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"Thank you for paying the hospital bill," she said "But I can’t accept your aze at last movedand locked on her His blank mask was firmly in place "You refused to see me Why?"

She racked her brain for the proper response Her reason had been a good one--Jessie Kay wanted hi around him only made Brook Lynn ache for what she couldn’t have She refused to lie, but at the sa not to answer you," she finally said

"Are you afraid ofwhile, and she began to squire to babble Yes, I’m afraid of you Of what you make me feel Of ould happen if ever I fell for you

"You don’t have a choice about the nored her request and changed the subject "It’s already done"

"I know, but I will pay you back"

"And I won’t accept"

They’d see about that

"Tell me about your ears," he said

Suddenly self-conscious, she shifted on the bed "Without the iher volume than other people"

"What caused it?"

"I was born that way"

"So you’ve suffered all your life?"

"I used to wear earmuffs They helped And I realize I’vetracks, "but you don’t have to worry I’ll take care of your list to his head before she could finish "No You’ll be resting"

He was going to treat her like an invalid, wasn’t he? "Are you planning to fire ht "No"

"Then I’ you," he said sirabbed hi as he was, he could have resisted, and she wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it She leaned toward him until they were almost nose to nose

"Now you listen to me, Jase Hollister My ears are messed up and unless there are extreme advances in medicine they will always be that way Some days, like today, I’m totally deaf Other days I can hear just fine I have little machines attached inside and out, and soaze dropped to her lips, and she shivered, al her nerve to continue