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.” Jose had yet to actually talk to his dad, preferring to do that in person.He knew he was procrastinating, but his dad never failed to mention his moving back home, and Jose never failed to feel guilty.With Redfoot hurt, his guilt would reach new heights.“I’m glad he’s okay.I’m sure Sky is going to catch the bastard.”Jose pressed a hand to his throbbing temple.“Yeah, that’s Sky for you.”“Did you hear about Jessie getting shot?” Ramon asked.“You know Sal and she got married last year.He’s crazy about her, too.I know he’s in a world of hurt right now.”Jose remembered her.She’d always been vibrant.“Didn’t know they got married, but I heard about the shooting.I hope she’s okay.”“Me, too.I just can’t believe this shit is happening here.Did you bring some of that big-city crime with you?”“I hope not.” Jose’s mind shifted gears, and he wondered about the blonde with Sky.Who was she? He’d made a complete jackass of himself in front of her.Reaching up, he touched his nose.Damn, she could kick.“Hey, is Sky seeing anyone?” he asked.“He was here this morning with a blonde.”Ramon’s laugh spilled out of the phone receiver.“Funny you ask.My sister dropped by this morning with a wild-ass story about him staying at Sal’s hotel with the tourism specialist that’s in town—the one Redfoot claims is his soul mate.Not that I blame Sky for going after her.She’s wet-dream material.I saw her at the powwow.She brought her camera in and took a picture, and Sky yanked it right out of her hands.Then, damn it, he goes and gets lucky with her!”“Sky’s soul mate?” Jose scoffed.“He beds and leaves ’em.”“Yeah.Though from what my sister said, he’s got a problem with the bedding part.Supposedly he was talking to the blonde about erectile dysfunction.”“Sky?” Jose chuckled.Was it terrible of him to take pleasure in the almighty Police Chief Gomez having trouble getting it up? Yeah, it was terrible, but it soothed his ego just a bit.“Yeah, Sky.But you know how those rumors go.It probably doesn’t have a lick of truth.Next we’ll hear he’s into cross-dressing.”No, that will be me, Jose thought dispiritedly.“Hey, Jimmy’s here.I’ll be over there in about ten minutes.”Jose hung up the phone and went to collect Maria’s robe to toss in the washer.It was the least he could do.But when he walked by her room, he stopped and stared at the bed.He recalled how she’d looked last night: soft, sexy, unchanged.But no.She had changed.She used to look at him with so much affection.Damn it, he still loved her.Was she serious about this new guy? Did he stand a chance of winning her back? Hell, was winning her back even the right thing? Had two years changed anything? Was she still determined to stay in Precious? He was still determined to leave.Wasn’t he?Sky, his heart swimming in guilt, entered the elevator with Shala.How in God’s name had he forgotten her issue with hospitals? Sure, he had a hundred things on his mind, but if anyone could understand how difficult this was for her, it was him.To this day, the smell of smoke turned him inside out.The doors to the elevator closed and low classical music filled the space.He recalled seeing Shala sitting there in that chair, apart from everyone else, and again he’d been hit by her vulnerability—and by his need to make it disappear.He gave her good hand a squeeze, hoping she understood she wasn’t alone.“Seriously, I’m sorry.I should have remembered.”She stepped in front of him and rested her hand on his chest.The touch, completely innocent, sparked a sensation that bordered on pain.“You don’t have to do this.You can stay with your friends.I’m doing okay.I’m dealing with it.”Without thinking, he cupped the back of her head and brought his mouth to hers.They’d barely touched lips when she tilted her head back.Her big blue eyes blinked up at him.“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”“It seemed like a good idea to me,” he said, aware that her hand remained on his chest.The pain had faded, and now the touch was simply warm, comforting, and he found himself wishing that he could feel her fingers on his skin.She shook her head.“I could name ten reasons why it’s a bad idea
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