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also had internal injuries. The damage was so extensive that& I was told I ll never
conceive.
 I m so sorry.
 Everything happens for a reason, she reiterated, then stood and went in search of
a quiet place where she could be alone and grieve.
****
Noah finally located Isabeau inside the house, sitting on the stairs. Can of soda in
her right hand, she sat on the fourth step from the top, her eyes closed, the fingers of
her free hand slowly massaging her temple. For a moment, he stood there and gazed
at her, while a kaleidoscope of emotions ran through him. She still wore the simple
black dress from the funeral, her dark hair smoothed away from her face and off her
neck. But surprisingly, her feet were bare her customary spike heels kicked off and
resting a few steps below.
Watching her, he felt something inside of him shift, something he wasn t ready to
look at too closely. All he knew was he liked waking up with her in his bed nestled
against his side. Her face pressed into his neck, hand atop his chest. His right hand
had been curled protectively over her left, his other hand buried in the inky black silk
of her hair. She d been wearing the T-shirt he d tossed on the chair and little else, and
although she d brought him to mind-blowing orgasm a few hours before, he awoke
wrapped in her scent, wrapped in her. Aching.
He swallowed.  There you are, he said, climbing the stairs and settling for
running his fingers over the smooth skin of her shoulder.  I saw you holding my
nephew s hand. Should I be worried that he s planning to steal you away from me?
She tipped her face to look up at him, and his chest tightened. Her lips formed a
smile, but there was an intense sadness in her eyes.  Isabeau, what is it?
She cleared her throat and looked away.  I was looking at these photographs.
 And that made you sad?
She didn t answer.  Who is this?
Disappointment filled him, tightened his jaw. Damn, he was tired of the secrets.
He wondered how long before she trusted him enough to let him in. Whether he had
the patience to wait, or whether he should push her for answers. Uncertain, he
followed her pointing finger to the black framed photograph near her shoulder.
 You would pick that one, wouldn t you? he asked, then sank down onto the step
beside her. Barely wide enough for two people, she had to shift in order to
accommodate him. He leaned back, resting his elbows on the step behind him, then,
because he liked the feel of her skin, he traced the back of his fingers up and down her
arm from shoulder to elbow.  That s Danny and me.
 You look like you were causing trouble.
 If Danny was with me, I usually was.
 How old are you there?
He thought back to the summer it had been taken, remembered it was the year
he d kissed his first girl, Gwen Ryder. A kiss hadn t been all they d shared that
summer.  I was fifteen.
 And?
 And what? he asked, sliding the can from her fingers and taking a drink, before
handing it back.
 You re grinning like a little boy with a secret, Noah Clark. Don t pretend you don t
know what I m asking.
His grin widened at her comparison.  Let s just say that summer changed my life.
 How did it& oh. Her forehead creased, her mouth turned down at the corners.  I
get it, now.
He didn t mean to laugh.  You re beautiful when you re jealous.
Her frown deepened.  I m not jealous.
 That s good, because that was a long time ago and you&  His smile slipped away
as he came to his own realization. He groaned aloud.  Were you even born yet? I
suddenly feel so 
 Pervy?
Pervy? He glanced at her, incredulous.  I was going to say old.
She had the audacity to laugh at him.
Her eyes sparkled with joy. The last bit of sadness disappeared from her features
as her laughter flowed across his skin, as arousing as a caress.  You ve got an amazing
laugh.
She sent him a wary look.  Yeah, and an incredible mouth, and beautiful eyes& 
She rolled those beautiful eyes and turned back to the photographs.  I changed my
mind, you re not pervy, you re slick.
 I meant every compliment I ever gave you.
 Sure, you did, she replied, skeptically. But then her mouth curved, and he knew
she was pleased to hear him say it.  What about this one, with Paul. How old are you
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