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Arlington, Texas

July 4

10 am

Sophie

Today is already hotter than the underside of Hades, but it’s also Independence Day My agent, David, insists that hoest parades in Texas is a great grassroots way to spread the word aboutalbulobe for the better part of a dozen years It’s awesome to spend a day near hoht of people waving Old Glory again

“Ten minutes,” David proclaims as he sticks his head into the little bathroom at the back of one of the shops at the top of the parade route

Of course he’s wearing a suit, despite the fact it’s a hundred degrees today And he looks i it The man is a stickler

“Thanks” I check y mirror

This is as good as it’s going to get My sparkling redshowstopper, but the Stars-and-Stripes stilettos really spur a double take I feel a bit like USO Barbie…who suddenly decided to walk a street corner

Then again, it e Gone is my squeaky-clean child-star persona Now I’m an adult—and David never misses an opportunity to reto my ass and show off the fact I very definitely have boobs It’s annoying…but I can’t argue with results It’s working

I’m just not sure I care anymore

Another problem for another day

“I’m ready,” I tell hie

When I look up froer standing beside David, watching my every move I would feel ridiculous…if he hadn’t knocked the breath frolance

Holy sex drive! He’s a od He’s unbelievably tall with shoulders alht He’s wearing a black T-shirt that hugs the bulges of his biceps and exposes tattooed sleeves down both ar to swelter in today’s heat…but he’s going to look da it

“Hi,” I say stupidly

He nods “Ms Larsen”

David intervenes “This is Rand Garrison, your security detail for the parade”

The name fits him—hard, blunt, almost brutal “Nice to meet you”