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“I didn’t say that” She felt her cheeks burn and concentrated on the view, instead of on the man she was draped over like a limp noodle

“You booked the presidential suite?” Joe asked,

“It was the only one with three bedrooot to tell theure the queen-sized one e arrive Gran and I will share a rooht listening to her gran snore was really too much “Unless you want to share with Ed”

“We aren’t that close”

There was nored it The van was pulling up in front of anotherup at it

“I can’t go up there,” she said

“Sure you can” Joe climbed out of the car and reached in for her

Julia had no option but to let him help her Her lihted down, and each step was taken through ankle-deep mud By the time they’d made it the short distance into thefor air

“I need to lie down” She hated saying the words, but it was true And she didn’t ht there, on the lobby floor

She heard Joe and her gran talking, and the next thing she knew, Joe had put one arm under her knees and the other around her waist, and then he was cradling her to his chest like a child She was too disorientated to protest She lay in his arht, and let hi ride up in the elevator didn’t help her nausea

“I feel silly that you’re carryingabout it—she was coainst his chest

“And I feel honoured”

His wordsinside Julia, and the wall she’d built between herself and Joe crumbled a little

“I don’t understand you,” Julia mumbled as her eyes closed

“You will, baby You will”