u going to be a

ill get something out. This security system is a

l see you when

he replaced the rece

lf out of his seat. “I could hear Pop all the w

wouldn’t put it p

ce. Quiet descended over the building. She leane

ome for her. Then Pop had adopted her. Yeah, sure, she was an adult. A woman full grown, but she’d burst into tears when he’d to

an atmosphere she was comfortable in. Finally at home. No

one, willing it

her chair and stood. She would not allow her

When she had a sizable pile, she lumped it onto her desk to wait for the mail carrier. Then she

al clients. Micah called to say he and Nathan wouldn’t be back into the office and would be working late. Th

t her best. He never asked intrusive questions, but he worried over

lly got sidetracked when he called and would forget what he’d called for in the

id cheerfully, pre

by, we nee

and her lunch burned

there? I need

” Faith sa

er said, forgoing her usual c

aith gritted out. “I’d apprecia

I’m your mother. You can’t just cut me out of your life. I need yo

a hell of a lot of nerve, Celia. What have you ever done for me? I’m happy now. I have a nice life. With

trembled, and she felt dangerously close to vomiting. She closed her mou

grab for her keys and purse. She needed some air. Needed to get

**

tent on throwing back a cold beer. Connor had introduced him to the local p

surprised to see Faith sitting on the far side, her legs dangling off the high barstoo

ost in her own world, not a happy one either. He slid on

im in surprise as h

veloped a habit of bumping i

what you’re implying. I’ve been here every da

ks. “I didn’t mean to imply anything of the sort. I know Connor and the

to lock up, and Connor headed home.” He cocked his he

quickly looked away. “Just didn’t feel

er had called again, and he hadn’t yet been

ten anything

d. “Don’t really

f I eat

orner of her mouth. He watched in fascination as her tong

it for me to get betw

ed with a man’s needs,” he said, letting

shing. He’d begun to harbor the most vivid fantasies of seeing just how far down her body she flus

an who took charge and rocked his world, but the idea of calling the shots, of maintaining eve

enjoy each and every moment. He was here to pump her for informatio

d asked for a burger and fries before

ay at the office?

another sip of her drink. Then she forwent the

night.” She swiveled on her stool and flashed him a

d figure that out. But he didn’t exactly have the kind of personal relationship with

t. It’s g

aid that your partner

creasing at the pain her question caused.

I shouldn’t

th sympathy. Lord, but she was sweet. And he’d bet mone

“It’s not a secret. Yes, my partner—

dismay. “Did they catc

Not

ely to face him. He wanted to touch it, imagine what it would feel like

aid in longer than he could remember, but he couldn’t blame his reaction to Faith on th

be a little. What he was fantasizing about was hot, slow, lovemaking. The kind where a m

rogress to the ho

figured out,

eer and wondered where the

ave?” she asked. “I mea

limpse of the pale mounds of her breast

I’m just taking it easy.

her face. He couldn’t look away. He’d neve

He views his employees as family. Sometimes…sometimes you just need to get

ou need to get away from,

could see her mentally retr

of food down in front of him, and the barten

ed to douse the burger and fries. He paused then looked

fry. “Typical guy. Have to

so it straddled the space between them. Then he proc

n one of the fries, a sudd

someone here? A

puzzled look an

and raised it to his mouth. “No

pink blush bloo

er a boyfriend,”

about her that signaled more stress than sadness. He was still betting o

diot,” Gra

ulled his head up, tr

diot. I was the on

till an

tender for another drink. “You s

a brow. “W

Micah and

ly don’t see you

ed. “What do y

on. Maybe she wasn’t as shy as he thou

utif

as she blush

hat’s so

en you blush, and y

ned down into a frown. “Adorable? I

ouched her arm. “What

the knot in her throat. She wasn’t some inexperienced virgin, but here, sitting in such clo

g and challenge of meeting someone new and exploring those first

ith that,” sh