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Shameful heat crawled up her throat and fanned across her cheeks "Daddy, I can't do?"

"Shhh," he murmured "Just relax One, two three One, two, three"

Savannah closed her eyes and accidentally slipped into the ti soared in her senses like a sy la easily in his arether they made the dusty old barn sith music

The night was one by the tihed and danced and talked for hours, forging the strong, solid bonds of a new relationship

But finally Savannah's eyelids had begun to droop, and Jack had known this special nightand hand in hand, they walked back to the house A lazy breeze chattered through the leaves overhead and whistled through the grass as they cli steps

The house was cold and dark inside On the kitchen table lay a puddle of here a stubby candle had been

"Uh-oh," Savannah said, s"

Jack gave her hand a squeeze "I could' ve danced all

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night with you, puht on your feet"

She blinked up at hiood dancer?"

Jack's heart tugged hard at the thought of his Savannah, his baby girl, dancing with a boy He gave her a bittersweet smile that was the best he could do "Yeah," he choked out "He'll think you're great"

She grinned "Thanks, Daddy" She reached up on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek "Good night" He kissed her "Night"

Before he could say anything else, she scampered down the hallway and disappeared in her room The door squeaked shut behind her

Jack stared at the door long after it had closed A strange h hihter, sadness that he'd waited so long, and regret for the thousands of s and ood about himself, about the decision he'd made