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he strode to her, ready to take the bull by the horns. He knelt in front of her, looking into her eyes the whole time, and reached around to the clasp of her bra. After releasing it, he smiled up into her eyes, hidden in shadow so he couldn’t read them, and slid the straps from her silky shoulders, refusing to give in to the temptation to gaze on what he knew were perfect breasts. He held up the nightgown and helped her slip her arms into it then drew it carefully over her head and smoothed it into place.
    “Thank you, Ash.”
    “You’re welcome. Come on, brush your teeth and get yourself ready for bed. I’ll get you a glass of water. I’ll bet you’re thirsty, aren’t you?”
    “Yes…I am. Thank you,” she murmured as he helped her to the bathroom.
    Ash found her kitchen and came back to the bedroom with a glass of water. After placing it on her night stand, he pulled her covers back and waited for her to return from the bathroom.
    Helping her remove the robe, Ash did his best not to notice the tight nipples that peaked the silken fabric of her nightgown, or the fact that sheer lace slashed across both hips and the torso of the gown.
    This is what she sleeps in at night? Damn!
    He sat down on the bed with her and handed her the glass of water. After draining it, she laid back carefully, flinching as she tried to get comfortable. She wound up turning on her side so that she faced him, and he helped her prop her wrist up on a pillow. When she was finally settled, he brushed a fingertip over her cheekbone.
    “When was the last time you took a vacation or a day off?”
    After a long pause, she replied, “I can’t remember. The store has sort of become my life.”
    “I thought as much. How many hours are you working per week?”
    He didn’t want her to feel cornered, but he felt compelled to ask.
    42

    “Long hours, Ash. I work retail management. I’m there when we open and when we close.”
    “How many? Give me an estimate.”
    She frowned and sighed. “I’m usually there about eighty hours a week. I’ve gotten used to it. My friends always know where to find me, and many of my employees are like family to me.”
    He had a feeling she was making the excuse to herself as much as she was to him. He didn’t speak for fear of coming across as judgmental. Eighty hours a week explained a lot. Evelyn had mentioned she was overtired and oversensitive, and now he could see why.
    “Technically, I was off today. And I take off a couple of hours on Sunday to go to church and have lunch with friends. I still have time here and there for things like that during the week.”
    “Here and there? You worked hard all day today, until you got hurt, so today cannot be counted as a day off.”
    “I know. I’ll take the day off tomorrow…or at least the morning.”
    “You have a second in command, don’t you?”
    “Yeah, Leah Woodworth.”
    “Good. Evelyn said she and Leah would cover for you tomorrow.
    You should take off the whole day. How are you sleeping at night?”
    “I sleep fine, but I tend to be a night owl.”
    “Meaning what? What’s your bedtime?”
    “After I’ve read for a while, usually around midnight, sometimes later. It takes me a while to wind down.”
    He stroked her cheekbone with his fingertips. “You’re worn out, aren’t you, darlin’?”
    She nodded in agreement.
    “No wonder you’re out of sorts. You’re dead on your feet. It’s eleven o’clock right now. I’ll let Angel know I’m staying here tonight to watch over you and help you in the morning. I’ll fix you breakfast, too.”

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    “You don’t have to do that,” she murmured, rubbing her cheek against his palm. He could tell she was already drifting into slumber.
    “It’ll ease my mind. Besides, the doctor said you were not to be left alone because you’d hit your head so hard.”
    “Marshmallow,” she whispered.
    “What?”
    She smiled sleepily. “You look like a big, tough cowboy on the outside, but you’re