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"I need to grab a few things at the store Can I borrow your car keys?" With a frown, he agreed "Could you be back by six? I need to put in an appearance at a restaurant don tonight"

With a nod and a gutful of relief, Kimber escaped the quiet house--too packed with memories for co to pick up soet well/Ia new cell phone didn’t take long, either

She called Logan and Hunter to check in, and they said Dad would be released day after tomorrow

She even had the opportunity to talk to him for a few shorthealth, Kimber picked up the rest of the ite to push away the reality of it all

Kimber returned to Luc’s house a little after five

Looking sinfully sexy with his long hair loose, charcoal slacks, and a long white linen shirt, he pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek "I won’t be gone long Can you wait up? I think we should talk…"

She didn’t love theher cheek was somehow such a comfort "He’s done with me, isn’t he?"

"What happens next is really up to you" He kissed her again, this tiue--then he was gone

With a huge sob, she sat on the sofa and unloaded again Tear after tear strea the mother of all headaches When had she ever been this e her And the sex

The two happeningsleep her new hobby

At least she hoped that’s all it was…

Daet her head straight, talk to the guys, figure it out Things just couldn’t go on like this She couldn’t go on like this

Picking herself up, sheto think about nothing Staged laugh tracks didn’t work She drifted off to sleep

A car pulling up into the driveoke her Deke had returned Dark had fallen Kimber didn’t think she was ready to handle conversation, ultis and her newly charged cell phone and headed to the bathroo into the house An afternoon conferring with Jack about business--and personal--matters Business was fine

Healthy, in fact Jack had done a great job at keeping everything running while he’d been protecting Kimber from the psycho-bole

Now he had to wait for Luc to come home, so they could hash it out And hope they didn’t come to blows over it Luc called to say he was on his way hoet all this shit out in the open Great

He was looking forward to it--about as ed lid of a tin can

Sucking up his jangled nerves, Deke went in search of Kis She was sured out that he needed a crowd to get down In order to ht never change…along with the other thing he couldn’t give her And why Tioodie

Trekking down the hall, Deke heard her talking and followed the sound of her voice Who the hell was she talking to? One of her brothers? Her father? A girlfriend?

"It’s good to talk to you, too" Pause "I agree we have soainst the wall outside the bathroohed, crossed the room Deke supposed he should have so on her He didn’t

"I know I’ve had to protectand not available But the guy who set the boain--"He’s fine I’m fine Just really tired Maybe we could talk to suspicion sinking into his gut

"No, I’ to blow you off I’ve just had a hell of a day" A pause Then a giant sob "Please, letor soe to help ht Jesse The fucking pop star pretty boy was still calling her? And wanting what? He ground his teeth The prick was e into the bedrooet fucked

Before he could, Kimber screamed "Damn it, not now! Stop!" He’d never heard her so out of control Never heard her so close to hysterical as he had today He’d also heard enough

Charging into the bathroorowled into it, "You keep calling and upsettingbone in your body, you pansy-ass falsetto son of a bitch" Resisting the urge to throw the phone against the wall, he stabbed a button with his thumb to end the call Then he powered it down and tossed the phone on the counter In a lunge, he grabbed

Ki Not a gentle tre, breath hitching, body jolting

"Kitten Baby…"

He stroked her hair as gently as he kne Tough when he wanted to go find Jesse McCall and pound on him until his face was as flat as a slab of concrete Deke was entle right now

In the distance, he heard Luc pull into the driveway For the first time today, he thanked God for his cousin’s presence Luc would kno to deal with her eet Luc…"

"No" She clutched hihter "Deke, I’m scared" He was both relieved and anxious that she wanted him If she wanted him, rather than Luc, she had to still care about him, despite the hard truth they still hadn’t faced

"Don’t be afraid of Jesse If I need to personally talk sense into the bastard--"

"That’s not it"

She started sobbing, again so uncontrollable, he freaked If she didn’t stop, she was going to pass out or throw up or soe of the tub and pulled her into his lap, his thoughts racing

"Then what? If it’s about this , I’m sorry, kitten Really sorry Take a deep breath and--"

She lifted tear-drenched, frightened hazel eyes to hinant"

Her words were like a battering raut He jerked out from under her and bounced to his feet And he stared The blood left his head in a sick rush Had he heard…?

God, please No!

"Pregnant?"