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"No, ouldn’t," she assured him "He ood too"

"Can’t wait to try it," Joey said as he followed her out of the studio

Chapter Seven

"So, Joey, what do you do?" Jake asked quietly as he cut into his steak He’d bought rocery store and when Nicole had insisted he join her and her brother for dinner, had quickly cooked one up for himself He used to like histo cook There had already been enough salad and he’d bought those frozen hot and spicy potato wedges to have with the steak As for the sauce, while the recipe had only been for two, there had been h for three

"I’h," Joey answered lightly as he dug into his peppercorn steak

Nicole and Joey had both assured hiood, which was a relief He’d worried about it while out shopping It had see before they’d left the house, but he’d feared it ht dry out or curdle while they were out It hadn’t, and when he’d warmed it up it had actually tasted better than when they’d left

Thank God, Jake thought with an inner sigh He’d developed a headache shortly after returning to the housewhich was so new He hadn’t had a headache, or a sniffle, or any other aillad he hadn’t His head was throbbing and aching so bad he could hardly think Even his teeth were beginning to ache with it

"Joey’s being , and built an e soest malls and complexes in the Toronto area In fact," she added with a proud grin at her brother "He’s done so well he retired last year and now travels and lives a life of leisure"

"I at his forehead He’d already known that, but it seeuerite would have told him that in the normal course of events if he was just a cook/housekeeper At least he didn’t think so He could be wrong though This da

"Jake’s pretty impressive himself," Nicole told her brother "He was vice president of a coo"

Joey peered at Jake dubiously "VP huh? You’re pretty young for a VP Was it a family position?"

"I’e However, I wasn’t at the ti if it was his headache that made the question seem like an insult

"So, was it a small company then?" Joey asked

"No," Jake said si all of VA’s holdings If the guy wanted to know about the coht, Jake?" Nicole asked suddenly, concern puckering her forehead "You look pale"

"Actually, I don’t feel well," Jake ad down at his meal with a frown He loved steak, but his headache was bad enough that he was starting to feel nauseous This was just bizarre Iet sick

"Would you like an aspirin or ibuprofen?" Nicole asked, getting up and heading for the cupboard beside the door where she presus

"No, no, I’ after her There was no use taking the painkillers: drugs and alcohol weren’t supposed to affect ie yourto set a bottle of ibuprofen on the table beside his plate

"Thank you," Jake murmured, tempted to take the pills anyway They weren’t supposed to affect his kind, but then his kind weren’t supposed to get sick either, and he was feeling pretty sick Sighing, he glanced up and found both Nicole and Joey peering at him; Nicole with concern, Joey with curiosity As much to distract himself as them, he asked, "So what do you do now, Joey?"

"Oh," Joey blinked and sat back with a wry s at all I travel, hts and play"

"Is Ottawa still your hoain

"Toronto was his home base, not Ottawa," Nicole explained, and then added, "He has a house in Florida now, but pops around for a visit on occasion" Turning to her brother, she asked, "How long are you staying this tilanced to the est Joey would be staying, which could be good With the otheran eye on Nicole

"Actually, I’ with you this tie in his mouth

"What?" Nicole seemed surprised "But where will you stay then? Not a hotel?"

"Yes I booked a hotelI thought Melly would bethrust on fa faintly "A new girlfriend? And one who’s lastedto travel with?"