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b97774f
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Aiden was stunned silent for a minute. His mind was whirring. Then he was slowly overcome by a sly grin. "Oh man," he said. "You wouldn't be able to keep yourself from answering the phone if it rang, hoping it could be her, so you unplugged it." "You're out of your mind..." "You'd"
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Robyn Carr |
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e79a3d3
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I thought I explained this," Luke said, sounding annoyed. "She's a beautiful young girl. She might be a chronological twenty-five, but subtract a few years of her being tied to an invalid. She would be carded in most bars. I was almost her first flirt! She should do things! Experience things! She's been patient and dedicated a long time--she has to get out there and..." "And not take a chance on you and then realize in a couple years that s..
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Robyn Carr |
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3d209ce
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Luke was ready to put down roots. He was just scared to death to ask anyone like Shelby to take that on. Because she might change her mind. And that would kill him. So
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Robyn Carr |
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f81b040
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Go after her, Luke. Tell her the truth, that it scares you to death but you want her." Luke"
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Robyn Carr |
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f8c5c4d
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Walt looked over his shoulder at a sound and both men watched as Vanni opened the corral gate, mounted Chico and rode away from the ranch, down along the riverbank. "Well, she's getting away from you. If you have a case to plead and don't want to do it in front of her father and brother, I guess you'll have to go after her." Paul put his still-full cup of coffee on the patio table. "Can I borrow a horse, sir?" "Knock yourself out," the gene..
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Robyn Carr |
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79006e3
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ahead. He urged the horse a little faster and when he was within her hearing, he whistled. The piercing sound cut through the air and Vanni turned her mount toward him. She took one look at him, turned and kicked Chico's flank, taking off. "Goddammit!" he swore. So, this was how it would be--not easy. He was going to have to take off the gloves. He risked being thrown by giving Liberty a snap with the end of his rein. The stallion reared. P..
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Robyn Carr |
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0e79a59
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He urged the horse a little faster and when he was within her hearing, he whistled. The piercing sound cut through the air and Vanni turned her mount toward him. She took one look at him, turned and kicked Chico's flank, taking off. "Goddammit!" he swore. So, this was how it would be--not easy. He was going to have to take off the gloves. He risked being thrown by giving Liberty a snap with the end of his rein. The stallion reared. Paul hun..
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Robyn Carr |
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354edbc
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Vanessa, you have the worst goddamn temper." "I..." "And you're the bossiest woman I've ever known. I want you to listen to me--I can't change what I feel, what I've felt for years. I tried, because I never thought I'd have any kind of chance, I never imagined that we'd lose Matt. And even with you in my arms, finally, I'd give anything to have him back. But we can't, Vanni. It's going to be you and me now. That's all it can be. Now stop al..
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Robyn Carr |
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ba7b502
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He opened the door and saw the Jeep. She stood in front of it, leaning against the hood, arms crossed over her chest, getting wet in the freezing drizzle. His heart lurched. Almost three weeks since he'd seen her and his feelings hadn't given him a break. He still wanted her so bad it hurt. "You"
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Robyn Carr |
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fceede4
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Vanni, I want to marry you, take care of you and Mattie." She frowned slightly. "Wait a minute--is there anything else you should tell me before you propose? Any other little secret stuffed in the back of your closet?" "Honest to God, that's it. Until very recently, I had the most boring life in Grants Pass!" "You're sure about that? Because until last week, I thought I knew everything about you. I mean, I've known you for years, lived with..
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Robyn Carr |
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3c13717
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It isn't that funny." "Are you kidding? It's hilarious!" She laughed a little more and finally said, "Paul, he's a trained interrogator. You walked right into it!" "I don't see the humor..." "Well, if you don't have a sense of humor, I don't know if I can--" She was cut off by his mouth finding hers. In fact, he kept her from laughing for a long time, covering her with his body. They kissed and held on to each other. Finally he released her..
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Robyn Carr |
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bfa28cc
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Here's to me winning the game I didn't even know I was playing." "To you," Paul said grudgingly. After having a sip, Walt said, "I know you pretty well, Paul. Before today, I never had a doubt about you. So, I'll only ask once--you plan to treat my daughter well?" "Like solid gold, sir. Despite everything." "If you're her choice, that's good enough for me." And he raised the glass again. "Thank you, sir." "But really," he said, chuckling. "..
