In Sentence Examples

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  • He was such a wonderful person in so many ways.

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  • Nurturing was in his personality.

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  • He put a spoon in her hand.

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  • I am not saying we live in a utopia.

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  • As it came to a stop the conductor called out in a loud voice.

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  • No, she's playing in her room.

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  • He lives in the country.

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  • I'm too warm in this one.

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  • In Scotland there once lived a poor shepherd whose name was James Hogg.

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  • In fact, he had given her strict orders not to lift anything.

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  • They looked a lot alike in some ways.

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  • The shepherd soon lost sight of them in the darkness.

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  • Alex had provided the money to remodel the home, but insisted that it stay in her name only.

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  • There was not an ugly person in all the throng.

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  • You are the sweetest boy in the world.

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  • We've kept in touch.

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  • Katie stared at the potato in her hand.

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  • In that moment she cringed inwardly.

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  • With this thought in mind the girl took heart and leaned her head over the side of the buggy to see where the strange light was coming from.

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  • If he had been the only child in the family, things might have been different.

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  • She placed the dish in the rack and glanced at Katie.

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  • She said in a cool tone.

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  • The roast will be ready in about 15 minutes.

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  • Felipa asked in surprise.

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  • In other words, it's none of my business.

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  • Alex was doing everything in his power to provide her with all the experiences of a natural mother.

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  • In fact, at times she had been almost brutally clear that she was no longer interested in him.

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  • I'll be up in a few hours.

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  • Is Alex in the house?

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  • March came in like a lion with a snow storm.

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  • I'll be home in a few minutes.

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  • Reluctantly she pulled away, her pulse and respiration in a race.

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  • Jonathan came in as Carmen was setting the table.

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  • And so, if she couldn't have it in her head, she'd put it into his.

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  • In fact, maybe he didn't know her very well.

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  • She leaned back in his arms.

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  • I came in a charter helicopter.

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  • Felipa asked in a surprised tone.

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  • Carmen stopped washing the dish in her hand and stared at Mary in mute silence.

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  • When the kids were settled in their room, she turned on Alex.

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  • Apparently something had been discussed in her absence.

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  • All right, but I don't like being kept in the dark about all this.

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  • You can sit up, but you have to stay in there.

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  • There was a breath of danger in the very air, and every few moments the earth would shake violently.

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  • Alex told her to call him back if she didn't give birth in an hour.

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  • In fact, what she felt was pity.

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  • Take him along just in case.

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  • The muscles in her legs were contracting painfully.

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  • The roof beside them had a great hole smashed through it, and pieces of glass were lying scattered in every direction.

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  • I don't like him, she added in a tone admitting of no rejoinder and raising her eyebrows.

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  • She caught her breath and glanced at him in the mirror.

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  • He looked up in surprise.

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  • His tail was short and scraggly, and his harness had been broken in many places and fastened together again with cords and bits of wire.

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  • No one did, because the Mangaboos did not wear hats, and Zeb had lost his, somehow, in his flight through the air.

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  • And stop this necking before the kids come in.

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  • That might be true, but there was no point in working at becoming a spendthrift simply because he had money.

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  • I knew because I was in love with you.

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  • It wasn't in him to do that.

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  • Destiny clung to her neck, coughing and crying in turns.

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  • Carmen followed her gaze and was surprised to find Señor Medena standing in the doorway.

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  • She was cleaning the coffee pot and Alex was reclining in a chair at the table, enjoying the last cup of coffee.

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  • Even Mrs. Reynolds pitched in with some stuffed animals - a giraffe and horse.

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  • Carmen was making the bed while Destiny slept in.

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  • She gathered it in a hug and smelled deeply of it.

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  • It was wandering in circles and looking around.

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  • Next minute there was a roar and a sharp crash, and at her side Dorothy saw the ground open in a wide crack and then come together again.

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  • Yet, look where she would, Dorothy could discover no bells at all in the great glass hall.

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  • He held them in his hand, and showed them to the boy.

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  • A middle-aged man, handsome and virile, in the uniform of a retired naval officer, was speaking in one of the rooms, and a small crowd was pressing round him.

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  • I'll be in the kitchen... when you get decent.

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  • When Carmen's father died, she thought she was alone in the world, yet all these people had been there for her.

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  • On the other hand, the dream was in her head, not his.

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  • In business transactions Alex was frugal with his money, but when it came to his family, he was generous.

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  • In fact, that was a good way to make sure he didn't.

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  • And yet, there was something about her that suggested she was in uncharted waters - maybe body language.

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  • What's going on in that pretty head?

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  • In the sea of faces, she didn't see Alex.

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  • Señor Medena was the first boy in his family.

