LITMIR.BIZ

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gave Graham the opportunity to ask a few questions about her, he might not feel so exposed. Deciding to give him that opportunity, Courtney left her chair and walked over to where Graham stood.

      “I can understand how unsettling it must be for me to know so much about you when you know nothing about me,” she said.

      Was it her imagination, or was he staring at her lips?

      “So?” Courtney offered. “Is there anything you do want to ask about me, Graham?”

      “Yes,” he said. “Why would a successful career woman from New York want to get involved with some deaf guy from Alaska and his bratty teenage daughter?”

      Courtney laughed. “Well, when you put it that way, it makes me wonder why myself.” She paused before she added, “You have an amazing daughter, Graham, even though you’re upset with her right now. In fact, for the past three months, Rachel has been the one bright spot in my day.”

      His expression softened slightly. “Even when she was complaining about her horrible life here?” he asked.

      Is that what was bothering him? Was Graham worried Rachel had aired all of their dirty laundry? If that was the problem, she could clear that misconception up real quick.

      “You have my word, Graham,” Courtney said, “never once has Rachel said anything but wonderful things about you.”

      He didn’t look convinced. “Only because she was trying to sell you on me.”

      “Believe me,” Courtney said, “it wasn’t a hard sale.”

      The words just hung there.

      Courtney couldn’t take them back.

      And Graham didn’t seem to know what to say.

      Thankfully a loud bark defused the situation.

      “Showtime,” Courtney said, moving closer to Graham and sliding her arm around his waist.

      “And how far are we going to take this?” he asked.

      “Far enough to be convincing until you tell her the truth.”

      Graham put his arm around her shoulder. And his arm did feel good around her—too good. Courtney breathed in his scent—all manly and intoxicating. And though she knew she was only torturing herself, Courtney couldn’t help but notice how perfectly they fit together.

      “Now what?” he asked, snapping her back to reality.

      “Smile and look happy,” Courtney said.

      BROADWAY BOUNDED THROUGH the front door first and ran straight to her father. Rachel stopped dead in her tracks. She simply couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

      Her dad?

      Smiling from ear to ear?

      In a clutch with a woman he’d just met?

      Unfreakingbelievable!

      All Rachel could do was stare.

      “Well, aren’t you going to say hello to Courtney?” her dad asked as if she weren’t late getting home.

      “Hi,” Rachel managed, but it came out as a squeak.

      “Come here, you,” Courtney said.

      Before Rachel knew what was happening, Courtney flew across the room and engulfed her in a big hug. And when she let Rachel go, she stepped back and smiled.

      “I’m so happy to finally meet you, Rachel,” she gushed. “You’re even prettier in person than you are in your pictures.”

      “Thanks,” was all Rachel could think to say.

      Although Rachel doubted Courtney really cared. Miss So-Happy-To-Meet-You had already hurried back across the room to wrap herself around dear old Dad again.

      “We have every right to be angry with you, young lady,” her father said.

      Rachel held her breath, expecting the worst.

      What she got instead was another big smile.

      “But how can we be angry,” he added, “when you’re the one responsible for bringing us together?”

      “It was love at first sight,” Courtney said.

      “Totally,” her dad agreed.

      Huh?

      Rachel couldn’t believe it. Not only was her dad still grinning like some silly buffoon, but he had just said totally for the first time in his life. Had he completely lost his mind? That was the only explanation Rachel had for his goofy behavior.

      “In fact,” he said, “Courtney and I have already decided now that we’ve found each other, we don’t want to be apart for a minute. Right, Courtney?”

      “Absolutely,” Courtney said, smiling up at him.

      And then he kissed her.

      On the mouth!

      In a flash, Rachel was mentally packing her bags. She could see herself running through Central Park with Broadway. And she would take Broadway back to New York with her. Millions of people had dogs in the city no matter what her dad said.

      Other images quickly filled her head.

      She could order Chinese takeout any hour of the day or night—and man, how she had missed Chinese takeout. She could shop on Fifth Avenue. She could go to the Met anytime she wanted. She could see a musical on the real Broadway. And attend the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center for the first time in years. She could even be in Times Square for the big ball drop on New Year’s Eve.

      Rachel was on the verge of jumping up and down. She couldn’t wait to tell Tiki. She really had been granted a freaking miracle. Finally, she could go to a regular high school with boys and girls her own age. Finally, she could experience what it was like to be a normal teenager.

      “Courtney’s agreed to move to Alaska to be with us. Isn’t that great?”

      “What?” Rachel shrieked.

      And that’s when she saw her dad’s expression change before her eyes. Now his jaw was rigid—his smile gone. And the reaction Rachel had been expecting all along quickly followed.

      “A lie isn’t so funny when you’re on the receiving end of that lie, is it, Rachel?”

      Rachel balled her fists together. He was using his serious father-knows-best voice. She hated when he did that.

      “And save yourself the trouble of thinking up any more schemes,” he warned. “We are not moving back to New York under any circumstances. And that’s final.”

      For one brief second, Rachel truly hated her father.

      “You can’t control my life forever!” Rachel screamed back at him. “When I turn eighteen I will move to New York City. And I’ll never come back to this miserable place again. Ever. That’s final!”

      Sobbing, Rachel ran from the room.

      Faithfully, Broadway trotted after her.

      CHAPTER FIVE

      COURTNEY FLINCHED WHEN a door slammed in the distance. Slowly, she and Graham untangled themselves, then quickly stepped away from each other.

      “That went well, didn’t it?” was all he said.

      He didn’t mention that second kiss.

      Neither did Courtney. She’d analyze the kiss later. At the moment, her only concern was Rachel.

      “I had no idea Rachel would be so upset when I talked you into teasing her, Graham. I need to go apologize.”

      “Apologize? Don’t be ridiculous. Rachel’s the one who needs to apologize to you.”

      “And

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