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Robyn Carr |
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29a52b0
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I think I'm the only woman you've loved in forever. And you were going to pitch me out that fast, just because I make you nervous. I thought you didn't trust me, but now I think you don't trust yourself." She shook her head. "I don't want a man like that. I need a man with guts, who's sure of himself. Confident enough to stand by me. I need a man who's not afraid to take a risk or two for something important." "I've taken a risk or two," he..
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Robyn Carr |
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d46cddb
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Paul lay awake for a long time, just listening to her breathe, drinking in her scent. Holding her like this, naked against him, it was like a miracle. You don't just go to sleep on miracles. You savor them, give thanks for them. It
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Robyn Carr |
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b74b7ff
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I retired from the army." Her eyebrows shot up. "Like my uncle!" "No, not like your uncle. Like a warrant officer, helicopter pilot. Jack said your uncle is a retired three-star. A whole different thing, kid." She grinned at him, but her cheeks took on a little flush. "Just remember, he's retired. He really isn't in charge anymore." He"
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Robyn Carr |
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2248e4d
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You can't try. Trying is a struggle and doing is an act. You can't witness the act of trying, but you can see the results of doing. Trying brings on stress because not only do you have the problem, but now you have all this frustration with it not going away just because you want it to. It's kind of like being told not to think of pink elephants--impossible. What you have to do is stop. You say to yourself, this is over for now. I'm done fo..
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Robyn Carr |
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d59752a
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hollow laugh. "Sometimes I feel like I've got nothing but regrets. Doesn't just about everyone?" "I expect so. You think I don't wish I hadn't worked that second shift? But it was overtime and we always had more month left at the end of the paycheck. I'd done it a hundred times. I never really thought about what it could cost. How about you?" He sighed. "Well, of course I regret speeding, even though I've made peace with the changes it brou..
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Robyn Carr |
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83b11a4
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Vanessa had no trouble imagining how the general could look scary as hell to his troops. But this morning, at the kitchen table with just his daughter and grandson, he was soft as a puppy. She reached across the table and patted his hand. He played with the baby's foot with his other. "You're not losing me, Daddy. Not ever." "It's okay, Vanni. You're a young woman in your prime. Paul's a fine young man, despite the fact that he's fathering ..
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Robyn Carr |
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21063fd
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It was so wonderful for Paul to be with you when this one was born. He talks about it." She laughed. "Does he tell you about how hard he tried to get out of it?" she asked just as Paul came back onto the deck to hand her a beer. He stood behind her chair and that hand was again on her shoulder. "He doesn't admit to that, but it doesn't surprise me," his mother said. Vanni reached up to caress the hand that possessed her. And it wasn't until..
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Robyn Carr |
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5604290
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But I guess we don't have much in common there, huh? There was no competition, except maybe Joe was competing with a rotten memory. If there was anything about him you thought was worth a damn, you never would have let him get away. So. I just hope you're right...." She whimpered a little bit. "It was one night...." "I think maybe the crazy fool loves you," Paul said. "That's impossible," she said, but there were tears in her voice. "Nikki,..
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Robyn Carr |
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22d942a
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Preacher's baby had arrived, and Joe liked babies--he'd been an uncle five times. He'd always thought that by now he'd have a couple of his own. The
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Robyn Carr |
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f65ab72
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You sure look wonderful for someone who just had a baby." "I've been very spoiled this week. Lots of help. When you need something, anything, this is the place to be." "You're feeling good?" "Fantastic. And she's a good little girl." He peered into the cradle. "Ah, then where is she?" "I'll give you three guesses. I can't get John to put her down." He chuckled. "Is he holding her while he's stirring a pot?" Joe asked. "Lord, I hope not. He ..
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Robyn Carr |
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a6101fe
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Here, honey--sit down. Tell me about it. Did you have an easy time?" "I had a very long time. It wasn't so much hard as it took forever. I was starting to think she'd never come. And John almost drove me out of my mind. After about twenty hours of labor, I was afraid he was going to go in after her." "He must have been pretty wound up," Joe said. "Is he pestering you for another one yet?" "Oh no, I think he's going to lighten up on all thos..
