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Colette enjoyed the friendly working environs to do around the shop If this continuedher on full-time
It’d never been like that when she ith Deh hours for a personal life It helped that Derek had worked swing shift; if he’d been hos he would’ve wanted her there, too As it was, she often got hoht or even later She’d loved her job, thrived on it She hadn’t realized how ain Sheinvolved in such a dynaes that came with it--and she missed him She didn’t want to, hated herself for the attraction she felt, and yet no s, they persisted
Co was the fact that he’d gotten involved in soo back to work for hi a new-baby bouquet, joined Colette at the counter "Seeing that it’s so slow, I think I’ll run a few errands"
"Is there anything you need ed "Unfortunately, no" Glancing down at her watch, she said, "I shouldn’t be more than an hour, two at the most, but I’ll havewill be fine"
"I’ the exit that opened into the alleyway As if they’d coordinated the event, as soon as the back door closed, the front door opened--and in stepped Christian Deain
At the hard look in his eyes, Colette knew The INS had acted on the letter she’d written It was inevitable that sooner or later he’d find out who’d done this Her stomach heaved with dread
"It was you, wasn’t it?" he said without greeting or preamble
Colette’s mouth went dry Instinct told her to play du about One glance told her he felt both angry and betrayed
"You couldn’t have come directly toup the courage to ed She clasped her hands behind her back to hide their treot on my computer when I wasn’t there" It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact, a fact that obviously infuriated him
Colette felt she had to explain "I needed the service code for--" She wasn’t allowed to finish
"Who gave youcoals "My computer was off"
"I f-found it"
He didn’t seeure out where to look?" she asked "I know just about everything there is to know about you," she said and faltered because clearly she didn’t
"Who else did you tell?"
"No one…"
"Swear it"
"No," she cried, clenching her fists "How dare you coain he cut her off "That’s the real reason you resigned, isn’t it?"
She refused to answer him
"You led me to believe it was about us and what happened at Christht was just a convenient excuse, wasn’t it?"
For an instant Colette saw a flash of pain in his eyes It was immediately replaced with resentment
Colette had questions of her own "Why would you risk everything like this?" she asked quietly
This time he was the one who refused to answer
"I’ve thought this through a hundred ti both hands "You have a profitable business in a growing market You’re respected I can’t understand ould coe risk"
"I can’t discuss this with you"
"If not with me, then who?" she muttered
"You think I should trust you?" he said "Because of you I spent an unpleasantwith a roomful of attorneys"
"All I want to knohy," she pleaded, needing some excuse, some explanation "Is it the money?"
"I said," he returned pointedly, "that I can’t discuss this with you"
"Are you working for the INS?" That was the only possible reason that al reason, anyway
He didn’t respond, just looked at her, his gaze impassive
Colette had so desperately wanted to believe this was the answer that she felt like crying Instead the anger broke through "Unless you’re here to place an order, I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave" Rather than let hiht, her shoulders square and her feet fir loosely at her sides
After an interh
She thought he’d leave then, but he continued to stand there, studying her He no longer seee in his demeanor confused her Curious and at the same ti to take his order
"I asked myself over and over why you left the way you did," he said at last "Both of us made mistakes Both of us reacted stupidly"
"Now you know," she said, doing her best not to be swayed by eotten hi out of She couldn’t be involved with hiain"
"Not even to order flowers?" he challenged
With business so slow, Colette didn’t dare turn him down "Perhaps you should deal with Susannah"
"I prefer to deal with you"
"Fine" She poised the pen above the pad
"I’ll take five dozen roses"