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Her lips pursed, then curved with banked happiness "He used to get aftertrouble"

At the time, Cannon had considered her the trouble "I’d always assu, she’d told him she was alain, her pleasure faded "It’s not that I was dumb or that I screwed off in school"

"I know that" Because her parents had died when she was thirteen, she’d spent the rest of that school year grieving and got held back Then for the year after that, different relatives shuffled her around fro to keep her

Until she’d landed with Tipton Sweeny But again, she’d

"I felt dumb," she admitted "Most of the kids kneas older Especially the boys"

Cannon could iine how they’d hit on her With the way she looked, she’d have been every high school boy’s wet dreaed at that lock of hair a littleboth hands on the tabletop

She did that often, catching herself and slipping back behind that uess that’s why I always felt safe teasing you"

Safe An odd word to use "If it’s any consolation, I had to concentrate real hard to resist you"

Biting back a laugh, she nudged hi older, she was even athering her thoughts, she sat silent for a s easier, so Cannon waited patiently, giving her tiely content just to be with her

When she looked at hiaze deliberately direct "After that, I proved what a coward I a sounded in her tone "That was even worse than the infantile flirting"

He was here for Tipton, Cannon reertips grazed her jaw, his thu away from his touch, she leaned forward, her forear "The rest of you were strong and brave and all I did was fall apart" Laughing, she covered her face "God, it still humiliates me to remember it"

"Listen to me, Yvette" He cupped his hand around her nape, his voice low, inti and afraid No one would blaet hysterical You didn’t escalate things So you shed a few tears So what? Hell, I was shaking I was so pissed off"