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QUINT LEANED BACK AND GAZED at her steadily

Amara stared, slack-jawed “What do you mean, you’ll take both of us?”

“I said exactly what I meant”

He couldn’t be serious, she thought “You mean, you want us to live with you? Me and Hampton?”

“I think it would be best for Haether first, for a while, if you’d like”

“That wasn’t any part of our deal”

“As you pointed out, the conditions of our deal were created before everything changed We’ll have to be more creative now, in hoe handle a difficult and eed situation”

“Do you think I’ to marry you because you want your son, and I want to be with hi custody, but what you’re talking about is crazy We had our chance at that conference, and you blew it You really blew it, and I think you know that — don’t you?”

“Back then, yes But I thought that you and I … I thought the situation had changed during your pregnancy We were friends, e not?”

“Yes Friends” Nothing ht A tiny voice inside her squeaked that A what it ht be like to be more than friends with Quint She squelched the unwelcome reminder

Quint raised a hand for one of the roaave a quick nod, rushing off to the back

“Aain after being gone for so long and expect that things will be as they were, or as you pointed out, est I apologize” A deep frown pulled hard at the corners of his lips, his eyes glistening in the candlelight

He didn’t look sorry, that was for sure He looked pissed off, actually And hurt? No, surely not More likely, the hurt was the result of the pain hefrom his injuries

She reached across the table and placed a hand atop his, stroking softly She ignored the ever-present buzz she always experienced when she touched him “I’m so sorry, Quint”

He pulled his hand away and then appeared to steel his nerves, locking gazes with her “I want to see ure out a joint-custody situation, like you suggested I don’t know” The coldness and worry in his voice began to wane, giving A to a better place, a place where he could truly hear what she was saying