Page 65 of Dangerous Encore

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4

Joel

Bella is on the balcony,wrapped in ablanket.

She's bringing a mug of tea toherlips.

It's possible she's enjoying a peaceful morning, watching the wavesrollin.

But given all that tension in her shoulders lastnight…

I brush myteeth.

I pull on jeans and a t-shirt.

I fill the coffee maker with grounds and turniton.

She's still out there, looking forsomething.

I need inherhead.

I need to know what she'sthinking.

But I'mpatient.

Okay, that'sbullshit.

But I can get there.Forher.

I force myself to wait until the carafeisfull.

I fixamug.

I takeasip.

She's still sitting there, staring atthesky.

Okay, fuckpatience.

I need to know what's going throughhermind.

Before her dadgetshere.

That doesn't leavemuchtime.

I cross the room. My footsteps slow as I get closer to thebalcony.

Gently, I knock on the balcony's sliding glassdoor. "Hey."

"Hey." She turns toward me. Her brown eyes boreintomine.

She's asking forsomething.

But I'm not sure whatitis.

I pull the door open and take the chair nexttohers.

She brings her drink to her lips and takes a slow sip. Her eyes stay on the crashing waves. "This really is abeautifulview."

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