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Hennessy scooted off the bed, grabbing a pair of jeans

“That doesn’tstate I also have a house big enough for the both of us if you want to come My door will always be open to you”

Arin bit her lip when he dropped his jeans again

“When I was three years old, I watched my uncle killaway from every home I’ve lived in, even now”

Her face twisted in grief for him For a little boy to see his parents murdered in front of hi another relative would have shaken the stability of his world Living his childhood in foster hoiven hi to when he’d needed them ive that sa was the safer and only option he could control “You can stop or slow that roll anytime you want to, Hennessy”

“I don’t know if I can”

“The e, even when he involves life and death How about love, Hennessy? Are you up to that challenge? Because, asyou, after Christmas is over, that’s the only man I want in my bed”

“I don’t know”

Arin gave hihtstand to pat the bed “It isn’t Christmas yet Get that perfect ass of yours over here …”

Slipping out of bed in the dark, Arin quietly pulled on her housecoat to leave the room

Walking downstairs, she stopped by the large Christmas tree The club rooht Lowering herself down onto the floor, she sat, enjoying the solitude and the beauty that everyone had contributed to decorating the tree

“What are you doing?”

“Christmas Eve always makes me sad”

Hennessy sat down, bracing his back against the wall Then, pulling her to hihts could answer life’s most precious questions

“Why does it make you sad?”

Relaxing back against him, she tried to explain what she had never been able to answer to herself “Everything is so beautiful Then, the next day, it’s gone The presents are unwrapped, the gifts put away, and everyone leaves”