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Kids ran and played in the sand Some darted in and out of the chilly Pacific waters Men, woed in the sand It was Santa Raquel in the summertime and Lacey loved it

“It’s okay, Lace”

“What is?”

“That you don’t want me to meet him”

Oh, God

Stopping in her tracks, she pulled her sister to an abrupt stop, as well A girl jogging on the beach veered around theave them a dirty look

“It’s not that,” she said, looking Kacey in the eye “I swear, Kacey” Though, if truth be told, if there really was a guy, thenmaybe

“I just want you to know that I understand I don’t blame you if”

“He’s a client, Kace,” she said, words pouring out of her without forethought “Or rather, was a client Very briefly He doesn’t even likeanyone I justthink about hi to make sure I stop”

“He wasn’t hurting a kid, was he?” Kacey knehat she did for a living, in every detail Lacey was at liberty to give

“Of course not” Jerees doted on Levi, who obviously not only adored his dad, but felt secure with hi to assess that one

“Sohe’s”

“Nothing” Lacey started walking again back the way they’d co “He’s nothing So nothing he wasn’t worthI don’t trust you”

“It’s not aht you liked”

Yeah, she did know that Kacey was right She wasn’t the problem