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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TOGETHER THEY GOT out andthe paint--still fresh and sticky--Cannon unlocked the front door and helped her inside "Stay put one second, okay?"

With a nod, she stood there, looking a little numb, a lot defiant

So proud

He did a quick surveillance of the house, but everything was in order He checked on the garage, the small backyard, each

When he returned, she had her cell phone in her hand Without hi to ask, she said, "I was ready to call for backup if we needed it"

"S he could have shielded her fro else see away, she dropped her purse on the couch and stalked into the kitchen He heard water running and, bothered by the way she stayed so contained, followed her

She had a bucket in the sink, filling it with soapy water

Cannon reached around her, turned off the water, and hugged her up to his chest "That’ll only smear it and make it worse In this heat, it’ll be dry in another half hour Then I can sand it off"

"The door will be ruined"

"So we’ll replace it"

"It’s all over the porch, too"

"A poasher will get it off"

Through a strained laugh, she leaned back against hi?"

"For chickenshit stuff like this I do" Keeping her close, he turned her in his ar anywhere"

She looked up at hireen eyes both sad and sweet, and like every guy everywhere, his reaction was a throbbing boner

"Pro his chest, shethat paint out there for all the neighbors to see either"

"I can cover it up"

"I’ to take a picture first" Solearet wanted us to docuht"

Together they went out front and took care of it

After reporting the vandalisaret, he sanded off as much of the paint as he could It looked terrible, but now no one would knohat it had said