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She sucked in her breath quickly and then let it escape in a relieved sigh when she realized it was Josh

"You startled me," she said "I didn’t know you were there"

Josh towered over her, gazing down at her with those unreadable gray eyes The shock of red hair on the top of his head was unruly, as if he had been running his fingers through it When he spoke, his voice was low and tense

"Are you sure about this, Care your mind"

Carht thing? What is it that you dislike about Alex?"

Josh shook his head "I don’t dislike Alex – even if he did steal you from me"

"He didn’t steal h his hair "Well, whatever It’s not Alex that I’m concerned about It’s you I don’t want you to ht you’d ure you"

Carrow old with hiazed down at her "I always thought you wanted to grow old with ht your children would be mine – or was it only me anted that so badly?"

Carmen took a step back and reached for the door "Don’t, Josh"

His gaze softened "Don’t? Who’s going to take you up to the ht side of his lip lifted in distain "Have you gone there with hih at you"

She lifted her chin and glared at him

"No he wouldn’t"

His eyes flashed triuers closed around the screen door handle

"It’s personal, that’s all After we’re rip was tight enough to be uncomfortable

"After you’re ht of that?"

She jerked her arm from his hand "I haven’t told hi up there alone"

His smile ry "Or because you and I went there so often"

"We didn’t go there that often" When he made no atteht it was a little eccentric, though, or you wouldn’t assume he would see it that way"

He snorted "Eccentric? More like childish But I understand why you did it He won’t I warned you about him" He jammed his hands into his pants pockets You saved yourself for a man ould crawl into bed with a woman on the first date Doesn’t that bother you? Do you think he’ll be as tolerant of your principles as I am?"

The words twisted her heart into a ball He didn’t take her up on the hill because he understood He took her there for the same reason he sacrificed so ood to think she needed hiaze with as much determination as she could ed is none of e is following my morals, not his"

He sneered "And you wouldn’t think of pushing your aze steadily "If I have offended you or anyone with my morals, I’m sorry But that doesn’t mean I have to abandon them"

His expression softened "You haven’t offended me I just wish" He shook his head "I loveloved you so much, Carmen If he ever hurts you, just remember I’ll be there for you"

"Thank you," she said, and left him there

In what capacity would he be there for her? It was an ugly thought, but she couldn’t shake loose the idea that he would drop Lori if things didn’t work out with Alex No matter what happened to his relationship or hers, there was no going back now Surely he knew that Maybe she was being vain In any case, she couldn’twouldn’t, let hiain She’d tell Alex in due ti Mums, Carmen returned to the truck and waited while Alex opened the door for her He paused before shutting it

"What did Josh want?"

She stiffened and avoided his gaze "Nothing He just wanted to play big brother"

Alex grimaced as he shut the door His step was brisk as he walked around to the other side, but when he climbed into the truck, his expression was bland

As he h muddy ruts in the drive, she covertly studied his profile The phrase ‘hts He was that Did he think of her as aof disappointment welled up for a moment, but she pushed it away

Alex’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts

"You’re quiet this evening Did so"

He neared the intersection where the road branched to her house and his "Where do you want to put the gifts?"

She glanced at hi them twice"

"Our house," he corrected

"We’re not married yet, so it’s still your house"

It wasn’t intended as an argulanced at her, his expression quizzical

"Tired?"

"Exhausted I don’t knohy I’h work today to justifythe goats," Alex said as he maneuvered the last turn to his house