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The process couldn’t be rushed

It didn’t matter that five years had passed since Lily’s death—he wasn’t ready Cora knew that because he wasn’t facing his pain; he was hiding from it She’d seen in her job the effects that had on a person if they were forced to deal with things they weren’t ready to face

She didn’t want Aidan to hit rock bottom She wanted to support him

As she took another hard left into the East Silverado Ranch Boulevard, Cora sang along to the soft rock h her speakers No one needed to tell her that her voice was not American Idol quality—she knew her pitch wasn’t perfect and she didn’t give one flying flip

She spotted her redbrick bungalow on the suburban street The music dulled in her ears and her mouth clamped shut Her insides quivered as she squinted at her driveway The closer she got, thecame into focus

“Fuck,” she muttered

The problem wasn’t the sleek black sports motorcycle in the center of the driveway Her concern lay with the sex packaged in a pair of blue jeans More so, the powerfulher not to stop While she was tempted to drive by with a little wave, she needed to clear up this

She parked at the curb and heat rose in her body With shaky hands, she exited the car, blowing out a slow breath Of course Aidan would show up at her house Why had she expected otherwise?

With a fake sles like jelly beans were dancing in her belly He pushed off his bike and his waraze roa places that shouldn’t stir at the moment Lord, he was hot in his leather jacket

His ht curve as he ait She inhaled deeply through her nose, forcing her fluttering sto nipples to chill out

“Hi” She cleared her throat, placing her keys into her purse with treers He’d never come to her house … ever In fact, she’d never seen him outside of Club Sin A cold sashed over her Her throat tightened “What brings you by?”

His head tilted froaze cut to the shopping bag in her hand “What’s that?”

With a nibble to her bottoet a read on him, which was unsuccessful His eht”

He crossed his ar her with a flat expression “You do plan on coht?”

Cora gulped at thehis forearh the handle of her purse and then stuffed her hands in the pockets of her skinny jeans So Aidan out in public made him more real