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“I had hoped youit back with regrouped poise andher voice sound as if she didn’t care “I didn’t cory It’s obvious I’aze for an eloquent second “I know it tooktime to finally accept your invitation to visit, but I did co to you”

His only reply was silence As she made her turn to leave, the sun set fire to the black opal on her finger The sight of it tore hiid stand of indifference

“Why are you still wearing the ring?” There was a betraying roughness in his voice, vibrating on an ee

Tara turned slowly back to face hiht in the spell of her elusive beauty

“Because you gave it to me,” she said His eyes made a feature-by-feature study of her, down to the last , Ty?”

“That you’re s in front of me to see if I’ll pounce at them,” he warned

“That’s the second ti with you”

“Didn’t you?” The challenge was sudden and veheh to him

“Not consciously, no Oh, I ads were important totone “Isn’t a girl entitled to change hermore than once?”

The pressure of thecoffee fro of his hand, needing to release soy inside him

“You say i

t so easily It’s just another gaaone by that I haven’t thought of you—wanted you Never a ht sky that didn’t have your face in it I never stopped wanting you When Dad said your nao, I wanted you then”

“But I’m here,” she insisted

“You don’t understand” he insisted gruffly “I wanted you, but the wounds were licked dry They haven’t healed, they haven’t gone away, but the bleeding has stopped I’ain”

“Can I do that?” Tara mused playfully