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"That’s it?"

"Ureat" Was he put out because she wasn’t ju up and down to find out about the secret?

"I hope you think so" He stared, those piercing dark eyes looking anxious and confused

She sighed "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing"

A denial, pure and sihs to lows, from mischief to pensive, all in a snap Everyone always just adapted, Ki around him It was so unlike her father and brothers, who only had three er--in that order Jesse was all over the emotional map

"What happened to the you I used to know?" The question was out before she could stop it

Jesse’s gaze snapped back to her "What do you et and looked away But they hadn’t had an honest conversation in the last week Passing and superficial, yes He’d asked about her fa, scraped a bit of the surface about her wishes for the future

Granted, she hadn’t exactly been forthco She couldn’t blurt out to the man she’d come to explore a future with that her heart was someplace else Besides, he was totally absorbed with this tour and hadn’t opened up to her Some days, he hardly talked at all

Unlike Deke, who’d always connected with her, even with just a glance He’d told her where she stood, even when he was trying to lie, whether she wanted to hear it or not

"I think you knohat I hts away froed"

"You have, too You’re more confident and entle kiss on her uess it’s takingall the time" Maybe that was true Who knew? In soer "I’e my life, and I know you’re the key I think back to that summer I spent with you and your dad all the tis we did We found plenty of good, clean ways to have fun" He paused, a glinthis dark eyes sparkle "Hey, you knohat I have on DVD?" Mischief lurked in that smile And a hint of happiness A real smile The first she’d seen in a week

Kirin "Aot a few hours before we have to be at the arena Wanna?" Watch the ether that su on"

He clarabbed the phone In seconds, he was de popcorn froured out hoork the equipment connected to the suite’s plasma TV, and had the menu on the screen, the popcorn had arrived

For over an hour, they laughed at the antics of four high school boys all trying to lose their virginity by pro popcorn in the air and trying to catch it with his open mouth

He hed "Smooth"

"Okay, so I’m out of practice And it works better with M&M’s" She mock-punched him in the shoulder "Excuses, excuses"

"Let’s see you do better"

Arching a brow, she plucked up a piece of the fluffy popcorn and tossed it A perfect landing on her tongue She tossed hirumbled, but tossed an arm around her shoulders as they settled in for the rest of the movie And it was comfortable Friendly

When it was over, he turned the TV and DVD player off, wearing a huge smile

"That ether I don’t think I’ve ever had a better tiroupies No parties Just…fun"

"I enjoyed that summer, too"

The air had been ripe with the hope of first love They’d been innocent enough--

nothing beyond kisses--but every one of those had seemed so hot and forbidden

And so sweet The fact he’d bought the very DVD that reminded hiether again had been a blast

But had watching it helped Jesse to tune in to the emotional connection they’d once shared or just remind him of a happier past? Was he actually interested in her, or was she like the DVD, just another re here, giving Jesse false hope, when Deke was so obviously do quiet times with Luc?

So for an answer, he shoved in the key, and strolled into the rooriain You two are dull"

Oh, the , he’d say whatever was on his mind and clearly didn’t care a lick if it offended anyone or not

"We atching a movie" Kimber did her best to sound civil

"I’d rather you get busy and make a movie I’d wanna watch" He leered

Okay, that made him zoom to the top of her ick chart

Her annoyancestare

"Despite howany What do you want?"

"Showtilanced at his watch, then sighed "Back to reality" He sent a longing look at thebefore work?

"No, and it’s just my opinion, but I don’t think you should either"

"It loosens me up" His tone was pure defense