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  • This came in by currier a few minutes ago, sir.

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  • I should have shown it to you in private - prepared you for it.

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  • In a quiet room with no one looking on, she managed to get her emotions under control by focusing on Destiny.

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  • I think a few days cleaning in the stable would pay for it.

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  • Señor Medena leaned back in his chair, his attention lost in thought.

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  • Señor Medena was watching her again in that strange way, as if it truly mattered what she thought.

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  • You're the person he wanted to put in the house.

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  • In fact, at the party he had spent an unnecessary amount of time with the woman he almost married – and hadn't even introduced her.

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  • Alex wasn't interested in Dulce.

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  • He had a lot of friends in Texas.

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  • The national weather forecast on television was calling for light snow in Arkansas.

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  • She put a hand to her mouth and glanced around for something to be sick in.

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  • You'd better stay in out of the weather... and get some rest.

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  • Less than an hour after the phone call, Destiny woke up in a fit of coughing.

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  • The nurse put her down in the bed and covered her.

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  • The doctor will be in to talk to you in a few minutes.

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  • He would want to know, yet if he did, he might try to drive in on icy highways.

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  • She wanted to tell him how much she missed him - how much she wished he was there, but he might jump in the truck and travel dangerous highways.

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  • In the background she heard Alex ask him who he was talking to.

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  • Jonathan rarely asked for anything and the idea of having someone in the house playing music was appealing.

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  • In a way, it was hard to believe it had been that long.

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  • As April slipped into May and the last threat of frost passed, she began planting them in the garden.

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  • There, too, after a fit of temper, I went to find comfort and to hide my hot face in the cool leaves and grass.

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  • There is no play in them, for this comes after work.

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  • But then, he had reason - in his head - to believe it wasn't his.

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  • They should be doing an ultrasound in a couple of weeks.

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  • If you want something different, why don't you trade them in on something else?

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  • He had indicated enough times that he would like to see her in something a little more feminine and fashionable.

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  • I just didn't see any point in spending money on new clothes when my old ones still had a lot of wear in them.

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  • When they finally got on the plane, she and Jonathan had a window seat - Jonathan in front of her.

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  • Outside of this being her first trip in an airplane, the rest of the flight was uneventful.

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  • Felipa looked to be in her early twenties and had a sunshine smile that made Carmen feel welcome.

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  • Her dark shining hair was pulled back loosely with bejeweled combs and hung in loose curls down her back.

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  • Alex smiled down at him in a reassuring way.

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  • Felipa didn't seem to notice anything unusual in his attitude, so maybe he had always treated them that way.

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  • She searched his face for some indication of comprehension, eventually finding it only in his voice.

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  • It was impossible to know what was going on in Señor Medena's mind by observing his expression.

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  • For the remainder of the trip to the ranch, Alex remained in a good mood.

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  • The maroon tapestry mirrored highlights in the rich hardwood floor.

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  • His gaze sought Carmen and the sides of his mouth turned up in a warm smile.

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  • Actually, she hadn't thought how it looked to others - and there had never been any doubt in her mind that she was fortunate to have Alex.

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  • They danced for a few minutes in comfortable silence, and finally he spoke again.

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  • Dulce appeared at Carmen's side, dressed in a dark blue gown with a high collar.

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  • Mom used to say that people suspected in others what they had experienced or what they would do in the other person's shoes.

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  • Dulce remained in a sour mood, and left the group as soon as possible.

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  • His bittersweet chocolate gaze wandered over her face in search of something, or maybe he was digesting the information.

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  • He picked at a thread on the couch, his mind obviously lost in deep thought.

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  • There's nothing you can do about this and there's no point in burdening you with it.

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  • He'd been in a grumpy mood since he got up.

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  • Hopefully he would be in a better mood after they got back home.

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  • The Alex she met and fell in love with was confident and generally happy.

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  • She flipped the phone shut and put it back in the sheath.

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  • Choking down fear, she climbed inside and sat down in the luxurious leather seat.

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  • No wonder he was upset in the stair room.

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  • There was no reason for him to think his father might be romantically interested in her.

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  • Jonathan was in his room watching television.

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  • She found Felipa and Destiny in the dining room where they were having an ice cream snack.

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  • I have a roast in the oven.

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  • Someone knocked on the door and when she answered it, a man brought in their luggage.

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  • Señor Medena leaned back in his chair, watching Alex.

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  • In fact, it was ludicrous - but it still hurt.

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  • If his family had lived in the United States for centuries, why didn't they learn to speak proper English?

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  • Only his profile existed in her quest.

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  • His gaze wandered over her face in that familiar way.

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  • When the band came back Alondra and Felipa danced Flamenco in duet.

