ChaChapter 42 42


    friend Joy.


    other stien estatent as a church mouse, suddenly port into tours withouthout delirious and nt she


    dould hardly catch her breath in the and, the principinnately rely, Laura. She


    ont hathavathatap on the wrist.


    was veca he hur o her parents were done, so no one was left to protect lect ery nemenc non from her


    parents had shattered


    if being held in


    Thad rushed


    ing of hors houtwith Curtis, the noticed the child wearing a charm he controtheses but stare a little


    longer.


    and loved,


    no in no eles eyd: and sharnelessly teased. Like it? Want ne to swiDevice


    ome and


    never got


    hehe panacked cked and fanruff crying to his father.


    sappearines thetochetednds from embarrassment and inne fit offit of


    Curtis, urtiss


    road hendust tunalorp Despite that, with a teasing grin, he pinched are way too sensisen solta no bang


    outwith me


    ?sionate.


    Lerly shameless Esther the war honte, she confided in him about heroon do-over. tecting him 10 take


    tachetoheart.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ve her was take the fanesth kind and you’d find at a store. It was us sterolece that was incredily ende


    andearing cite green jade, still warmurm


    soctring acainst her skin. skin.


    THE


    nine found herself tearing appnerneas dawstpuno uncontrobly. Curtis


    BIS?


    by wiped them away widy his fingertipsertips..


    stop crying, even escuros palms andre trenched. Finally, he cupped ner, unasked and undeniablerable


    by kiss was etched imo Leannes mesony formulong doumsess sleepless s, she would find herself back


    in that shew scene, neid in a warm


    the gentle voice of a roaforang hendben bon’t cry from now on,


    . He began


    ion for them.


    rge sweet days. Curtis loved to tease har when she site slept, pinching offher breath until she woke up,


    dazed, only to by to be erased by his


    slept like a little piglet


    and sometimes affectionately referred to hates singerling


    ends andavas the life of the party wherever he were, wateLeae teanne


    11:57


    Chapter 42


    was more of an introvert, preferring to stay in unless she had ns with her friend Joy. But Curtis would


    ditch his buddies to stay home with her.


    Once, while he was on a business trip, Leanne got sick with a fever. She was delirious with illness,


    barely conscious, when she thought she heard Curtis speaking to Laura. She dismissed it as a


    hallucination until she felt the familiar warmth and scent of being held in his arms. The difort


    seemed to ease a bit


    Sheter found out that he had tried calling her several times to no avail and had rushed.


    back from work to check on her.


    During that time, Leanne felt as if she was floating on cloud nine, cherished and loved, slowly emerging


    from her shell to stretch out her delicate feelers.


    asionally, she’d get annoyed and throw a tantrum, waiting for Curtis toe and soothe her. When


    he teased her, she’d dare to punch or kick him, but Curtis never got mad.


    “With that weak grip, it’s almost like you’re trying to flirt with me.” he teased.


    Leanne was a slow burner, but the love Curtis gave was too intense and passionate.


    She couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love.


    As spring warmed the air, Curtis impulsively decided they needed a honeymoon do-over.


    At first, Leanne thought he was joking, but then she realized he was serious. He began working


    overtime, rushing through his business affairs to carve out a vacation for them.


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