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“I’ry, Dash,” she infor up at hi to eat? I want some pizza”

He glanced back at Elizabeth, catching the surprise in her expression

“Let’s get rolling first, squirt,” he chuckled “Then we’ll see what your momma thinks is best”

He closed Cassie’s door, then opened the front passenger door, gripping Elizabeth’s waist and lifting her into the high seat He realized he had left her to ht before She tensed in his arlance as he pulled her seat belt forward

“I remember my manners sometimes” He cleared his throat as she snapped the strap in place He h they were self-taught He ht have to polish them a bit Maybe Mike would have some ideas Hell, he was married now, he should know

The outside lights cast a dilistened; her blue eyes appeared darker,of ue she stroked over them

She drew in a deep hard breath, lifting her breasts against her shirt He re piece of confection that drove hiht about it

He cleared his throat “Pizza?” he asked her softly He was starved, but not for food

She sed tightly “That’s fine”

They both jumped at Cassie’s squeal of pleasure from the back seat Dash nodded abruptly before he closed Elizabeth’s door and strode quickly to the driver’s side The pizza would be easy enough Loosening up Elizabeth ht be a bit harder

Chapter Seven

“This guy is a friend of yours?”

Elizabeth was nervous about their arrival at the Toler ranch She had gone fro Dash take over and find options she could have never found for herself

For two years she had depended on no one but herself She had kept her and Cassie alive, often only by the skin of her teeth, but they were still alive She had made her own decisions Had protected Cassie alone and accepted the responsibility that each move, each decision, was the best she could make at the time

Now Dash washer of the consequences, should any of the for solid footing amid a situation she was unfamiliar with She didn’t know Mike Toler Didn’t know his faths or his weaknesses and she didn’t feel safe