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  • In spite of the uncomfortable sleeping accommodations and the situation, she fell asleep almost instantly.

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  • Carmen found Alex relaxing in a chair next to the bed in their room.

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  • She dropped the picture in his lap and watched his reaction.

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  • If he wants to keep this estate in the family, he'll have to leave it to his daughters.

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  • Glancing in the mirror, he straightened his jacket and tucked the tie back down into his vest.

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  • Alex spoke to her reflection in the mirror.

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  • Marked on it in bold letters were the words "Baby A" and "Baby B".

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  • These babies might not be in her womb, but they did belong to Alex.

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  • With the photos in her hands, the fertilized eggs were a thing of the past.

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  • The ultra sound photo brought back a vivid memory of Alex watching the screen as the baby moved in her womb.

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  • Sitting her in her chair, she glanced around the table.

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  • After supper they all gathered in the room with the tree.

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  • Maybe some of it was soaking in.

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  • Maybe he was thinking about what his father would say or do when he came in.

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  • Besides, there was nothing to be gained in either case by saying anything – to either of you.

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  • In fact, he'd probably be horrified to know he slipped and did it now.

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  • That evening Alex and Dulce were standing in the entrance room.

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  • Dulce had hands on her hips, leaning slightly forward as she spoke to him in Spanish.

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  • Later that evening in their room Carmen asked him about the exchange.

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  • She let the conversation drop that night, but early the next morning Dulce caught him in the hallway and it was clear that she didn't think anything was settled.

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  • Alondra and Felipa were watching her intently, and even Señor Medena seemed to be interested in what their life was like at home.

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  • I lost track of time until Alex came along and revived my interest in the ranch.

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  • Sometimes Alex and Jonathan play soccer, and sometimes we all go for a ride in the buggy.

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  • Like Alex, it was impossible to guess what was going on in his mind by the expression on his face.

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  • He glanced up and smiled when she came in, his gaze drifting from her to the door.

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  • He might never say anything to Jonathan about it, but Jonathan would know in other ways how he felt.

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  • I am in the middle of it right now - only I don't know what I'm in the middle of.

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  • Señor Medena took her elbow in his hand and led her down the hall.

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  • She wasn't looking forward to being in the room with Alex right now - especially so with the children there to listen.

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  • Dulce lifted her head and managed to reclaim some semblance of pride in spite of the situation.

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  • In other words, when he shook himself free of his current family, he would come to Dulce.

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  • She silently folded them and put them in the suitcase while he watched.

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  • I wasn't the one who wanted to come here in the first place.

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  • She continued to pack in silence.

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  • There was no point in dredging up the past again.

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  • Then he turned away and rubbed the back of his neck in that way he did when he knew he was wrong but wasn't sure why.

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  • If Dulce hadn't chased him so hard, would he have fallen in love with her?

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  • Who could say what might have been if the smallest thing had been different in their lives?

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  • In fact, he must be struggling to float on the ocean of problems this family represented.

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  • With that in mind, she went downstairs to collect her valuables.

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  • Alex was lounging with one shoulder against the wall on the other side of the family room when Carmen walked in.

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  • Carmen smiled, basking in the warmth of his attention.

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  • By the time she finished bathing and dressing Destiny, Jonathan was in bed.

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  • In any case, there was nothing that couldn't wait to be discussed at home.

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  • They would be there tomorrow night, so there was no point in making the remaining vacation time unpleasant.

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  • Carmen and Destiny dressed mother/daughter style in red/green/yellow plaid blouses and hunter green jeans.

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  • Breakfast was a quiet meal, with Dulce absent and Señor Medena lost in thought.

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  • The morning passed in a pleasant way and soon it was time to leave.

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  • Señor Medena said goodbye to them at the house, but Alondra and Felipa rode with them in the Limousine to the airport.

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  • Alex was in a good mood and it was a pleasant trip - until Felipa made a comment about Tessa's visit the night before.

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  • In fact, maybe that was why Dulce didn't come to breakfast.

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  • That thought ushered in another.

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  • At his nod, she leaned back in her seat.

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  • Within a few minutes the plane was dipping and rising in a way that made her stomach roll uncomfortably.

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  • She fell asleep again and didn't wake until they reached NXA in Arkansas.

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  • Alex collected their luggage and had it loaded in the car.

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  • Alex sat up and leaned over her, speaking softy in a voice that was little more than a whisper.

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  • He slid an arm under her and gently took her hand in his, planting a warm moist kiss in the center of the palm.

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  • The humor in her eyes summoned the dimple under his eye and lifted his brows.

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  • Morino came in after Tessa left and Señor Medena left.

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  • I guess I'd wonder too, if I were in your shoes.

