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Jealousy exploded around his heart “The snob froer from his voice, but the surprise on Lauren’s face told him he’d failed

“Kevin, my boyfriend, will be here soon”

He didn’t ht pause before she said “boyfriend,” as if it was the first time she’d referred to him that way

“We’ll have to catch up so over her chest She glared at him

Nate wanted to kick hi the way he’d intended “Lauren, I’m sorry That was uncalled for” He took a step toward her, but stopped when her dog moved to sit directly in front of her “I didn’t coo out and catch up” Ignoring the dog standing guard, he took another step toward her “I’vefor her hand, he intended to pull her arms away from her chest, but the moment he reached for her, she took a step back

“You’ve missed me?” Lauren asked with disbelief “How can you say that when not once in fifteen years did you contact me?”

Guilt slammed into him “It’s not that I didn’t think about it”

“Thinking and doing are two different things, Nate,” she said Her light brown eyes narrowed and her voice turned cold

Prepared to apologize, Nate opened his et the opportunity to say anything Once again the dog barked wildly as Lauren groaned and threw up her hands

“Great Kevin’s here, and I’lance in his direction, she walked around him to the door

As if this visit weren’t already going downhill fast, now he had her boyfriend, or whatever he was, to contend with too Turning toward the door, he watched her welcome Kevin inside

“I’ a little behind” She closed the front door behind Kevin “You reht” She nodded in his direction “He stopped by to say hello”

Nate glanced back and forth between Lauren and Kevin So far, neither had shown any display of affection Not a hug or a kiss? Strange Either the two of them were only friends despite Lauren’s claims otherwise, or their relationship was still in its early stages Both options worked for hih the first could make his task much easier

“Nice to see you again” Kevin extended his hand

“Nate was just leaving,” Lauren said before he could say or do anything “Give me ten minutes, and we can leave too” Lauren took a step toward hiood to see you” Lauren clasped her hands behind her back as she er”

The confusion and apprehension in her eyes betrayed her true feelings She obviously wanted hiht now

“That’s okay We’ll catch up some other time” He took a step back toward the door Retreat The word rolled through hiust He wasn’t the kind of man who retreated Yet at the moment he had no other option She’d made that quite clear

The theater exploded in another roar of laughter when Lisa Jones, the coe, delivered the punch line Lauren, however, remained silent She had missed the first half of the joke, so the punch line ht, she’d missed most of the jokes Sure, she’d heard the comedian’s words, but she hadn’t processed ain to her past two conversations with Nate