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All es between her brain and muscles stopped For that brief ain against hers after all this time Then the paralysis wore off, and she placed both hands on his chest and shoved him hard “That didn’t happen”

Nate folded his arms across his chest “Yeah, Lauren, it did”

Her eyes traveled down his face to his arainst his shirtsleeves Back in high school he’d been fit and muscular, but the years since then had taken his unrefined body and sculpted it to perfection

Don’t get distracted “I’ Kevin”

He took a step closer Despite the warning bells in her head, a flash of heat and exciteh her body

“Si him”

The rich ti both desire and annoyance at the same time Lauren latched onto the annoyance “Kevin makes me happy” It’s not a lie He ether, and she felt safe with hi I have a life, Nate I didn’t just sit around while you did your part saving the world”

Nate unfolded his arive me a chance to explain I—”

Rough calluses rubbed against her hand, a reh school “Nate, I’ tih” Her last sentence came out alo, h, too much time had passed

Nate’s jaw clenched, the only outward sign he felt anything No big surprise there Even as children he had been great at hiding his emotions “I need some air”

He disappeared out the front door onto the porch without his jacket Ah, the wonderful Nathaniel Callahan avoidance How many times had she seen that over the years? Oh well, at least it brought an end to their conversation

Chapter 4

Lauren bolted upright in bed Next to her, JoJo lifted her head as if to say you wokeh her body

Nate In one movement she kicked off the covers and flicked on the bedside laht froht to cross the rooht from her bureau Another moan came from across the hall Without hesitation, Lauren left the rooht bounced off the closed bedroo, but all she caught was the word “no”

“Nate?” His only response was another agony-filled ain said, “No,” his voice thick with grief The bright beaht washed over his were twisted up in the bed sheets Even though his eyes remained closed, his face was contorted in pain and his entire body gleaain, his head thrashing back and forth

“Nate,” she called again as she moved to the side of the bed When no response caht and reached for his shoulders “Wake up, Nate” She tried to give hi to move a cement slab “Come on, Nate Wake up” This time she raised her voice

His eyes popped open, darted wildly around the room, and then locked on her face Still unfocused, he stared at her, but she got the sense that although his eyes were on her, he wasn’t really seeing her

“Are you okay?” Now that he’d stopped , she became aware of the warm slick skin under her hands and the oddly shaped scar she could feel on his left shoulder

He blinked a few times “Lauren?” His eyes ht then returned to her Recognition finally filled his face

“You weredrearief she saw on his facestupid like hug hiether in her lap “Are you okay?” she asked again

The mattress on the bed shifted underneath her as Nate pulled himself up “Sorry I woke you” He raked his hand across his face “I’m fine It was just a dream”

Yeah, right She may not have been an expert on the brain and how it behaved during sleep, but she knew people didn’t normally moan and break out in a shen they slept “That wasn’t a dream, Nate” She unclasped her hands and placed a palrowing on his face scratched her fingers as she caressed his cheek

His hand wrapped around her wrist holding her hand still “I said I’ deal”

Evidently his definition of a big deal varied greatly froo Her soul said so, I’m here” She’d loved hi now