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feeling upbeat and happy and couldn’t resist going out to speak with him.
    *****
    Tim came out with Griffin close behind. He tossed a look over at her house and paused, seeing Kassie standing at her door looking at him. She had changed into a gauzy pink dress and black sandals. In the year that she’d been living there, her hair had grown longer and she wore it pulled back from her face tonight and draped over one shoulder. She was so pretty and for once not looking at him like something that was stuck to the bottom of her shoe.
    She walked down the steps and over the grass to the fence that separated their property. Tim sighed hard and walked over, bracing himself . . . for what, he didn’t know.
    “Hi.” She smiled at him hesitantly.
    “Hi.” Tim said softly, but he was really thinking; ‘Holy shit, she’s smiling at me!’
    “I’m uh, I’m having a party.” She said.
    “I know.” He said. “I’ll keep Griff out of your yard.”
    “Thanks.” 
    Kassie lowered her eyes and heard Griffin whine at her through the fence. She looked at him and laughed when he put his little paws up on the fence, seeking her attention. She gave him what he wanted scratching the dog’s head, and crooning softly to him. Tim watched his shameless dog and suddenly felt jealous.
    “I hope that the music doesn’t disturb you, if it does just let me know. Or if you want, you can drop over for a beer and some food.” Kassie couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. She was definitely losing it tonight. Had she really just invited the man to her house?
    “I’m on my way out.” Shit! What the hell did you do that for numb nuts!
    “Oh.” Her voice betrayed her disappointment a little. He picked it up instantly and regret sliced through his gut because he knew she was thinking he was going out with some woman. She had to have seen his parade of women. 
    The truth was he wasn’t going to see her. Krista Lopez was a “booty call” as Brick liked to say and an escort for his functions. Besides, he wasn’t really feeling her the way she felt him. He wasn’t looking for a wife; been there, done that as far as he was concerned, and she definitely hinted at wanting a husband. Truly, she was a great person and a lot of fun but Tim had been thinking of a way to break things off without hurting her.
    “Yeah.” He continued the lie, cringing inside.
    Kassie nodded and lowered her head again. They stood silent for a moment.
    “M, my purse,” She stammered, filling the silence. She sighed and looked at him, “When I came that day to look at the house and you spoke to me,”
    She looked down at her wringing hands, not realizing that she was doing wringing them together and Tim knew it cost her a lot to be saying this, “What I did . . . clutching my purse like you were some kind of thug; it was insulting and wrong. I, I’m sorry.”
    He looked at her, admiring the strength it took her to admit her mistakes and simply said, “It’s forgotten.” 
    Kassie looked up into his eyes. He really was very handsome in a geeky sort of way and the more she stayed here looking into his beautiful eyes, the more she felt herself imagining how good kissing him would feel.
    ‘ Dangerous thoughts girlfriend!’ Kassie chastised herself. But they were wild inside of her and had been for a year now.
    They held each other’s gaze. The urge to share a kiss filled them both. That was until the black sports car sped past the house, parking in the empty spot at the corner. He knew who it was. It was the ass she had been carrying on with for weeks now and he felt a surge of jealousy shoot through his gut.
    “Saved by the bell, huh?” Tim said with spite in his tone. A lost expression crossed her face as he turned and walked away with Griffin trailing him, looking back at Kassie with a soft wag in his tail. Kassie watched him as he opened his car door for the dog letting him hop in the back. His eyes never returned to her which made the