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  • In the darkness, Alex found her and pulled her into his arms.

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  • And if so, would they be able to fit three people comfortably in the front seat?

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  • In any case, Alex hadn't actually concealed his financial status.

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  • It was in his nature, and it was something that wasn't going to change.

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  • In fact, if she confronted him now and then, he might be more inclined to volunteer information before she found out about it.

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  • When Alex came home that evening, Jonathan was in his room painting and Destiny was topping off her nap.

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  • He sat down in a chair and methodically placed the cup on the table, his gaze fixed to it.

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  • He picked up the coffee cup and leaned back in his chair, eyeing her thoughtfully.

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  • It was neither good nor bad in her mind back then - it simply was.

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  • When we were in Texas, I got the feeling that Señor Medena loved Alex - that he was saddened by the way Alex rejected him.

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  • Why hadn't she thought of his comment in that context?

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  • In fact, I think Uncle Fabrice had him convinced that he couldn't sell a cheeseburger to a starving man.

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  • It seemed like hours in the emergency room before the diagnosis.

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  • Her eyes were large and imploring as she was wheeled down the hall to a room in the pediatric ward.

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  • They ate and then she put the remaining food in the refrigerator for Alex.

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  • We ate supper and put the rest in the refrigerator for you.

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  • Carmen dozed in the chair a few times off and on until about midnight.

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  • It was only two thirty in the afternoon, but she didn't want to go back to sleep.

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  • They have her in pull-ups now and she's not happy about that.

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  • No, if one of us has to get snowed in up here, I'd rather it was me.

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  • A few minutes later they came in and got Destiny to take her for more x-rays.

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  • A feeling of panic grew in her as she reached for the button to summons a nurse.

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  • A few minutes later the nurse came in.

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  • Carmen swallowed a lump in her throat and blinked tears from her eyes.

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  • Carmen handed Destiny the doll and she wrapped it in her arms.

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  • Every breath rattled, and she coughed in her sleep.

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  • Felipa waved a hand in dismissal.

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  • You should have seen her when he came in carrying a doll.

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  • I don't want to be in the middle of your feud.

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  • If he was in bed under the current circumstances, he must be sicker than he was letting on.

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  • He said Destiny's fever had broken and if she continued to improve, they would take the tent off her bed in a few days.

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  • After he recovered from the stabbing, the Doctor said he had scar tissue and would be susceptible to pneumonia in the injured lung.

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  • He's at home with Jonathan and he can't come in because Destiny might catch what he has.

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  • On the other hand, Alex needed to be in a position where he was forced to actually talk to his father.

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  • Eleven months earlier Alex had her bred to a handsome Appaloosa stud in Indiana - via AI.

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  • Alex was away on a call when she discovered Princess in labor.

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  • She started to put the pillow down and caught the movement in the mirror from the corner of her eye.

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  • They stood there for a moment, watching their image in the mirror.

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  • His gaze wandered away in reflective thought.

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  • The snow melted, leaving in its wake a harvest of spring flowers.

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  • Maybe it was therapeutic for him in some way.

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  • The plants she had started in the house in March thrived.

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  • When she was close enough to the house, she ran to the courtyard and slipped in through the back door.

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  • Once inside, she locked the door and ordered Destiny to stay in the house while she called Alex.

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  • It didn't take long for him to get home, and when he came in from the garage, he went directly to his gun cabinet and took out a rifle.

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  • Carmen waited until after the children were in bed before questioning him.

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  • It's nothing you want to be involved in, Carmen.

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  • Maybe she was right, and if Alex hadn't been such a perfect husband in every other way, she might have done it.

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  • She blinked to relieve the stinging in her eyes.

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  • If I would be in danger, then so would you.

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  • The only danger I'm in is financial.

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  • One word was missing in all that...

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  • There was no point in working herself up this way.

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  • It shouldn't be any surprise, since that was what suffered when he had been troubled in the past.

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  • Together they went to the kitchen and began putting the food in serving bowls.

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  • When Alex returned to the table, he sat in the chair Carmen held for him.

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  • He participated in conversation, but whenever it lagged, he watched her questioningly.

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  • She melted in his embrace, returning his hungry kiss.

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  • She gently broke the embrace and stepped away, smiling up at him in an inviting way.

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  • When she returned, he was absorbed in the paper.

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  • Carmen climbed off Alex's lap and took Destiny's soft little hand in hers.

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  • They moved around the room; her head on his shoulder, her hand in his.

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  • Carmen leaned back in his arms and smiled up at him.

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  • He was watching her, a wry smile on his face and an amused twinkle in his eyes.

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  • She relaxed in his arms, comfortable in surrendering to his lead.

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  • Their relationship was no longer swathed in innocence.

