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Affection flooded her, and she sht, Moood and bad” She had never called hih she did in fact love her stepfather, she felt she had only one dad

“Look, baby, I don’t want you hurt …”

“Like you?” Rave again arched her brow

“Don’t be annoying to win a point You know your father didn’t hurt me He and I were never in love … not really And we certainly weren’t made for each other He ho he was … and I was so different We were friends—we still are But I have this awful feeling that Todd will hurt you”

Ravena saw the look of helplessness in her h to knohat I a”

“We all say that at your age … ”

Irritation swept over Ravena’s face, and she grimaced at her mother before she walked aith a wave of her hand “Don’t wait up” She jumped into her car and did not look back as she pulled away from the curb

Guilt suddenly flooded through her She shouldn’t have left her mother like that But what could she do? She would rad She enty-one She was all grown up

Over the years Ravena had heard her e to her father, Daniel MacAllister, as a ood

She was soto admit even to herself but so true

For the hundredth ti her plans onceoff to Scotland for the surandmother, her father’s Canadian Indian mother, first

She took a long gulp of air and bolstered herself Todd was a great guy She was doing the right thing—wasn’t she? He had committed himself to her in so many ways He talked about the future It hat she wanted, wasn’t it—a nor the sa for someone who made her comfortable? Because to date, he damn well did not make her feel … passionate! The sorry truth was that no one ever had … yet

Well, that would change tonight—wouldn’t it? She turned the corner, pulled into the lot adjacent to Todd’s apart university town, and students were everywhere Two acquaintances waved to her as she got out of her car and headed for the building

She reached his door, key in hand, and hesitated She had never used the key before She was here unannounced Should she use the key? Don’t be silly—he gave it to me to use She put the key in the lock, opened the door, and stepped into the s room

She froze