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dance. She groaned at how gorgeous he was, then joined him with
a smile, taking his hand and rolling her body over the playful eddies
he carved into the wind for her.
Moments later, they were landing in Helen?s yard and strolling
toward the door, hand in hand. Just as Helen was about to go inside
the house, Lucas stopped her.
?You actually thought I didn?t know, didn?t you?? he asked her incredulously.
?Happy birthday.?
?I totally forgot!? Helen exclaimed with a bemused smile.
?I didn?t,? he said, kissing her. He looked up at the brightly lit
house, and they both listened briefly to an emergency weather report
blaring away on the TV. ?Your dad?s waiting for you. You?d
better go in.?
?Yeah. Kate made me a cake,? Helen said. She grimaced, guilty
over how she?d treated her family this past week.
?Tomorrow, first thing, I?ll be back to get you,? Lucas promised
as he brushed his mouth lightly against hers. ?Then we?ll go to my
house and tell my family. Together.?
?Right. We still have to plead our case,? Helen said. Wrapped
around each other, they kissed for a few more moments, stalling
for time that the storm wouldn?t give them. Finally, Lucas pulled
away. Glancing around at every shadow suspiciously, he told her to
hurry into the house. It was dark out and he was unwilling to leave
her unguarded for even a moment. Helen ran inside and closed the
front door behind her, peering out the window in time to see Lucas
fly away. She called out for her father as she walked into the family
room.
?Jerry isn?t here, Helen,? said a woman?s voice behind her. Helen
spun around, already calling up a bolt, but the woman grabbed her