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That got a flicker of a glance

"Andso more family"

"They won’t be my family You’re not even ive hiht, Charlie I’ll leave you here" Too back inside, then turned around and bent down again "I’ll always love your e"

"Why? She didn’t love you"

Another direct hit, right in the testicles this time It was a second before he found his voice "Co white house "Is he okay?" she asked as he came into the hall

"Oh, he’s wonderful"

"Well, everyone in there is freaking out"

"Right"

"To her voice to a whisper, "you have to take this et caught Levi’s the chief of police If he gets a sense that we’re not really a couple--"

He grabbed her and kissed her hard, not trying to be gentle, a fierce, pri to do with seduction or tenderness, and everything to do with frustration

Then her mouth opened, and her hands went to his chest, and he pushed her against the door, pressing against her softness, gentling the kiss, cradling her head in his hands, her short hair soft and silky, the taste of herelse, and there was only the softness of her mouth, the sweetness of her

Then he released her abruptly and took a step back "How’s that? Good enough?"

Her eyes ide

"Sorry" With that, and his frustration far from spent, he went back into the din of the mob

CHAPTER TWELVE

TOM HAD FORGOTTEN about the little rat-dog

Spike That was it The little rodent had already bitten him today Twice Granted, its teeth were the size of staples, but it was the principle of the thing

Honor sure had a lot of stuff Boxes and boxes of things Books A bloody giant co on the wall Two enor

"Okay," she said when he’d brought in the last thing in her car "I guess I’ll unpack"

He couldn’t seeht"

"Which bedrooht Whichever one you like"

Her cheeks grew pink "If Iether In the same bedrooht"

"Okay I’ll put s in there and, um, sleep in the other room?"

"Great"

"We should also take sos Courtship photos"

"Sure Whenever you want"

She gave a nod "Then I’ll go settle in"

"Need any help?"

"Nope! I’er to nest, or get away fro Lovely thing, really Then it followed her up the stairs, so tiny it had to leap up each step

Tolanced at the clock on the stove Four o’clock Too early for a drink, unfortunately Very well He could correct the midterm debacles, and then take a look at the plans for the little Piper Cub he was supposed toso the lad could get a little gliineer could do

But a drink would be nice, seeing that Toed to one Honor Grace Holland, anted very much to have this all work out