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He whistled under his breath, teasing her “Fancy”

Ryan headed out to the back patio, illuhts on thin copper stands She joined him as the flarill after he’d ignited it

“Should we eat out here?” she asked as she placed the baking sheet she’d brought with her on the sideboard

“Absolutely May as well enjoy the weather before the humidity sets in I’ve been spoiled with the dry heat in Arizona This first su to be a real bitch In a uniform, no less”

“You look dah”

He chuckled as she lifted the tin foil froed on top, and rill

After closing the lid, she said, “Those’ll need about twelve or thirteen minutes They’re kind of thick”

“I can set the table while you clean up”

“Deal” She gave hiroan

Ad his hands off her But he followed her back into the kitchen anyway, instead of pulling her into his arms, as he wanted to do

They ate dinner under the stars, and he asked her what had inspired her to go into the lingerie business

“I really wanted to be a designer,” she told hih, but I can’t seorth a damn”

“Can’t you hire someone to do that for you?”

“I suppose” She took a sip frolass, then said, “I still have all these ideas in my head I don’t know I can’t even really say what in with, except that every tih that section at the department store in Austin, I was always so taken by how delicate and pretty everything was All the lace and the satin and the silk It’s more than sexy It’s luxurious and sensual and…beautiful, really”

“And from what I’ve seen, you have exceptional taste”