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She knew she shouldn’t listen to hi her deepest fears didn’t make them the truth

"I don’t believe that," she said with a conviction she didn’t feel "You’re a loser, Drew Myup with you in the first place"

"Myto make it work No one’s surprised I cheated on you, Nicole You’re not easy to love You’re closed off and distant and you can be a real bitch, but I’ he was trying to hurt her didn’t naniet so lucky? Tell you what, Drew You stop trying to win me back with your own peculiar brand of charet over me That’s your problem"

"Get out," she said as she walked to the door and held it open "Don’t bother co back"

He hesitated, as if he had more to say, then he left She shut the door behind him and locked it, then told herself she wouldn’t cry

When she was alone, she crossed to the sofa and sank onto a cushion She had no idea what Drew’s visit had been about Did he just want to punish her? Did he actually think they couldher was the best way to win her back? No one was that stupid

So why didn’t he want to let her go? Pride? The fact that she was a great meal ticket? She doubted he still loved her Maybe he never had

Doubts crowded in on her She hated how they made her feel She needed a distraction

Just then the phone rang She juoing?"

While hearing fro as an inappropriate sexual advance fro about Drew

"Okay How are you?"

"Still waiting to look pregnant Do you want to coht?"

Nicole hesitated Did she want to spend the evening with her sister and Wyatt, watching them coo over each other as the waves of their love filled the rooency?

"Thanks, but I’ too much time alone"

"No, I’m not I was just at the bakery"

"Work doesn’t count Don’t be crabby I’"

Nicole didn’t want to re her she wasn’t easy to love, but the words popped into her brain

"You’ve been dealing with a lot of crap," Claire said "Coie Pity Nicole hated being pitied

"You’re sweet to worry," she said, trying not to clench her teeth "But I’et out"

"With a guy, right? You’d stop worrying about uy, wouldn’t you?"

Claire laughed "Actually, I would"

That made Nicole smile "So you don’t actually care about how I feel This is all about you"

"Well, maybe But you’re a part of it"

"And I appreciate that Look, I’otta run Talk to you later"

She hung up and grabbed her purse As she opened the front door and stepped out, the phone was already ringing again She ignored it, even as she wished she had soo

HAWK STACKED the DVDs he’d ame He’d already been over the material and knew the points he wanted to emphasize Noruys started arriving tohis watch and wondering when Nicole was going to show

He kneas acting like a kid around her And even when he wasn’t around her He couldn’t see was a stretch Fantasizing would be better He kept picturing her nad and begging In his fantasy he was always happy to oblige It was just the kind of ot to hi the ride She was funny and sarcastic She challenged him She had attitude He liked attitude in a wo roo to any of his players His gut clenched in anticipation Sure enough, Nicole entered the room

"I have about six boxes of desserts in my car," she said "Want to helpif there was ti Hedark and painful flicker in her eyes "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing"

"I don’t believe you," he told her "So happened"

Now that he studied her, he could see it in the slight slump of her shoulders and the paleness of her skin "Soed "It’s nothing"

"I was ’ in this context is fe to prove you’re seriously interested’ What’s wrong?"

"I’o" He wouldn’t until he kneho or what had upset her

She sighed "I’ a little trouble with my ex"

What kind of trouble? "You’re divorced?"

"I’reed to I’ out the ti to know the answer What if she said yes?

"Not even a little He caand ed a smile "Not really"

"I can beat him up for you"

Her s efficiency, but no"

He really wanted to "I don’tfor neays to stay in shape"

"It wouldn’t be much of a workout for you"

"You think?"

"I’h Thanks"

There was more He could read it in her eyes The problem with an ex was that person knew the best way to hurt He or she knew the weak spots, the soft underbelly Apparently her ex wasn’t afraid to attack there

He touched her cheek "He’s wrong"