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“You sood, too,” she admitted, amazed at her vocal cords’ ability to make coherent sounds when her entire insides shook like she’d been tra reindeer

“Are you having a good time?”

Nodding, she laid her cheek against his shoulder Froive a thule and shake of her hips She also noticed several of their colleagues watching them Some with curiosity Some with smiles

A low, nervous chuckle rose up her throat

“What?” he asked in a low voice, near her ear

“Everyone thinks we’re a couple”

His feet stilled a otten where they were, but his hands stayed at her waist “I don’t do couples, Abby”

She raised her head, stared at him “Okay, we’re not a couple” She took a deep breath “What are we?”

He hesitated, looking torn “I’m not sure”

Not the answer she’d hoped to hear Then again, what had she expected? Feed the h of her?

She couldn’t deal with his hot-cold attitude Not and keep her sanity intact Her heart intact

“Then o any further, Dirk” Her heart banged against her rib cage in protest of her words She wanted to go further Lots further But she wasn’t a fool and wouldn’t pretend to be one, not even for ardless of how she felt, she deserved better than to be at his beck and call, available for comfort sex and Christmas parties “I like you A lot But I don’t want to end up with a broken heart and if you’re not in this with ed “Well, whatever this is needs to end now”

He studied her, his fingers splayed against her back, stroking over the ly “I’d never hurt you, Abby”

“Not intentionally” Why were tears pricking her eyes? Why did she feel as if he was going to tell her goodbye? Why did that hurt so ht was their first date She would not cry “But if I’m not careful where you’re concerned, I will end up hurt”

Her heart protested it ay too late to start thinking about heart protection She was crazy about Dirk Way too crazy to walk away unscathed Hadn’t she fought tearslove to her?