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  • Even Katie noticed the change in him and asked Carmen about the cause.

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  • He's always been secretive, and whenever I ask him, he just tells me it's something I don't want to be involved in.

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  • Those words stayed in her mind all afternoon.

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  • Carmen had assumed breast feeding would be a natural thing, but as Matthew lay fussing in her arms, it seemed a major obstacle.

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  • I think the milk is coming in.

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  • A lump formed in her throat and tears spilled from her eyes.

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  • In the weeks of natural stimulation, she had been the one who was embarrassed.

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  • It wasn't as if she was in the habit of discussing such things - especially with strangers.

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  • The nurse knocked on the door and then came in carrying a crying Natalie.

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  • Whatever the case, Natalie began suckling as soon as the nipple was in her mouth.

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  • It won't make any difference to you whether they are adopted or biological - not in how much you love them or how you treat them.

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  • Savor it and stash it in your memory for safekeeping.

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  • Later, in their room, Alex explained.

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  • Maybe that was how it was in any marriage.

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  • Sharing their problems was a step in the right direction.

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  • Alex paused at the door to their bedroom, a tray of coffee in his hands.

    3
    2
  • Carmen and Felipa were engrossed in feeding the twins.

    1
    0
  • Alex handed him the cream and sat down in his chair.

    1
    0
  • They sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes and then Señor Medena spoke.

    1
    0
  • You have your children in your home.

    1
    0
  • Well, for starters, I'd have had to compete with every other guy in school.

    1
    0
  • Her heart skipped a beat and then began to pound in her ears.

    1
    0
  • She sat down obediently in the chair and crossed her legs.

    1
    0
  • She glanced up at Howard, who immediately chimed in.

    1
    0
  • Spots flickered in her eyes as she leaned back.

    1
    0
  • Candy spilled across the coffee table and a glass bowl was shoved in front of her mouth.

    1
    0
  • Connie looked at her in the mirror.

    1
    0
  • Come on, let me in.

    1
    0
  • Only low brush could grow in so small a space... no trees to prevent a vehicle from plunging into the forested mountain ranges below and beyond.

    1
    0
  • The car remained solidly in place.

    1
    0
  • She tentatively lifted a foot into the front seat, and knew a moment of panic when her sandal heel caught in the hem of her dress.

    1
    0
  • Realization washed over her in alternating waves of pain and numbness.

    1
    0
  • She collected a handful of the material in modest protest.

    1
    0
  • Had her family known the same terror in their last moments of life?

    1
    0
  • She jumped up and gasped in horror as it slid forward.

    1
    0
  • She counted the seconds in tense silence, waiting for the sound of an explosion, but the only sound was a car approaching from below.

    1
    0
  • Glancing down at her sandaled feet, it occurred to her that she was hardly dressed for a walk in the woods.

    3
    2
  • His mouth twisted in that wry smile again.

    2
    1
  • He was a big man, in good condition.

    1
    0
  • Lisa stared in mute horror.

    1
    0
  • An unidentifiable expression lurked in his dark features as he nodded.

    1
    0
  • We'd better go in the back way or Mom will have my hide.

    1
    0
  • She had nearly run him down, slapped his face and taken him away from his work in less than twenty-four hours.

    1
    0
  • I guess I got in a hurry.

    2
    1
  • As if she hadn't been a burden in enough ways, now she had Mrs. Giddon upset with him.

    1
    0
  • Then his face engaged in a smile that created little wrinkles around his eyes and grooves in his cheeks.

    1
    0
  • Listen, I got a summer job in the Mountains as a sitter and it includes room and board.

    1
    0
  • She beat a hasty retreat down the hallway, and paused breathlessly in the middle of her bedroom.

    1
    0
  • There was no point in stalling now.

    2
    1
  • Snapping it open, she pulled out a dresser drawer and began tossing things in.

    1
    0
  • In such a hurry, she was bound to leave something behind that she would need later.

    1
    0
  • She unplugged it and tossed it in the bag.

    1
    0
  • Connie stared up at him in amazement.

    1
    0
  • Come in, Connie, and meet my new boss, Yancey Giddon.

    1
    0
  • It was Connie's turn to stare, and she did so in disbelief.

    1
    0
  • The only defense in that statement was honesty.

    1
    0
  • At noon he would come in from a path in the woods, eat and then return by the same path.

    1
    0
  • You know, I was brought up in these hills.

    1
    0
  • He reached out and took one of her curls in his big hand and studied it.

    1
    0
  • Her hair sparkled in the sunlight against the dark tan of his hand.

    1
    0
  • He dismounted in one graceful movement and started unsaddling Diablo.

    1
    0
  • After supper, they all spent their usual evening in the family room.

