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“Love could develop” He kept his hands by his sides

Pulling his hand forward, she dropped the box in his palh I’m sorry”

What could he say? As e to happen, he couldn’t proh, he held out hope After a feeeks with her Marine she’d realize what she’d given up by saying no and change her mind

“If you change your mind, Lauren, you kno to reachbox Just don’t wait too long

Chapter 11

Nate used his key and let hiht he and Lauren first made love, and he’d all but officially s still ree, all the essentials were here, including his dog And every night he slept with Lauren next to him Just the way he wanted it He enjoyed the feel of her body pressed up against his A physical reht that he had Lauren back An added bonus of sleeping with Lauren every night was that his nighter came as frequently In the past month they’d only occurred once

When he entered the kitchen, both Maggie and JoJo rushed toward his had become inseparable “Happy to see me, or do you srabbed on the way hoht ballet from four to seven and never had time to cook before class Since his own culinary skills lacked rabbing takeout for them on his way home

After he scratched both dogs behind the ears, Nate hung up his jacket and headed straight for the guest bedroom that doubled as Lauren’s office

With her earbuds in, she remained unaware that he’d come home From the doorway, he studied her When he’d run into sonized theether Many had either not taken care of theh, hadn’t suffered fros In fact, she looked h school

The ed forward, and he fought to push it away The past was done Only the present and futurewould change that He’d make damn sure of that

Should I tell her? He’d asked hiotten wind of the ru tryouts soon at the FBI Academy in Quantico Since the day he’d decided to apply to the FBI, he’d planned to try for the team if the opportunity ever arose The team recruited only when it needed to, which ent for years before they held tryouts again

It’s only a rumor There had been no official word in the office Besides, if and when it becas would let him know Nate had met Justin, a member of the elite FBI teaether in Afghanistan A one as planned and left two of Nate’s fellow Marines dead and nearly killed Justin Only Nate’s determination and stubbornness had allowed him to keep them both alive, despite Justin’s injuries To this day that mission haunted his dreams

When Justin returned home, he and Nate stayed in contact In fact, Justin had been the one to suggest that Nate join the FBI and eventually HRT At first he’d been unsure, but the more Nate learned about what the FBI did in reality, opposed to on television, and the role it played in protecting US citizens, the ent

Even if the ruuarantee he’d make it past the tryouts HRT only accepted the best, and h the rigorous training process On the other hand if he inia But if Lauren said she would have been willing to deal with all the o, then she’d agree to a uarantees Worry about it if it happens

Dishts of work, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders The instant he ed her earbuds out

“Jeez, you scared ave him a brilliant smile at the same time

“Maybe you shouldn’t wear those in the house” He flicked one of the earpieces with his finger

“Audiobooks sound better to me when I listen to them like this” She stood and slipped her arainst his “You shouldn’t sneak up on ot a word out