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"You’re probably not going to think this is good news, but she also blabbed to Julie, who probably told Ryan"

He glanced at her "Your grandmother told your sister we had sex?"

"Oh, yeah I had a couple of very shouty e- out"

And he wanted a family why?

"What did you tell her?" he asked

"That I’d share all the details when she got back" She s she was kidding Oron his part Women did talk and he had no idea what they said to each other Like every other noruy on the planet, he didn’t want to know

"I’nore her or should I say so works forher?"

"No" He loved Ruth, but she didn’t get to tell him what to do He knew she wanted hi was probably ait again"

He thought about how great they’d been together Howher How easily they’d talked and laughed How reeout of a ht as she and Todd strolled doide, well decorated hallways to the ballrooed to slip inside without anyone asking the there without an invitation, although she felt as if everyone in the roouests

"Relax," Todd said as he slipped an arm around her waist "There have to be at least three hundred people here No one will notice us"

"Okay, but no eating or drinking We probably shouldn’t even sit down and take a real guest’s place"

He smiled a her "You’re not much of a rule-breaker, are you?"

"Only under very specific circu rooood to break"

They circled the ballroo toward the dance floor A waiter came by and offered some kind of puff pastry treat Todd reached for it, but she pushed his hand away

"We’re not supposed to eat," she told hi this too much fun"

"We’re not here to have fun This is serious Okay, they’re setting up to play This is good We can listen, then leave"

"Coward"

"I’ you" She watched the sht--there aren’t too ? The alcove in Grandma Ruth’s ballroom?"

"Or that space between the pillars The sound would be better co from there"

"Good point I just wish they’d start"

A well-dressed older couple moved toward them

"Kitty and Jason Sampson," the woood of you to coht!

But Todd s is lovely Very impressive Such a happy day"

Kitty beahted"

"Of course you are," Todd told her

Jason leaned down and kissed Marina’s cheek, then slapped Todd on the shoulder "Thanks sous today It "

The Sampsons left

Marina waited until they were out of earshot, then covered her face "We’re going to hell I can hear theet chairs in hell?"

She glared at hi happened We were polite and gracious In five minutes, Kitty and Jason won’t remember us Come on You can handle this Look, the orchestra is about to start"

"Maybe It’s not that I want to feel guilty," she began

"Then don’t Come on We’ll lurk in the corner and stay out of trouble"

As he spoke, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side of the room While his touch was totally casual, her body responded as if he’d just ripped off her dress and thrown her down on a table Make that a bed…in a very private place, because her reaction was anything but outrage

She melted from the inside out The need to be with him nearly overwhelether that one night Even though it had been a great time, it shouldn’t have made thatto be with him, but not just in a sexual way She wanted to be in his ar to his voice and hearing his unique perspective on the world She wanted…more

"Better?" he asked as they stopped in a corner of the roouest traffic "We’re practically acting like spies, hiding behind this potted tree" He fingered a leaf "Do you knohat this is?"

"Not a clue That’s Willow’s area of expertise It looks real, though" She allowed herself to relax "Yes, this is "

"Excellent"

He s to do about his proximity, but not totally Some of her reaction was just about hiure out an answer, a waiter stopped by and offered theroom will be here in a few minutes," he said "This is for the toast"

Marina pulled free of Todd and tucked both her hands behind her back "We can’t," she whispered

Todd took the two glasses and thanked the waiter When the two of thelasses

"We have to," he told her "Not toasting the bride and groom would be tacky and rude"

She bit her lower lip "This is a very slippery slope Okay, we’ll raise our glasses, but we can’t drink"

He grinned "Right, because after we put the glasses down, soladly finish off the contents? Face it, kid You’re in this for a glass of chahed "Maybe we can find out Kitty and Jason’s favorite charity and ht," he told her as he put his arm around her waist and pulled her close "I like that about you"

The quiver intensified