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Dis in the roo the tree alone when she had soso with her aunt She wanted Bodie to stay Yes, he’d already helped her with the lights when she knew he didn’t want to but surely staying a little longer wouldn’t be too much to ask?

“You’ve already done sosilly, but, I… I’d really appreciate it if you’d decorate the tree with me”

He looked torn, as if everything in hiet out while he could, but so tihts isabilities”

He was turning to go, would soon be back in the bathroouests It’s where he should be Where she needed hi more

“Please don’t go”

Hemoments, then see to do with trying to get hi to do with her and as going inside her head Inside her heart

Despite his tough exterior, she knew Bodie wouldn’t leave her when she’d asked hiood to her when she and Richard had dated for over a year and she kneouldn’t have hesitated to leave

“You’re the boss,” Bodie said, as if that explained why he was still standing in her living room “If you want me to decorate a tree, I’ll decorate a tree”

She wanted to hug him

“Thank you” She clung to her cocoaand pretended to take another sip Pretended because the cup was empty

“Can I carry that to the kitchen for you?”

She started to say no but a trip to the kitchen would delay what she wanted delayed

“That would be great” She put heron the tray and she and Harry followed him to the kitchen After he sat it down on the kitchen counter, she rinsed out their s and saucers, then placed them inside the dishwasher

When she turned, Bodie was leaned against the countertop, watching her Harry stood next to hi they had a few leftover cookies they planned to share with him

“We don’t have to decorate the tree tonight”