.any other tricks besides holdin

h-stake game they were playing. It made sense there would

inner and we have all adjourned to the drawing room for a brief moment the two you

e spirit of things. His head

at her temples and her heart

er seen. They rival every other toenail in that

and wiggled then. 'I had them done with you in mind.' Her

the effect y

'I have no idea, but I'm pretty

endril of hair from her face. 'It'

e fun. She had too much to make amends for. Once she'd made amends maybe t

ere'd yo

, I...' she shrugged. Sometimes it still se

p grieving the way you have

n. He was doing enough for her already. She had to play her part h

next s

ed. 'Okay. Hi

before and afterwards. We're talking to another c

ster Claire, then I stand like this.' He moved a step away. 'At a discreet distance where I'd

a moment and then draped an arm across her shoulders. Staring at

all the cosying up it would look wrong. She'd look desperat

ion pounds, she had to make sure L

hat's b

astered against his side. She swallowed. T

That could be

an eyebrow.

preciating

. It wasn't as if he hadn't had a lot of practice. It wasn't as if he hadn't had a gir

arm rested across her shoulders, the weight of it solid and reassuring while thei

ut her upper chest, just above her Brests, pulli

e, Cl

tinued to stare at him a ripple of recognition ran though her. This was Lucas Micheal's

tter. This

than they should have and Claire found herself pulling free from L

ould simply stand close enough that we brush shoulders. She gestured

warm grasp, more the warmth flooding her

reed before s

e a physical weight as she

rything

nt him what she hoped was a smile. 'I've become a firm beli

. 'You are going to n

dry lips. 'All of this

I just don't want either one of us getting the wro

If you think I can't control myself' I'm

play these parts and that nothing will change and

eciate your sarcasm.' Hevpaced aw

hink this is going to be easy? 'In my experience nothing is ever as easy as we hope it will be.

rs. 'You're talking about

no

assure you that my heart is in absolutely no

d she didn't know how or why, but in his eye