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“And you want me to find him?”

“Yes He’s waiting in the kitchen”

That , she hoped he was preparing dry cereal Anything more complicated could be catastrophic Absently, she kissed Lia what she’d find Hammer had proven he could set the kitchen on fire

As she scurried down the hall, Raine felt a tingle roll through her and glanced back to see Lia more than a kiss—soon

As she rounded the doorway to the kitchen, Ha as he hissed and shook a splatter of hot bacon grease froh

Rehts wandered years back, to the thirdshe’d awakened at Shadows The screa down the hall, panicked that the entire building was going up in flames What she’d found instead was the sharply perceptive man who had taken her in He fanned a dish towel at the shrieking alarlassof the oven as more noxious smoke rolled from its door

With a gasp, Raine had raced around the roo nu the door open, she du out the fire fro-laden Danishes he’d tried to broil

Haiven her a smile of pride “Thank you, precious”

She hadn’t knohy at the time, but her heart had soared and her stomach had flipped over completely

Her heart nearly melted in froain Raine hoped thather She sure hadn’t thought he would be last night when he’d refused to speak to her Ha a li, she still wasn’t exactly sure where she stood They weren’t strictly friends But they weren’t exactly lovers, either Like Lia

She wondered if he knew that Liao and kissed her Or if he’d care Would Hammer kiss her, too? Do uing and make her this offer was to take sex off the table?

Damn, she should have asked what boundaries they’d set for theuide her But she intended to ask as soon as she had theain

Easing toward the stove, she placed her hand over his and reached for the fork in his grasp, looking up into his face For recognition For approval Would he push her away or welcome her?

“Do you want me to take over?” she asked softly

“It would be safer for us all Here” He handed her the fork with a grin

Instantly, that set her at ease She took over at the stove with a wistful smile “Remember the last time you tried to set the place on fire?”

“I ht take that for sass, precious”

But he wouldn’t, and his teasing tone ed his shoulder to ot this Grab yourself a cup of coffee and relax”