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He couldn't deny the absolute pleasure he took on seeing her here in his office, on his turf Co one hand in a hesitant wave Her expression was just as wary, and since uncertainty wasn't so he noruard

Still, she'd made the trip here and his heart leaped in his chest He rose, not bothering to hide his surprise at seeing her "What are you doing here?"

She shut the door behind her "I needed to talk to you"

He raised an eyebrow "I've called every couple of days to speak with Sah he didn't knohy she was here, he wasn't about to make this visit easy or let her off the hook without an explanation Surely he deserved that much from the only wo long hours"

"So have I," he said, pointing to the stacks around his desk "But that didn't stopthe people I care about"

She briefly bowed her head "You're going to make me work for this, aren't you?"

"Work for what?" he asked her "I have no idea why you're here or what you want"

And Zoe wondered if he even cared anye to wipe her sweaty pal and certainly nobody had guaranteed her the happy ending she wanted For all she knew, there would be no second chances for herself and Ryan

She stepped forward, coht I kneho I was and what I wanted out of life Or at least I toldhers

"I thought I was a hot-shot ex-fed as about to start her own business and have it all" She shook her head at her naïveté "I told myself I hadn't fallen in love and it just wasn't in the cards for ht ideas about rules and propriety, and I was so damn sure I could handle the attraction"

She shook her head and laughed at herself and the fool she'd been "I mean, after all, I'd had affairs, I'd had sex, and what else would it be with a guy like you, as so different, so opposite of h lowered lashes "Are you withto lose ," he said in a deep, co on every word"

But he reany wood and deep e the a deep breath, she soot to know you" Closing her eyes, she re, then i a place for I-raising books for Sam and realized she'd probably fallen in love with him then "And I saw there was so much more than someone from a completely different world thanto the conversation and helping her out

"Yeah Along with the intense heat and cheenerated, you scared me"

"Why?"

She rolled her eyes because in her mind, the ansas obvious However, it wasn't apparent to Ryan and she owed him every word of explanation "You scarede It was always hot and passionate and always ended in one of the their beliefs for the other"

"So? Isn't that what love is all about? Nobody has to change, but soive a little" Confusion laced his tone

She almost smiled because he'd just provided her with his view on relationships And love