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She played with the hair at his temple Not many women knehat it was like to have a man like this A powerful and lusty s ahead of his own, always looking to care for her in every way, keeping her safe,sure she kne loved she was Hoanted In his love, in his arms, she always felt beautiful and sexy Desired Cherished She kissed him on the lips and said, "Later And you don’t have to be all that careful--I’h so , so he gave me a little check I have my operator’s license back"

"Oh, baby," he said in a breath

"But, Jack, you are not to write Rick about that!"

He grinned at her and said, "Just as well I could never put it into words, what I feel with you"

This was a kind of union Mel hadn’t even dared fantasize The level of their intimacy, from the physical to emotional, was so deep and intense, it was impossible for either of thean She could read his s They anticipated each other in so many ways It was as if his heart beat in her breast She had never known another hu as she knew her Jack And sheback

As July arrived, Paige’s ti her by the week and she was progressing normally, ready for labor anytime She had decided to have her baby at Doc’s because her small quarters weren’t really conducive to a home birth And there was Christopher, only four Lots of Mel’s rural patients had children around during deliveries; they’d coenerations and it was all part of the life cycle to the In fact, Mel would have expected her to choose Valley Hospital and a sterile labor-and-delivery wing But Paige was very determined--the only person who could deliver her was Mel

Joe Benson was putting the plans together for Brie and Mike’s house, Paige and Preacher’s add-on He also had some preliminary sketches ready to show Paul for his house, but felt hesitant Since the incident with Nikki, their relationship was strained Vanni seeer with Joe, but Joe wasn’t nearly over his disappointment in all of them He supposed it would just take time

What he would’ve liked was a little support Maybe they could have gone to bat for hiuy, that he didn’t use and abuse woet in touch with him To maybe take a chance on him

Joe hadn’t talked to Paul or Vanni about Nikki for a while What he had done, however, was send notes to Vanni for Nikki about every other day, hoping to break through the barrier Short, one-or two-sentence notes "Please call uy" "Call me or writenore ht it was clear in my actions that I’an to feel like an idiot And the more like an idiot he felt, the worse hisnotes like that since he was totally, insanely, ridiculously in love with Jodie Ferguson in the fourth grade Blond, brilliant, distant Jodie--the first girl to get boobs in his class

Although he had , he found a Nicole Jorgensen in the San Francisco phone directory and when he called that nu machine was unmistakably hers "Ah, Nikki, it’s Joe From Grants Pass I’d love to talk to you No, I really need to talk to you Please I’ve been trying to reach you since the wedding Cos to talk about I’m totally confused"

Of course she didn’t call Fortunately he left only the one reat restraint on his part not to call that number several more times, just to hear the sound of her voice That sweet, sultry voice that had caressed his mind with every word that had come out of herhim look out of control, so he held himself back

It had been a feeeks He was done No , no more calls Even he wouldn’t date so like a stalker hat he as in love with her It embarrassed even him to think like that How could you be in love with someone you’d met twice, but you knew for only twenty-four hours? It was i about her, s her hair against his cheek when he aking up in theSome sort of mania or hallucination An obsessive-compulsive disorder