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Paige had pointed out that she, Mia, was a civilian She couldn’t be expected to know But Mia was used to being smarter than that No one had ever fooled her so completely

She reached for her backpack and pulled out her wallet Tucked inside was a plain white business card There was no naiven the card one of thea clandestine operative for the govern ti twice

"Yes?"

"Hi I’o"

"Oneon a keyboard "Yes, Mia I have your file How can I help you?"

File? She had a file? "I’, you know, a spy"

Paige sat by Alex and held his hand He was still pretty out of it, but she wasn’t going to let go Not until he told her to go ahich, based on how out of it he ouldn’t be happening anytihtly She rose and leaned over hi?"

His eyelids fluttered "Paige?"

"I’ery They poked around and ot lucky The bullet didn’t da you couldn’t live without"

"Good to know" He stared into her eyes "Where will you go?"

"After I leave the service?"

"Yeah"

"Texas There’s a little house I’ve been looking at outside of Austin I’"

"You’d be good at that" He opened his eyes and drew in a breath "How small is the house?"

"About twelve hundred square feet"

"Not much room for anyone else"

Her heart stopped She felt it stutter, then still completely "I didn’t think there would be anyone interested I haven’t bought the house yet I could get soer, if you wanted"

He squeezed her hand "I re "

She bent down and kissed hi you"

One corner of his mouth turned up "I doubt that, but it’s nice of you to say it I want to change, Paige I want to matter to you"

Emotions flooded her They came on so quickly, she didn’t knohich one to experience first

"You do matter I love you, Alex"

The curve turned into a smile "I love you more Because you’re a pain in the ass"

"You act like you’ve got a stick up yours"

"You’re too eazed at her "Don’t ever change," he said "Promise"

"I won’t, except I think I want to love you a little ht with that?"