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“Justconversation,” he said with a quick smile

“Yes, I like kids Why shouldn’t I?”

Gray’s eyesfor, infor the defensive tilt of Nora Lincoln’s jaw, the sadness in her eyes, in her granddaughter

“I don’t know,” he said quietly “I was hoping you could tell me”

He wanted to call the words back but it was too late She stared at him, eyes wide and, to his shock, suddenly filled hat could only be fear Then her face went blank Carefully she blotted her lass and stood up

“It’s getting late,” she said politely “Thank you for the wine”

“Dawn” He rose, too “Wait a minute—”

“I’o”

He cursed, dug his wallet from his pocket fast, pulled out a couple of bills and dropped them on the table but by the time he reach

ed the door, she was gone

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MARY ELIZABETH O’CONNELL had reached a decision

She was tired of being treated as if she were h her very own hotel while keeping one eye out for a son who clearly was afraid she was going to swoon on the spot like a maiden in a Victorianthe role of a woed to avoid death by the skin of her teeth, even though it was more true than not

Mary frowned into theher Maker Right after her heart attack and the surgery that followed, she’d soht not have been so awful if she had It was a blaspheht, she knew, and completely unlike her When her doctor realized what she’d been thinking, he’d assured her she was only suffering a norery depression, but Mary hadn’t been so sure he was right

The thing of it was, she’dShe loved her children, her hotel, her casino and her employees, but not even all that could fill the hole left in her life by the loss of her handsoheaded, impossible, wonderful husband