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Shell-shocked would not do justice to the way I feel right now I sioodbye to Mr Selly and follow Linc out the door

Thewith Selly ay better than I expected Not only do I feel soo those huge eyes widen even further when she heard she'd be assigned toood step toward easing er

The only thing that bugs omery to be even lovelier than I remeht Ever was going to start crying, and I had a pang of regret shoot through me But then she blinked those crystal eyes and the sheen was gone I hardened my resolve and pushed forward

Noe are riding to my condo I had driven her first to her apart she would need to stay at ue with me but I pointed out that if she refused, I would just call Mr Selly and tell hi forith the lawsuit She snapped her ers at me and packed two suitcases

She hasn't said a word since then

But I' to make her open up

"For soo, you're awful quiet right now?"

I glance at her and she shoots the saers at me I know I should be affronted, but instead I just stare into the cool depths of her ocean eyes

"If you're expecting an apology froet it," she says with confidence

"Oh, I'll get an apology fro you eat your words"

She crosses her arms over her chest and stares out the sideShe's spitting mad, I can tell

"Why you are so mad at me, Ever? I'm the one that should be offended"

"I'not me bumped from the opportunity of a lifetime"

I ignore the tiny stab of guilt that shoots through ht this on yourself If you would have just been truthful to start with, none of this would have happened"

"I don't knohat you hope to prove by doing this You could have gotten a full retraction and an apology froh and I want to knohy"

I consider her question for afor her head on a platter but before I kneas happening, I was insisting she , and I followed otan instinct to make her see the real me

"The paper's apology isyou are about me"

"I knohat I saw" she says in a small voice

"I don't doubt a thing that you saw or heard But trust meyou misinterpreted it, and then embellished thatto do, Ever"

"We'll agree to disagree on that Until you show o on"

"Fair enough But like I said, I' you eat those words"

She doesn't respond and we ride in silence the rest of the way to my condo

I carry Ever's luggage up and show her the guest bedrooo and I'll admitit's been a little quiet around here Ever will provide me company, at least

"After you unpack, coround rules"

"Ground rules? You have rules for me to follow?"

I lean back against the door fra with heat and her chin is stuck out I get this crazy i it but just as quickly banish it

I get the feeling that she's going to buck against me every step of the way and I can't resist a taunt "WellI want it clear that I'e of you for the next six weeks"

She starts stanation "YouI'e of me!"