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“Do you have plans next Saturday?” Kevin leaned back against the railing, his hand locked around hers “Ha Theater”

“Sounds nice”

Behind theame is back on,” Mark Wentworth called out to them

“I think that’s our cue”

“Only if you’re ready” Kevin rubbed his thumb over her knuckles “We can stay out here for a few more minutes”

She appreciated the sentiment, but it h fresh air”

Kevin kept Lauren tucked up against him as they joined the others She’d claimed the view and fresh air had pulled her outside, and he hoped that was the only reason she’d left the party When he’d left her alone with Mark’s and Henry’s wives, he’d assumed she would be at ease with the woularly spent time with the likes of Callie Talbot and Sara Sherbrooke He wanted Lauren to enjoy herself—get to know his friends and business associates

“Are you hungry?” Kevin asked as he led her toward an ee screen television, the Patriots’ offense was preparing for the first play of the second half

Lauren shook her head and took a seat on the edge of the cushion “All set”

Sitting down next her, he pulled her back to hie your mind, let me know” He took hold of her hand and let ame

Chapter 1

Lauren read the final paragraph of the essay and laughed Her students never ceased to ae arts with their current science unit on space she’d asked theht life on the moon would be like She’d known soinations, but each of her fifth-graders ane of the ressed since the start of the school year

After writing a short note at the bottoht-hand corner and added it to the corrected pile before recording the grade in her computer She was about to reach for another essay when the doorbell echoed through her tiny ranch house, followed by JoJo’s barking Taking a quick peek out the , she recognized the dark green Mercedes parked in her driveway Right on time as always Lauren moved away from theand toward the front door

“Happy birthday” Callie Talbot, her best friend since high school, stepped forward and gave Lauren a hug as soon as she opened the door, despite the large bag hanging froe box in her hand

“Thank you Co “Hoas the drive?” Closing the door, she followed her friend, asroom

“Not bad I stopped to see Helen on the way here”

Lauren joined Callie on the couch “How is she?” Helen Lee had been Callie’s mom’s best friend, and since her mom’s death a couple of years earlier, Callie went out of her way to stay in contact with the woman