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There’s a twinkle in her eyes “We’re going to get married one day”

“You already told rumble

“Good Now you know it” She givess down the hallith her big curls bouncing on her back

I blink out of the memory and a wave of heat rushes across me What the fuck, Blackwood? Even as a child Hadley had been a saucy little thing, full of spunk, and so sure of what she wanted I don’t knohy that ribbon brought on the memory But I do know that I need to stay clear of Hadley, because that’s what happens She invades parts of my brain and becomes all I can think about Once that happens, I crave her in indecent ways that would make her father’s head explode

I refocus on why I’m at her condo, and by the time I settle the drawer back in place, I’ recorded at hooddamn wish I hadn’t

She’s leaning against the doorfrains to look ined being in her bedroohtness of her eyes that she likes how I look now That she wants me in her bed, as much as I want to be there, too

I clear my throat “We need to talk”

“Sounds good to ain—“since we’re in here…”

I sigh and take the two final steps, closing the distance between us “We don’t have ti the cute way she laughs and how much I want to kiss that beautiful smile I see planted on her face I s roohts of Hadley touching herself beneath them

When I reach her dark gray, fabric-covered couch, I realize she hasn’t joined erator door open and shut And when she returns to me, she has two coffees in hand

“Here, you look like you need this” She offers

“Thanks, I do” I take a sip and admit to myself that I don’t hate that she knows I take my coffee with a little milk

Taking care not to spill, I sit carefully on a nearby chair, distancingsoot to bed late last night, and an urgent phone call ca the toll it’s taking on me

“Okay…” she says, taking a seat on the couch, hugging herin her hands “Now that your Mission I on?”

I placeon the rustic wood coffee table in front ofYou don’t need to worry about it, I’ to handle this—”