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"Nothing," she said at last "I can’t do anything"

"How old are you?"

She glared at hi Beyond disgusting "I’h andfor any reason you’re thinking You’re young enough to be e on ’em They have more to talk about and don’t take crap I like won on the wall "Bill’s Bar"

"This is h, I can offer you a job Soet your feet under you"

"I’m twenty-two," Jesse said, not convinced he meant what he said "I have ID"

"I believe you"

No one believed her No one had for a long tier who’s a co to talk irls quit onan ad You’ll save me the time and trouble, not toaboutdrinks It’s not that hard Besides, you’re pretty enough that the customers won’t care if you screw up"

She didn’t feel pretty "You know I’ht?"

"You mentioned that Don’t worry No one sh she should be SheBut she didn’t say that A job would give her time to think

"I’ll take the job," she said "By the way, I’m Jesse"

"Good to ot that fron The alliteration is nice"

"Just lucky You need a place to stay?"

She nodded cautiously

"You can rent a roohouse Nothing fancy, but the rent is cheap and she provides two meals a day"

"Are you for real?" Jesse asked "Is this a joke?" How could thisshe needed?

Bill stared at her for a long tiirl, and I’hborly That’s what people do Help each other out"

"Not in ot in so you"

Was it really that siood," she told hied"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"YOU’RE ACTING WEIRD," Nicole told Raoul as she stood in the middle of the family room

He didn’t look up from the textbook on his lap "How?"

"I don’t know You keep looking at the clock"

As if to prove her point, Raoul glanced at the clock above the fireplace, then shrugged "I want to knohat time it is"

"Every fifteen seconds?"

He looked at her "It’s not that often"

"Close" She knew so to start dinner," she said

"I’ry"

She put her hands on her hips "If you’re breathing, you’re hungry What’s going on? You ht as well tell me now I’ll find out eventually"

His atte" He looked at the clock again, then ju to study at Marcus’s house His parents are home The number’s on the counter in the kitchen"

"What about dinner?"

"I’ll eat there" He bolted past her, heading for the kitchen "I’ll be late," he yelled over his shoulder

And then he was gone

"Talk about weird," NicoleShe doubted it was anything bad, but still Had she been this strange when she’d been his age?

So the front bell before she could decide She crossed the great roo on her porch

Instantly her insides sighed in appreciation Despite their last ood Better than good He looked deliciously te surprised

Suddenly Raoul’s odd behavior ood way," Hawk told her as he entered the house He held up two big bags that s "Chinese food You haven’t had dinner We’ll eat, we’ll talk, we’ll be friends again"

"Is that e are?" she asked

"Sure" He set down the bags and cupped her face "Hey I’ to be won over byroll

"For?" she asked

"Maybe overreacting"

"Maybe? You plan to decide soon?"

"I overreacted You were trying to help I didn’t see it that way" He kissed her with just enough pressure to make her lean toward him "Did I say I was sorry?"

"Yes"

"Did you accept y?"

"I am now, because I’ood?"