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.Go because while we ve had a great afternoon, we both think it s time tosay good night. The haunted expression in his eyes faded, though a darkness still hovered near.Now hisexpression looked more like unresolved desire than the urge to kill someone.Matt stepped backwithout another word.He left, the door clicking firmly behind him.Hope lifted her fingers to her mouth to trap the lingering heat from his kisses.All her goodintentions had been tossed away in a moment, but she couldn t regret it.Whatever she had done they d both have to live with the consequences.But for now? She wasgoing to hide away for a while. Chapter NineHe didn t want to go home.The temptation to hit the bottle and wipe away the confusion by fadinginto oblivion was too high.The previous year when Helen had left he d spent a couple solid weeksdrinking himself into a stupor every night before his brothers had intervened and talked him out of thatstupidity.The cheerful chaos of his parents definitely not what he needed right now either.Not with thesimmering undertones of sexual need still buzzing through him.What the hell had she kissed him for? Matt drove the mostly deserted main street of town, shiftingthrough everything he d seen and felt that day.He headed down the road toward one of the residential subdivisions, just on the off-chance.Lightsglowed through the windows of Daniel and Beth s house, and Matt hesitated only for a minute beforeturning into the driveway and parking in the back beside the garage.He d never been in this position before, so it was time to do what he knew was right.Go to family.Daniel met him at the door before he even knocked.There was music playing quietly in thebackground, but other than that it was a far more hushed house than he usually was welcomed into. You duct tape the boys to their beds? Beth s bright smile poked around the corner. We left them behind at Gramma and Grampa s. Shit.Now he was interrupting his brother s private time with his wife. Sorry.I ll go Daniel s hand landed on his shoulder and pulled him farther into the house. No running away.Come on, we didn t get much chance to talk during dinner.Have a visit for a bit.The boys are gonefor a couple nights. This was about the most awkward thing, made worse when he spotted two drinks on the coffeetable, firelight shining from the fireplace. Daniel, it s fine.Just let me call you later. Daniel blocked him. Stay. Beth paused in the door. You want a drink? And if you want to talk with Daniel alone I don tmind, really. Great, now I m not only interrupting your privacy, I m kicking you out of the room. She s not going to complain if she gets to soak in the tub for an hour without anyone banging onthe door. Daniel s slow perusal of his wife shot another round of daggers into Matt.Either heneeded to talk this through or get the hell out of the room and suffer alone.By the time Matt had grabbed a drink and settled on the couch, Beth had vanished, accompanied bya content smile and a full wine glass. She really doesn t mind, you know. Daniel lifted the footrest of the recliner and eased himselfback more comfortably. Time of peace and quiet without the boys isn t that hard to come by with ourfolks chomping at the bit to pull grandparent duty, especially during the holidays. Matt nodded, then suddenly found himself tongue-tied.He snorted. So after all that, I m not surewhat I want to say. Daniel stared at the fire for a minute. You were quiet during dinner. Yeah. Lot on your plate these days? Right, with these temperatures? You know there s more navel-gazing going on than anything elseuntil lambing fully kicks in. Matt paused. I went and saw Hope this afternoon. Surprise flashed onto his brother s face. Really? Why? That s& hell if I know. Matt collapsed on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Am I some kind ofmasochist? The one woman in town I should avoid at all costs and I end up on her doorstep. Now you ve got me confused.You spent the afternoon with her, but you re not sure why? Whatdid you do over there? Matt opened his mouth then laughed. We made a quilt top, or at least set up the fixings of one. A quilt& Daniel smiled at him, the type of smile that edged over into something that lookedsuspiciously like amusement. Can I ask a specific question, since you don t seem to want to confessyou came over for any reason other than to shoot the breeze? Why is Hope the one woman in town youshould avoid? Don t be stupid. Matt shook his head. Hope Meridan? Helen s sister? I know the connection.But the woman you spent the afternoon with was Hope, not Helen. She called, by the way. Helen called? You? Hope s apartment.I answered the goddamn phone. Jesus, you don t do anything the easy way, do you? Matt shook his head.The fire crackled with aloud explosive pop before Daniel spoke again. Helen wasn t the woman for you. Nailed that in one. But Matt, you spent years thinking you two would be together.You worked at that relationshipwith crazy dedication. Crazy is right considering she never really wanted what I wanted. No.She didn t. Daniel pulled himself upright. But she s gone
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