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“She’s just trusting,” Ty defended

“To a fault I like that Vicki sees the good in people, and it’s disappointing that she’ll have lost so co the door to soer with a sob story in the future God, she’ll be lucky if Miles ever lets her off the leash after this”

“She’s not a child She doesn’t need a leash Her shop needs better security, that’s all”

“Is that your professional take on the h arched an eyebrow as he took a sip of his drink

“May I see her?” Ty asked, ignoring the man’s question It was his professional take on theas nment If his opinion meant a damn to Brand after this

Hugh nodded and waved a hand toward the staircase “She’s in her room You know the way, I take it?”

Ty angled a sharp glance at the youngerTy wonder if he knew more about Vicki and Ty’s relationship than he had let on

Orher in public What the hell had he been thinking? Doubts—and a healthy dose of reality—had crept in as soon as he had left her side That kiss had been a massive mistake He’d pretty much screwed hinals

Christ, he was confusing hinals He didn’t knohat he wanted anymore

He excused hily pink room in seconds The only visible part of Vicki beneath the thick pink quilt was her curly head Ty inhaled deeply—finding her scent—so daain It didn’tand unaware that he was there

He dragged an unco, white wooden chair over to the bed and sat, pushing her hair back to look at her face He winced at the sight of the egg-sized bues of blue were starting to creep in along the edges

Despite the ugly bruise, she so looked peaceful and relaxed, that Ty couldn’t keep the relieved sht now He had no confusion or doubts about that It was an indisputable fact

His phone beeped, and he dragged it from his pocket

Chance told uys okay? It was from Linda For a second, Ty puzzled over how she could possibly have his nu contact details at the Bloomin’ Paradise Christmas party

The Christmas party to which—they had both been told in unequivocal terrinned, he reardless because he was on duty She had rolled her eyes in response and told him it still counted

It had been a good day One of his best Christmases in years He had still spent Christ the specials on TV, but he’d considered that little shop party—a week before the twenty-fifth—his real Christmas

He considered Linda’s text and tapped a response

We’re both fine Vicki needed stitches