But McCloud hadn’t been the one to do the kicking. In any case, there was no real reason not to tell her. No harm in it, anyway, and then maybe once he told her she would leave him alone and go about her business. Which apparently in her case meant sticking that very pretty nose of hers into other people’s lives.

As long as it wasn’t his.

He took a chance, shrugging as if it meant absolutely nothing instead of being an incredible coincidence. “It’s just that Next Year, Paris is my aunt’s favorite movie.”

Lance wouldn’t have admitted that if it weren’t true, Melanie thought. Well, well, well. Pleasure poured like rich red wine all through her. “No kidding.”

He saw her eyes light up like a child’s at Christmas. Why? Bess didn’t mean anything to her. She didn’t even know Bess.

“No kidding,” he echoed.

Lance ushered them out of his office and down the short corridor, very aware that he was garnering looks of unabashed admiration and envy because of his traveling companion. If only they knew. The woman brought new meaning to the term Superglue. He’d be more than glad to stick her onto any one of them and get on with his work.

Melanie smiled to herself at his assurance. “No, I don’t suppose you know how to do that...kid,” she elaborated and ignored the black look from him that followed. He was edging away from her. She took pity on him and began to cut him loose. “Well, you’ll have to make a point of stopping by the shop around Christmas. I have a still from the movie autographed by Elliot Anderson. If she’s a fan of the movie, I think she’d like to have that.”

Bess wouldn’t just like it, she’d love it. Lance paused despite himself. Very slowly he blew out a breath, knowing he was going to hate himself for what he was about to say. But this wasn’t about him, it was about Bess.

“She has a birthday coming up.”

He cared enough about his aunt to make an effort to give her a gift that meant something. The thought warmed Melanie. She was right. He wasn’t nearly the bear he wanted her to think he was.

“Even better.” She nodded her head, the ends of her hair swinging to and fro over her shoulder. “A birthday surprise. Stop by the shop,” she invited again. Then her face brightened. “Or, I can bring the photograph by here if you want.”

Lance raised a brow. Just how accommodating was she? He couldn’t help thinking that this was still all leading somewhere, to some ulterior motive. Bribery? But that didn’t make sense. She’d already paid her fines and besides, none of them had been large enough to warrant bribery to look the other way in the first place. Was there more going on here than he was aware of?

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