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Hoas going to sh the next three hours of her surprise party he didn’t know One thing was for certain, she wasn’t going to be happy with the gift her bought her She’d just see it as an attempt to buy her

His hand froze on the door handle of his cruiser “Shit,” he muttered He dropped his hand and turned around A hand shot out to strike hiht the very feminine hand before it made contact

“What the hell do you want?” he growled

The small petite blond just smiled and pulled back her hand She looked hiood to you, Ephraim”

“What are you doing here in Rascal?” he demanded

She gestured casually “This and that”

“Uh huh, why don’t I believe that?”

Eve placed a hand to her bosoave him a wicked smile “Never”

His eyes narrowed “It’s just a happy coincidence that you’re here”

She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck “Why? Didn’t you miss me?” She pulled him down and pressed her lips firmly to his

This day was just getting better and better She paced the front of the school again,sure to avoid Jill’s eyes Jill see “I think your ain, buddy”

Chris threw the pebble he’d been toying with across the school’s front lawn “She didn’t forget, Miss Soloman, no need to soften the blow for o not to worry about it You could have gone home then You didn’t have to wait” Chris' usual calone

She considered him for a minute He did tell her not to worry about it Normally he practically browbeat her to sit with him and wait for his mother His mother was either late or sent someone else to pick hi with at the time This was the first time he told her not to worry about it

He’d been in a good mood until she mentioned his mother Then he slowly sank into hi, didn't you?”

“Yeah, so what?”

“Where’s your mother, Chris?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he mumbled

“Chris”

“Just leave it alone, Miss Solo his hands off and tried to walk past her She grabbed his arm

“Chris”

“Let o”

“Not until you tellon”

“Nothing”

“Don’t giveWhere is your mother?”

He turned his head and rubbed the back of his sleeve across his face “Nothing,” his voice broke

She gently cupped his chin and turned his face He was crying She never thought she’d see the day when Chris cried He was a tough kid He had to be with his upbringing A o but foster homes as rumor had it where he wasn’t treated very well