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"You’re funny," I finally et back to strategy, please?"

I swear Cam’s smile could be seen from outer space "You’re adorable when you’re eo to the oven, peering in like I ht find a cure for my mortification inside But there’s only the shepherd’s pie, which I i at ht, olden rule--is er, the better But there are lots of subrules to this one They all involve the art of parsin’ yourself out"

"That sounds disturbingly prostitutional"

"Think of it like you’re leavin’ a trail of crumbs Small, delicious Joellen cruh to heighten his hunger but never enough to satisfy it"

I go back to the table and sit, starting to feel dejected "This is all very co in the world, darlin’ It’s called seduction, and it’s a game where everyone wins" After a h for?"

"Everything would be so much easier if it could just be like it is with us"

Cahly, "You mean if you could just be friends"

I’m not sure what I mean, because I’ve surprised myself with that statement It was unplanned, but I have to admit it’s true I don’t have to think when I’ to impress hiht

"What?"

I look at Caenius "I’ll pretend he’s you!"

Caht in his chair, and the cat juain?"

"Like you told me to do e kissed--pretend you were hiaze steady on mine

I open my mouth to answer the obvious yes But the word dies on my lips because the obvious answer isn’t the real answer It isn’t the truth

Both tiht of Michael

I andto shake "Um"

"Go ahead," says Cam softly "Lie to me"

We stare at each other, andnonsense and stops dead in s, I almost faint

Cam moves first He strides over to the phone, picks up the receiver, then brings it toas I lift it to my ear

I know he sees how my hand shakes I know he sees the color inhas beco over my face as I squeak into the phone, "Hello?"

"Joellen It’s Michael"

Of course it is The universe is having way too much fun at my expense

"Oh Hello, Michael"

Cam and I stand a foot apart, our eyes locked My blood feels like fire

"Is now a good time for us to talk?"

"Actually, Michael"--I s--"I have coht lean toward me that doesn’t involve his feet

"Company?" Michael’s voice is sharp in my ear Too sharp

In a turn of events I never would have predicted, and would have scoffed at anyone who dared to suggest, I’htening my shoulders "Company I’ll have to call you back"

Michael sounds irritated with me, too, but tries to cover it with polite words "Of course I’ht Call me anytime"

"Will do Thanks"