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She’s thirty now, only a year younger than Zachary here Her oldest is nine"

"Twenty’s so young," she mur joy in his tone, the love of a brother for his sister "And that was that She alanted a big family, so the kids came soon afterward She’s happy"

A simple statement, and yet it spoke of such love, such trust Annie couldn’t i that much of herself into a reed "But enough of farab some food before the juveniles inhale it all I swear, I don’t knohere it goes"

"Into the hollow leg every teenage boy possesses, of course" The voice was ed the tall ed hirand over Lucas’s shoulder "I think I need to go rescue a cub that’s clih

And if that’s not one of Tammy’s boys, I’ll eat my boot" She headed off in the direction of an ancient fir, frorowl

"Hello, Annie, isn’t it?" Lucas held out a hand

As she took it, she had the strangest sensation that everyone atching her "Good eant"

He grinned "Let’s just say I had some advance intel So, hoas the tour?"

"Perfect," Zach said, ar around her

"But for so if she wants to date rinned and dropped a fast kiss on her lips

Blushing, she wondered if such public affection was norot her answer a few seconds later as an exotically beautiful woman wrapped her arms around Lucas’s neck from behind and pressed a kiss to his jaw Her eyes, when they ht sky of a cardinal Psy White stars on black velvet

"Hello, you must be Annie" Her voice was suentle "Lissa and Noelle," she explained, at Annie’s surprised look "They’ve been telling everyone they covet your jacket They’re planning to charm it off you before you leave Be careful"

Annie couldn’t do anything but smile in response to the war"

"Sascha," Zach said, "Annie made chocolate mud cake"

Sascha’s face lit up like a child’s "Really?" She rab Lucas’s hand "Come on, or the juveniles will eat it all Talk to you later, Annie!"

Annie watched the pair leave and breathed out a sigh "Your pack’soverwhelet used to them" He rubbed the back of her neck "They’re just curious about you"

She felt another warning flicker in herout Zach’s na introduced tosot what it was that she’d worried about

Chapter 7

They arrived at her aparte quickly," she told him as she unlocked the door and entered

"Can I use your shower after?" He lifted up the suit bag he’d carried inside "I got a pack this to the picnic Want to ood first impression on your folks"

Her stomach sank "It probably won’tthe suit bag over the back of her sofa, he prowled over "Go, shower" It was a whisper that is

"I’ll just sit out here and i youstroking you"

She felt her legs tremble "Come in with me" It was the boldest invitation she’d ever made

He smiled "I plan to But not today" He brushed his lips over hers "When I shoith you, I don’t want a ties of the undoubtedly delicious things he’d do to her in the shower "I should go"

He rubbed a thu back "Go, before I forget ood intentions We’d never make it to the dinner then"