    1
    0
  • Giddon immediately became absorbed in a book, and Sarah worked on a sweater she was crocheting.

    1
    0
  • He seemed oblivious to anyone else in the house as he carried her down the hallway to her room.

    1
    0
  • That night, for the first time in more than a week, she tossed and turned in the bed, her sleep interrupted by memories of her family.

    1
    0
  • Your breakfast is in the microwave.

    1
    0
  • His bloodshot gaze wandered over her figure in a way that made her regret leaving her beach robe in the house.

    1
    0
  • The shear lust in them left her wishing he had looked elsewhere.

    1
    0
  • Anyway, I saw your boss in town, so I figured you were alone.

    2
    1
  • If Giddon and Sarah were both in town, then she was alone.

    1
    0
  • He glanced around the pool and lifted his upper lip in disdain.

    1
    0
  • He towered over them both, the muscles in his arms and shoulders straining against his shirt as he hooked his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans.

    1
    0
  • She sucked in a quick breath and met his gaze steadily.

    1
    0
  • Lisa stared at Allen in disbelief.

    1
    0
  • He studied his cup of coffee, swishing the liquid around in it absently.

    1
    0
  • I'm sorry I was rude to you, and I know it's not your fault you look so good in that suit.

    1
    0
  • He dumped the rest of his coffee in the sink and left the room.

    1
    0
  • From now on, she would be sure she had her beach robe by the pool when she swam, just in case someone came by... especially Giddon.

    1
    0
  • Two hundred years ago there lived in Boston a little boy whose name was Benjamin Franklin.

    16
    15
  • But the five phenomena I chose to tackle in this book are among the great blights on humanity that I believe the Internet and technology will help solve.

    14
    13
  • But in the excitement of carrying me to church my father lost the name on the way, very naturally, since it was one in which he had declined to have a part.

    5
    4
  • He leaned back in his chair, observing Alex over the rim.

    0
    0
  • I wish it to be so with all who live in my home.

    0
    0
  • Señor Medena leaned forward, cradling the cup of coffee in both hands.

    0
    0
  • He didn't succeed in gaining custody.

    0
    0
  • In spite of the continual struggle for custody, he had felt more welcome at the Medena home than he had with his step-father's family.

    0
    0
  • Señor Medena was looking at him in a strange way.

    0
    0
  • Lightening flashed in the east and thunder rumbled a posthumous threat.

    0
    0
  • In the ensuing darkness, red and blue lights flashed his shadow on the wet grass.

    0
    0
  • The train crouched silent on the tracks in a feline pose, as if hovering over a kill.

    0
    0
  • I graduated two years ahead of her and didn't keep in touch.

    0
    0
  • A person could change a lot in a few years, especially when they were that young.

    0
    0
  • Lathum waved a hand in dismissal, his mind already firmly entrenched in another project.

    0
    0
  • He walked away with his clipboard in hand, barking some orders at another officer.

    0
    0
  • He'd like to believe in good and the happy-ever-after, but that innocence could never be retrieved.

    0
    0
  • In the hilly city of Fayetteville, that was a threat during any heavy rain.

    0
    0
  • Hopefully her family would be in the restaurant now – safe from any flooding on the highway.

    0
    0
  • In those last moments when it was too late, she had decided to go with them.

    0
    0
  • Dad was in a hurry to beat the storm, so she had said nothing as the car backed out of the drive.

    0
    0
  • Only Nick noticed her standing in the door.

    0
    0
  • It was a moment that lay in her stomach like a week-long hunger, regardless of the fact that they had been gone only minutes.

    0
    0
  • In spite of what Allen thought, no incriminating words had crossed her lips.

    0
    0
  • He had enough alcohol in his veins to believe he could drive, and too much pride to leave the party in the passenger seat.

    0
    0
  • The minute Howard had arrived; Allen was in his face, accusing him of stealing his girl.

    0
    0
  • In the week before his arrest, her attention had shifted to her siblings, Nick and Angela.

    0
    0
  • They would all get together and wash her old car, winding up in a gleeful water fight.

    0
    0
  • No one in her family ever questioned her innocence.

    0
    0
  • Still, that nagging feeling in her stomach didn't go away.

    0
    0
  • Maybe Nick and Angela would like to go with her to visit the old place in the mountains after she graduated.

    0
    0
  • A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax.

    0
    0
  • He was still in jail.

    0
    0
  • May we come in?

    0
    0
  • Instinctively her fingers affirmed her hair was in order for the mug shot.

    0
    0
  • Codes mingled with names and addresses in a request for medical assistance.

    0
    0
  • Somewhere in the back of her mind Lisa knew it felt good.

