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After Derek’s terse initialher to co the fear in her sister’s voice Ginger pressed the speed dial for Willa’s cell phone She answered on the first ring

“I’er”

“Hey, Wip”

“Not an appropriate time for nicknames”

“I’m sorry I’m so sorry”

A shuddering sigh “Are you all right? Is Derek with you?”

“Yeah, he’s here I’m fine”

“Thank fk Don’t you ever do anything stupid like that again”

She glanced at Derek “Willa, why didn’t you tell me you knew? About the money”

A long sigh “You knoe operate, Ginger We don’t talk until we’re ready If ever”

“That ends now, okay? No more secrets We can do better than that”

“Okay” Willa sniffed “Okay”

Ginger blinked back tears “I’ll be home soon I want to hear all about the dance”

“Deal”

She hung up and risked another look at Derek His expression hadn’t changed a bit Punching the button to play her reer listened to Derek’s deep voice in her ear The first couple er, but around the tenth voice ned She knew Derek could hear every word fro at certain points

“Ginger…I wish you would answer the phone I really need to hear your voice” A deep, steadying breath “You knohen I fell in love with you?” Ginger’s hand tightened on the phone, her pulse haht in , but you looked so goddamn fearless Maybe I should have told you how I feel before now Maybe it would have prevented this fool’s mission” He cleared his throat with difficulty “Probably not You’re too damn stubborn But then, I love you for that, too, don’t I? Call et you and take you home Bye, baby”

Ginger hung up the phone and stared blindly out the , cars and buildings whizzing past in a blur Derek’s words repeated themselves over and over in her head He loved her But could he forgive her? He couldn’t even look her in the eye Ginger thought of the hard expression on his face when he’d opened the trunk The way he’d tossed her in his car like a rag doll Once again, she’d needed his comfort and he didn’t provide it He couldn’t just decide to love her then disregard her so quickly, da her so easily, she could surely reverse it back in her favor, right?

Derek veered off the highway onto an exit ra lot

“Why are we stopping?”

“Because I haven’t showered or slept in three days and I need to do both before driving any farther”

Ginger’s eyes traced over his heavily stubbled jaw and dark-circled eyes Her heart tripped over itself at the fatigue she saw there Before she could offer to take the wheel, he climbed out of the vehicle, strode into the motel office, and returned a few minutes later with a room key

He jerked open her passenger side door and waited for Ginger to slide out, then grabbed a leather gy from the backseat

Once they reached their room, Derek locked the door behind theh the , shadows played against hislow on his hips, but soon he removed those, too