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She s and nothere this afternoon”

Man, he had to finish this job and get away fro for everyone to put soet about that kiss, but he couldn’t

He turned to leave but when he reached the doorway he turned back “Abby?”

She looked up, so angelically sweet he had to force a smile “Reet to decide who you are, not some secret from the past that happened before you were ever born”

Her eyes brightened “Thank you, Tom”

“You’re welcome”

After he left he could still smell her perfume The truth was he cared about Abby She’d trusted hi and made him want to protect her from anyone ould hurt her—past or present

It would be easy to fall in love with her, wouldn’t it?

And froain And there was no way in hell he was going to do that

Maybe the person he had to protect most was himself

CHAPTER 12

Josh Collins wouldn’t hurt his sister for the world, but the fact that she’d singlehandedly planned the equivalent of a three-ring circus less than a week after his return to town made him want to throttle her

He’d been in town a few days now but he’d yet to see his fa in to his new place but truthfully he just hadn’t been up to the hoopla He knew he couldn’t hide away forever, but tonight the last thing he wanted to do was go to a party This wasn’t so or a hero’s welcoone down the toilet and he couldn’t stand looking at Erin’s father every daht

Woo-hoo Break out the firecrackers

He’d ht now He let his mind drift He’d venture down the coast, stop in one of those quiet inlets and cut the engine Let the sound of the waves slapping on the hull calm his mind