    0
    0
  • When Len walked in, she was on her knees, clinging to the stool.

    0
    0
  • He glanced up briefly as Connie walked in.

    0
    0
  • In fact, now she felt nothing.

    0
    0
  • They hadn't seen her in church for a while and they were worried about her.

    0
    0
  • Lisa was making the beds one morning and Connie was in the bathroom brushing her teeth.

    0
    0
  • I'm going back to the old place in the mountains.

    0
    0
  • I know you've been preoccupied, but everyone else has noticed his interest in you.

    0
    0
  • Connie threw her hands up in defeat.

    0
    0
  • She sat up and reached for her robe, wondering who might be visiting at this time in the morning.

    0
    0
  • Well, are you going to let me in?

    0
    0
  • For the last time, Howard isn't interested in me.

    0
    0
  • If you put me in jail again, when I get out there won't be a safe place for you.

    0
    0
  • In the garage, she paused at the old car.

    0
    0
  • She should be looking for a replacement vehicle, but having another car in the garage would only be a reminder that there was no one left to drive it.

    0
    0
  • Dropping the bag in the back seat, she sank into the driver's seat.

    0
    0
  • As she passed a neighbor boy, he waved at her, his two missing front teeth displayed in a sweet smile.

    0
    0
  • In every brunette she saw Angela and Mom.

    0
    0
  • In every mirror, dust obliterated her past.

    0
    0
  • The radio channel played nonsensical songs from the 60's in a barely successful mission to lift her spirits.

    0
    0
  • Wildlife hid behind that wall of green, but it was too late in the day for them to be hopping out on the road.

    0
    0
  • The evening sun made eerie shapes in the forested landscape.

    0
    0
  • In fact she had avoided - even pushed away those who might want to claim close friendship.

    0
    0
  • Acquaintances were shallow and many, but if a person had one true friend in a lifetime, they were blessed.

    0
    0
  • The car spun around at the bottom of the hill, spraying gravel in a wild circle.

    0
    0
  • The car made one more circle in the road and then lunged at the cliff.

    0
    0
  • In fact, she had spent the last two weeks wallowing in self-pity.

    0
    0
  • Possibly in answer to her prayers, the front of the car climbed into the air.

    0
    0
  • There was no point in telling him she had intended to sleep in the car.

    0
    0
  • Her fingers found the door handle - just in case.

    0
    0
  • You're in a fix.

    0
    0
  • Not even a path had existed here when she lived in the area five years ago.

    0
    0
  • The long drive detoured around several large oak trees before it ended in a circle.

    0
    0
  • A gray brick house dominated the landscape, its ranch style sprawling in a U shape with a garage on one end.

    0
    0
  • In the middle of the circle was a large teardrop-shaped flower garden.

    0
    0
  • Never would she have guessed such a lavish home existed in these rustic mountains.

    0
    0
  • Mom is fixing supper and I'm sure she has something you can wear in the morning.

    0
    0
  • She stared up at him in amazement as she absorbed his offhanded invitation.

    0
    0
  • He released her hand, but his eyes still held hers in a hypnotic trance that made her think of Dracula.

    0
    0
  • Her large brown eyes took in Lisa with surprise and she threw her son a questioning look.

    0
    0
  • I'll take her over in the morning to get her stuff out of the car.

    0
    0
  • Oh my, you're fortunate the car didn't go over the edge with you in it!

    0
    0
  • It's a long way to drive from Fayetteville, and then they'd have to bring you back in the morning.

    0
    0
  • And her house keys were in the car.

    0
    0
  • I haven't had any female company in months.

    0
    0
  • I be in fust gwade tomowow.

    0
    0
  • He picked up a newspaper and snapped it open, his attention instantly captured by something he found in its crinkled pages.

    0
    0
  • It ached in places there couldn't be muscles.

    0
    0
  • It had been in all the local papers, but she wasn't sure she could talk about it without getting emotional.

    0
    0
  • So you threw your clothes in a suitcase and ran away.

    0
    0
  • You said you lived in Fayetteville...

    0
    0
  • Again she saw Nick's face in the car window.

    0
    0
  • I'll lend you one of my night gowns and find some clothes for you to wear in the morning.

    0
    0
  • Lisa showered and crawled into the single bed in the guestroom.

    0
    0
  • She dressed hurriedly in the clothes Sarah had loaned her and ran fingers through her hair, wishing she had a comb.

    0
    0
  • She ate in silence, wondering how she could manage the hike to the car.

    0
    0
  • She had grown soft in five years of city life.

    0
    0
  • Giddon was silent, giving all his attention to his food, but Tammy watched Lisa with interest, twirling her fork in her eggs and squirming in her chair.