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Robyn Carr |
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7780bfd
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What brought you up here?" "Ah, long story. I was looking for a change. I was a nurse-practitioner and midwife in L.A. and took a job here--population just over six hundred. It was supposed to be for a year, but Jack got me knocked up." "We are married," he said, shaking his head at her. "Tell the woman you're happy about that, Melinda." "Perfectly happy. Jack worked out." She grinned. "Muriel"
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Robyn Carr |
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ff1661a
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A few minutes later, Preacher wandered in. He was holding the baby in the crook of his arm and she looked small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. Her little pink blanket was wrapped neatly around her, her bald head sticking out of the top, and he handled her as if she were attached to the inside of his forearm. "Joe!" he said, but he said it with quiet enthusiasm. "Great to see you, man." Joe stood and reached for the baby. "My turn, b..
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Robyn Carr |
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ad9effa
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You know, that's one of the problems with this place," Joe said. "You guys. When you opened this bar, there were five of us at loose ends, and not looking to settle down. The only ones settled with women were Zeke, Corny, Phillips and Stephens. The rest of us were getting well into our thirties, pretty damn happy to be single. Plenty of women out there to keep us busy for a little while. Then you guys--Jesus. You not only hooked up, you fou..
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Robyn Carr |
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fbb8b0b
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How about going after her?" "I tried. She's gone." Jack leaned on the bar. "I'm sorry, man. I thought that was going to happen to me with Mel. From the second she hit town, she said she was leaving." "When did you know? Or think you knew? With Mel?" "Oh, man," he said, and laughed. "It was real slow. Took me five or ten minutes. It was the jeans. Have you ever noticed how my wife looks in a pair of jeans? Maybe you shouldn't answer that..."..
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Robyn Carr |
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21d98c3
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Joe, I think I might be clueless when it comes to love. Afraid I wouldn't know real love if it bit me in the ass." He chuckled in spite of himself. "Been there," he said. "Pretty recently, in fact." "I"
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Robyn Carr |
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436b751
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I love you, too. Please be careful." Then she headed quickly into the bar while he followed her with his eyes, a stupid grin on his face. "There's"
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Robyn Carr |
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d8b7f0d
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A truck came flying into town, horn honking. Corny, also a professional firefighter, climbed out and yelled, "Hey! Forget anyone?" Greetings ripped the air. "What about that new baby?" "Aw, she's not so new anymore. We had her two days ago." "And your wife let you out of town?" "You're kidding, right? She told me to get my ass down here and help." He grinned, pulling his own gear out of the truck bed. "She's got her mother--I'm just in the ..
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Robyn Carr |
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973f141
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Everyone but Jack was in the truck. He went to his wife, leaned down and kissed her lips. "When they tell you it's time, gather up the kids and get out of town." "It's not going to come to that, Jack. It can't. I don't know if I can leave this place...." "You do it. Keep them safe. And have someone get Ricky's grandma out." "I'll watch out for Lydie, but I'm waiting for you," she said. "I'm waiting right here. I'll be here when you're done ..
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Robyn Carr |
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7faad4a
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You know, I've been hanging around your place, riding with you, throwing the stick for your dogs, and I never asked you about the husbands. Like, how many? And why you think it didn't work out?" "What makes you think I feel like telling you?" she asked. "Aw, you'll tell me," he said. "You're just that kinda gal. And I told you about my wife." "Okay," she said, still slapping sandwiches together. "The synopsis. The first one was fifteen year..
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Robyn Carr |
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c05dc51
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She had spent a very long night thinking about her husband. He had so many faces; a fierce and dangerous expression for an enemy, a threat. A soft and tender expression when he turned his eyes to her. A sweet pride when he held their children. A joyful gleam when he was with his friends. She remembered when he had first talked her into those stolen kisses, deep and meaningful and passionate. It had been hard to resist him, his allure was so..
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Robyn Carr |
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cb25ceb
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Walt and Muriel insisted on doing the dishes together. "It's what Muriel promised, since she'd donate a kidney before she'd actually consider cooking," Walt said. And once they were alone in the kitchen, he came up behind her at the sink and kissed her neck. "You handled that whole interrogation beautifully. Classic recon--evasion, resistance, escape. We could have used you in the army." She turned in his arms. "What I did for a living was ..
