Page 82 of Mr. Dangerous

It was one of our other, precious commercial clients— a dentist's office— calling to cancel their services. The receptionist wouldn't tell me anythingaboutwhy.

"Well, then I'll find somewhere else to get my teeth cleaned," I said to the phone. After shehungup.

Which reminded me of something. The whole Papadopolous family had always gone to that dentist's office, for as long as I could remember. Mom had recommended them to some of their customers. Like the Delaney family. It used to strike me as funny that my world and Rob's were so different, but that we had the same homework assignments and saw the sameorthodontist.

Someone's family, though, had a hell of a lot more clout in the neighborhood thanminedid.

"What are you thinking?" Alice promptedagain.

"It's too ridiculous to accuse anyone of.” I leaned forward and patted her knee. "I'm going to keep my wild accusations to myself and see whathappens."

"If there's anyone you can be wild with— besides Rob— you can share your wild accusationswithme."

"I know. I don't want to say it out loud in case I'm wrong. It'sawful."

Rob stepped into the doorway, his hands in his pockets, and my heart rose the willful way it always did when Isawhim.

"Hey Naomi," he said. "Can Iborrowyou?"

Alice raised her eyebrows, and he said to her, "I need your sister in a professionalcapacity."

"What did you break?" I teased as I stood, expecting that he needed help preparing for his brothers that were coming in, or to move Mitch back to the house as Liam hadsuggested.

"I haven't broken anything yet," he said. "But Ineedto."

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