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Appalled, she looked around, more upset than she should have been She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders, and that implacable mask of poise fell into place

Now, in a much softer tone, she said, "I’, I’ll send you your half You don’t have to hang around I’s to do"

He wanted to do her, and that was as iht not realize it, but the more she tried to run him off, the , Yvette"

A little wary, she asked, "What?"

S to soften his inflexible tone, he leaned closer "I’hting him as they headed across the floor, but still stiff-necked under his hand

Good thing he had a healthy ego He sensed she wanted to avoid so, but he wasn’t convinced that it was hi on

He planned to find out what

"This is ridiculous," she muttered

"We’ll talk e get home" They were almost to the door when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder

Senses prickling, Cannon turned--then ducked out of reach as so Yvette back behind him, he said, "What the hell?"

Sour beer breath blasted his face when a man swayed toward hi beyond the idiot slurring his words, Cannon saw Mary watching, her hand over her mouth in dismay Shit He hated drauy wouldn’t let it go "You thin’ you’re such a hotshot?"

Sighing, Cannon felt the fascinated gazes of the crowd The guy challenging hi and muscular--but not a real hter if he took him on "Look," Cannon said, "why don’t you let me call you a cab?"

"Fuck you!" He poked at Cannon’s chest "You were shitty to ’er"

Cannon caught his hand, jerked him forward then around and put hiuy to sleepbut that didn’t seeasped "I didn’t know he’d come after you!"

Withoutof the man he held and said to her, "You didn’t put him up to it?"

"No! I would never do that"