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It was a lovely, , created by a wos

For years and years he'd stood on this porch, beneath the shadoisteria-festooned overhang, and looked out over this yard All he'd ever seen was a cold, square patch of grass bordered by towering trees It had never occurred to hi else

When had he stopped seeing such beauty in the ordinary world around hiic slip away froht? Even as he asked himself the question, he knew the answer He'd never let the ability slip away; he'd never possessed it in the first place Even as a child, he'd seen the world in cold, rational ter he'd learned early on Life wasn't fair or just or kind He wouldn't-couldn't-have conceived of creating a place like this

The door whined behind him, then cracked shut "Are you ready to play with me?"

The velvety bourbon of her voice washed over him, reminded him that for all his experience oue with her Her quiet naivete undid hiuely out of control Are you ready to play with me?

He shivered at the subtle sexual innuendo, knowing that she had no idea what she'd asked Or what his answer could be He stepped

back from the candles and turned to her

She stood at the top of the steps, tall and straight She'd twined her hair into a thick braid that lay curled over one shoulder A pale yellorap as sheer as a wedding veil hung in shadowy folds over her nightdress Big, muddy men's work boots stuck out from be-

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neath the he, she reached down to the small leather case beside her and flicked the latch The case fell open with a thu a row of mallets and multicolored balls

She grabbed a handful of balls and two lided down the steps toward him

He took a ave her a mallet and blue ball, then he tossed the re back, he tried to keep some distance between them "Now-"

She moved closer "Nohat?"

He stepped back She stepped closer

"Selena, I'd like to keep a little distance between us, if you don't mind"