thenant continues”

As always, Larissa was casually dressed in an oversize T-shirt and yoga pants Her long blond hair had been pulled back into a ponytail and she had on athletic shoes She was tall and lithe and race of a natural athlete As a kid, Dellina had preferred books to sports As an adult, that hadn’t changed

“Do you get along with your fae table in the middle where Patience and Isabel already waited

“I do,” Larissa told her “Mostly It’s not so horrible It’s just I’er sisters are already married”

Dellina realized she was kind of in the same position While Fayrene wasn’t married, she was settled with Ryan

“They both already have kids,” Larissa continued “The pressure is on for randchildren I finally had to threaten to never speak to et her to stop”

“Intense,” Dellinashe wouldn’t mind a little pressure from her mother Or complaints or any kind of conversation at all Because that would one Not that she would say that to her friend

“You did so well,” Isabel said as they approached “Congratulations Everyone has been raving about the party It was fun and went set a lot of business out of this”

“That would be nice,” Dellina said “I like to stay busy”

She pulled out a chair Larissa sat next to her

“The people seemed really nice,” Patience told her “They came into my store and tipped really well I appreciate that”

Dellina grinned “I’ll pass on your approval”

Noelle hurried in and joined theed Dellina “You kicked butt! Yay you I can’t tell you how ht at the store It was a very happy Saturday for me”

Before Dellina could respond, the door opened again Taryn and Lark walked in together Dellina felt herself starting to blush Oh, no Not Lark She would take one look at Dellina and know instantly what had happened Dellina looked for an exit, but before she could find one, the other tomen had joined them

Taryn hugged her “My new favorite person ever You were fabulous Everyone had a great tioddess”

“I wish,” Dellina murmured “But I did enjoy the corporate aspect of it”

Taryn settled next to her “You should look for more accounts like that What about CDS? They have those corporate weekends but it’s really just about the obstacle courses”

“She’s right,” Patience added “Justice has to ith the co them what’s in town and where to stay He really doesn’t like it” She leaned forward “You should get together with hi Where he can just give theether”

“I’d like that,” Dellina ad wrong with her bookkeeping, she ht be more financially successful And wouldn’t that be nice?

She s a distraction would keep the other wo her aura or whatever it was she did “You were brilliant Everyone loved your lecture”

“That’s true” Taryn grinned “I’ht”

“I hope so” Lark reached for her water “It’s so nice when a couple who’s been together for a long tiy and compatibility”

“Where do you go next?” Larissa asked her

“New Orleans Reggie and I will drive there We’ll have a week on our own, then have a small seminar Only five couples ant to experience the ultimate pleasure”

Dellina felt her eyes widen She glanced at Isabel, who looked about as startled as she felt

Patience’s mouth for?” she asked, her voice sounding slightly incredulous

“Yes We start with soh to theand pressure points Each couple will have an opportunity to estions”

Even Taryn looked startled at that one “I don’t think I would be up for the pressure”

“There’s no pressure,” Lark told her “We’re there to be supportive So aroused We have ways of dealing with that”

Larissa leaned toward Dellina “I can’t decide if I want to ask what they are or stick ers in my ears and hum”