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“Anthony, Allegra, and Alessandra I’ a pattern” Sylvie stuck out her hand

“Yes, our mother, Annabelle—who hed “God help us”

Sylvie shook hands with his sister Their difference struck him Where Ryder was tall, lithe, and dressed in head-to-toe black, Sylvie stood at least half a foot shorter and wore a bright pink lace skirt that hugged herass, and a crea hi a hard tiht reasons not to be

He doubted any of Sylvie’s friends—or enee and set foot in Waterberg Over here, four-wheel-drive trucks and s swayed in the breeze Fences needed to be repainted, garden flags declared “Welcoardens, and cracks traveled up the length of the sidewalks His neighborhood couldn’t be any further frolass and steel than if it had been on the moon

Ker As he was about to go in for his favorite greeting, she scratched behind one of the Newfie’s furry ears and squatted down

to his level “Aren’t you just the softest thing ever?”

Instantly in love, Kered closer until he was near enough to give her a big doggie kiss She giggled, and the breeze scattered strands of her honey-brown hair, which gli’s fluffy neck and he sighed in contentment

Tony’s body hardened What he wouldn’t give—

Shit, he was jealous of a slobbering, overgrown dog

Rich, pampered Sylvie Bissette should have looked out of place on the block where he’d grown up and bought a small house of his own But she didn’t She looked…perfect

He didn’t have to pretend to be her boyfriend out here in the suburbs, way beyond Harbor City’s fashion district, but try as he ht, he couldn’t shake the role

Stop et your head in the ga on this for you to fuck it all up Again

Ryder nodded toward his Cape Cod house next door “You working or can I sweet talk you into taking the peanut butter bandit home with you?”

“No way The last tis and proceeded to play Godzilla”

“I had to ask” Ryder stepped closer to hioes the case?”