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“Besides, I like s, and if we need a quick getae don’t have to deal with hotels and luggage”

“Yes, I’d miss Walter” The friendly doorrandfather to all of us “I’m convinced For now”

With a grin he kisses my forehead “Hoas Aunt Bea?”

“Lovely as always She’s sending you a box of her recoroom’s cake” He sain Lately I’ve been seeing it more and more

“Is that a problee

He’s back withto pick one”

It’s not a satisfactory answer, and I take another slow sip as I watch hiry?”

He nods, still flipping “Nothing here looks good”

“Walter could order so I’m sure he knohat you like”

Steel blue eyes flicker toback It’s confusing after the e justthese last weeks has been confusing One moment he’s with me, the next he’s distracted, and it always happens when I start talking wedding plans Derek has never beennot to let it spook me

My visceral reaction is to re and later, abusive husband But Derek’s not Sloan,how Derek has kept secrets froinally met because Sloan had hired him to track me—a fact I never knew until I found the emails on my ex-husband’s laptop

“I think I’ll take the car and see what I can find,” he says Scooping his black sweater off the couch, he leans forward to kiss ?”

I watch as he straightens and pulls the thinhis black loafers “I ate so ht burst if I eat another thing”

With a wink, he’s headed to the door “When I get back, we’ll see about working off those extra calories”

Despite the tension, I can’t help sestion “If I’m still awake”