    0
    0
  • I think I'll work in the garden for a while, after I get my chores done.

    0
    0
  • The hostility in his voice and expression was unnerving.

    0
    0
  • He's a big horse, but I couldn't make him carry the two of us in that terrain.

    0
    0
  • Again she had allowed herself to be put in a precarious situation.

    0
    0
  • He could easily overpower her in a struggle or outlast her in a chase.

    0
    0
  • Far from the grouchy expression he had put on at the beginning of the ride, now his eyes flashed with humor, and his lips were twisted in a friendly smile.

    0
    0
  • By the time they reached the spot, the deer had vanished in the trees.

    0
    0
  • It was always exciting in an alarming way.

    0
    0
  • Like an Avon notice on a doorknob, the tracks in the mud were proof of an unobserved visit.

    0
    0
  • Chancing a glance at his face, she found him watching her in a strange way.

    0
    0
  • The battery in the lantern might be dead or the fall might have broken it.

    0
    0
  • He grabbed her arm, pulling her in another direction.

    0
    0
  • In fact, he was under no obligation to help her get back, either.

    0
    0
  • It felt good to be off her feet, even if only momentarily and in such a manner.

    0
    0
  • Better would be a long time coming, but she felt more in control of her emotions.

    0
    0
  • He was no gentleman, and she'd best keep that in mind.

    0
    0
  • In the end, there was no choice.

    0
    0
  • He started the engine and she clamped her arms around him, clinging to him as he spun the tires in a spray of pebbles and rocks.

    0
    0
  • She knocked his hand away and headed for the house in a stiff jointed hobble.

    0
    0
  • There was no point in arguing the issue.

    0
    0
  • In the shower, she lifted her face to the warm water.

    0
    0
  • The braids had to be untangled in order to shampoo the mud from her hair.

    0
    0
  • It was a strange feeling to realize she had been in a cocoon for weeks.

    0
    0
  • The auto charger was in the car, but she had a plug-in type at home.

    0
    0
  • I haven't been so entertained in years.

    0
    0
  • I promise to drop in and see you the very next time I'm up this way.

    0
    0
  • Make sure that is sometime in the near future.

    0
    0
  • In fact, Giddon was actually pleasant and entertaining.

    0
    0
  • When they reached the house, she invited him in for a cup of coffee.

    0
    0
  • She had some money tucked away in a cookie jar in the kitchen and she intended to pay him something, whether he liked it or not.

    0
    0
  • She glanced at the photo in his hand.

    0
    0
  • I've received too much sympathy in the last few weeks.

    0
    0
  • He shrugged, returning his attention to the coffee in his cup.

    0
    0
  • He swirled the coffee in his cup and lifted that piercing gaze to her face.

    0
    0
  • Living in that house and using the pool would be like a summer vacation, not a job.

    0
    0
  • It wasn't as if she had any part in becoming that way, nor did it make her a better person.

    0
    0
  • She met his regard with equal composer, in spite of the fact that the conversation was beginning to make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

    0
    0
  • She dropped her glass in the sink and took a step backward.

    0
    0
  • If he was going to start throwing things, she had no intention of staying there in the kitchen alone with him.

    0
    0
  • He slung the dishtowel over his shoulder and one long step brought him to a point where she was pinned in the corner of the counter.

    0
    0
  • He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her roughly against him and kissed her lips in a demanding way that roused more anger than anything else.

    0
    0
  • Outside of his remark about her swimsuit, and the two kisses he had forced on her, he had shown no special interest in her.

    0
    0
  • She was the maid, the baby sitter - nothing else in his eyes.

    0
    0
  • And most important of all, was she or Giddon's family in any danger?

    0
    0
  • She smiled and waved a hand in dismissal.

    0
    0
  • She stayed in the brush beside the trail, as she had done in her dream.

    0
    0
  • Giddon was carrying a wooden box, which he carefully placed in the trunk.

    0
    0
  • Giddon went back into the building and Lisa made her way through the darkening woods to the spot in the drive where she had entered.

    0
    0
  • Was Giddon involved in a drug ring?

    0
    0
  • Why else would he be so concerned about her excursions in the woods?

    0
    0
  • She swallowed down a lump in her throat.

    0
    0
  • I saw some flowers in the woods and went to look at them.

    0
    0
  • If only she could believe he wasn't involved in anything illegal.

    0
    0
  • Besides, her lack of response in the past had been far more effective.

    0
    0
  • What was it about him that she responded to in spite of what she knew about him?

    0
    0
  • There was little point in denying her attraction, but he'd best learn to keep his distance.

    0
    0
  • I don't believe in fraternizing with the boss.

    0
    0
  • He shook his head in surrender, and his voice softened.

    0
    0