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"Wel ," Sasha said, settling in the seat "Soes," I said, thuh papers on my desk
"What do you mean? She’s southern" She said the ith disdain I could see in her eyes that at least five generations of Eastern audacity had blinded her to how tacky she sounded
I looked up "Yes, wel …they’re polite That doesn’t mean you can’t make an ene back to the door nervously "I…er…Grant wanted me to ask you about the Christmas party"
I raised an eyebrow "I have faxes co your way into er foods? Don’t waste eted "I wanted your per we could make it into more of a bal "
"A bal ," I deadpanned
Sasha smiled widely "Yes"
I waved her away "Check with Jessica on the second floor about the budget Stay within parameters, and personal y, Sasha, I couldn’t care less"
Sasha’s strained smile barely lasted until she reached the hal
The rest of the day passed without event, or maybe it was because no one dared to approach withon fire The consequential spunk the insufficient sleep had gracedI hadn’t enjoyed Titan that much since I moved into Jack’s office
By the tied to the elevator and welcoish, heavy feeling overback tosleep tonight Bex wil be there at seven"
I wondered if I’d said anything aloud, but didn’t have enough energy to ask Just sitting in the passenger seat, watching trees and pedestriansIf I was coherent, I would feel ridiculous for the permanent shocked expression on my face as I tried to keep both upper lids away froo--but I wasn’t
Jared wrapped his ar me into the house When the old, heavy door closed behind us, Jared stopped
"Nina," Cynthia call ed, appearing fro for you in the Great Roos, Love," Agatha said, pul ing my make-shift brief case from my hand
"Thank you," I mumbled I walked down the nized that it was Kie of her seat; her hands bal ed tightly together atop her knees I sat across from her in my mother’s favorite Italian occasional chair
It was then that I noticed Jared hadn’t joined us, but had gone upstairs to prepare for a night away, instead
"Ki slowly
"Looks like you need a nap," she said
"Nighth, you don’t get to hate ave you the heebie-jeebies, but you’re justproduced a second wind "You did lie to me I don’t even know you"
Her head popped up "And I know you? Jared’s half-angel, and you’re not exactly your run-of-the-ian
Have they told you what that rumbled
"So, I just came to tel you that we’re stil friends And you can like it, and letif you’re real y pissed
Got it?"
"Whatever, I’ ood?" she asked
I turned, and seeing her expectant eyes, I sood"
Ki her lip out "Hugs?"
"Quit it"
She let her hands fal to her thighs with a slap "Wel , thought I’d try"
I walked her to the door, and she leaned close to ht I’ll try not todown your book"
"You’re a good friend," I said
"Kiss noise," Ki down the drive to her Sentra How had I ht
Jared met me at the bottoave up, liftingme up the stairs
"Shower," I said
Jared loweredBex is here Sleep"
I' Jared stayed, because I was unconscious the htht in that very room I was so tired, and slept so hard, that I didn’t dream at al
I peeledat the end of the bed "Just so you know, that’s creepy," I said, rubbing the sleep from my eyes
"Not as scary as your hair," he frowned
"Wow, you’re gru"
"Cynthia doesn’t trust me in the kitchen"
Three knocks at the door, and Cynthia backed in to ht I would bring you breakfast"
"Does Agatha have the day off?" I asked
"No, she’s downstairs Why?" Cynthia asked
I watched my mother for aThank you"
Cynthia left as quickly as she came in "Mind the coffee, Dear, it’s hot," she call ed back as her heels clicked down the hal
Bex’s eyebroere nearly touching as his frown deepened He had never been toit at al
"She warru to hop in the shower Has Jared call ed?"
"No," he said, picking up the re on the television "But he’s on his way"
I thought about that for a moment, and decided I already knew the answer They could sense each other, and Bex was the s
MyJared's return ho my robe
"He is," Bex said, his eyes stationary on the screen
"Nina, Love?" Agatha call ed froatha was holding several bags, and Beth stood behind her, her ars as wel
"You said you lost everything," Beth said, brushing pastthe plastic-covered clothing on the nearly-e her pul shoes boxes froe sacks Once she was finished, she looked at her watch "Crap! I gotta go"