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Robyn Carr |
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71f446d
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Mel walked right into his open arms. "You're late," she said, looking up at him. He lowered his lips to softly kiss her forehead. "Sorry. I was held up. Goddamn truck left without me." He smiled down at her. "Do you have any idea what you look like in jeans? Melinda, you just do it to me in jeans." "Everyone thought you were dead and you're talking about my butt again." He grimaced. "They're going to wish I was dead. I've been walking for t..
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Robyn Carr |
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269517c
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Just me tonight. Vanni's gone up to Oregon with Paul for a few days, and I don't rate much time with Tom while he's on Brenda's dance card." "Oregon?" Jack said with a lift of his brow. "You don't say? What do you suppose they'll find to do in Oregon?" Walt smiled at him. "Funny." Jack chuckled. "Sounds like maybe some things got sorted out. This mean we won't be seeing too much of that nice Dr. Michaels around here?" "I think maybe that ni..
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Robyn Carr |
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534106d
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She'd obviously be more at home in a marble mansion with a pool. What the hell was she doing with that old Weatherby ranch house? That wouldn't last long. "Exotic chickens, my ass," Walt muttered to himself as he shut down the computer and headed for bed."
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Robyn Carr |
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1ed8bf4
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You're going to want to meet Paul's father-in-law, Walt," Jack said. "He's retired army." "Yeah?" Luke asked. "I think Shelby mentioned that." "Three-star. Nice guy." Luke groaned in spite of himself. He actually dropped his head. And apparently Jack was reading him. "Yep. Shelby's Uncle Walt," Jack said. "Shelby. The eighteen-year-old?" Jack chuckled. "She's a little older than that. But I admit, young. Looker, though, isn't she?" That was..
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Robyn Carr |
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e1c32b5
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When the last dish was put up, Vanni asked Marianne if she could borrow a bedroom to nurse the baby. "Of course, sweetheart," the older woman answered. "But no one in this family is uncomfortable with a nursing mom, not even the children. Do whatever you'd rather--take a bedroom or sit with us, it's entirely up to you. We're kind of homespun around here." "What about the men?" Vanni asked. "They're even less uncomfortable." North's wife lau..
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Robyn Carr |
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9d1811e
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I don't know much about movies. Haven't seen too many. And I don't know anything about movie stars." "Retired," she said. "I'm sanding, varnishing, hauling trash and training my bird dog. I'm going to pick up another one pretty soon now--I picked the bitch and sire a while ago and she whelped, so as soon as they'll let him go... And I don't cook much, don't bake at all, but as it happens I have sugar for my coffee. In case you want to borro..
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Robyn Carr |
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3d15bab
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Love someone else?" Joe repeated. "I'm such a screwup..." "You love someone?" "It's wrong, that's all. I had no business..." "Paul. You love someone?" "Yeah. I was a real horseshit best friend for years. Vanni. I just couldn't help it. I didn't want it to be that way, but--" Joe drank a big gulp. He was prepared to help Paul through just about anything, but he never saw this coming. And why hadn't he? Probably because he'd have done for Pau..
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Robyn Carr |
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6a74889
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Maybe you can't see the potential here," he said. "I'm going to impress you, in that case." "I'm already impressed," she said. "It looks like a monumental job. Where I grew up, there were a bunch of old cabins just like this, out on the beach. I was a teenager. They were almost never in use and the local kids used to sneak in. To smoke pot and...other stuff. Then one day they were gone. Razed." "When you were a teenager," he said, shoving t..
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Robyn Carr |
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5028349
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What are you doing here?" he asked, stepping toward her. "In Virgin River? I came to spend some time with my family for a while before going back to school. Uncle Walt, Vanessa and Paul, my cousin Tom--he's at basic training, soon to have leave--they're my family." "No," he said, smiling. "Here. Checking me out." "Get over yourself, I'm checking out the cabins," she said, returning the smile."
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Robyn Carr |
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019e349
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But maybe she'd have herself a little adventure in there somewhere. Maybe on her cruise, on one of her trips. Not with this kind of man, of course. He was too mature, for one thing. One look convinced her--he knew everything about men and women, while she knew very little. He looked a little dangerous and very, very physical. Scary. He had that warrior appearance, complete with tattoos. The sight of him bare-chested had rattled her, but the..
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Robyn Carr |