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"You look fantastic." He said as he stood and scooped her up in his arms. Lauren grinned widely at him. "You picked these yourself?" And she said, "Yes, I did."
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"Beautiful." He commented then tickled her, making her giggle with enjoyment. "Come on. It's playtime." He said and carried her out of the kitchen.
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Claire was grateful for the few moments of respite to compose herself and shake off the tension that had enveloped her and Levi. After a minute she stood up and followed them into the living room. Levi was crouched down on the floor in front of his daughter helping her set up a pink and white toy tea set. The wide indulgent smile on his face made her heart clench. She'd never seen him actually truly smiling. It was full of joy and it reached his eyes, he looked ... happy, almost boyish in his delight. It instantly mesmerized her and she silently moved closer to them. He suddenly raised his head and as he looked at her the smile faded completely and she almost cried out from the sudden and outrageous longing she felt to see him smiling again.
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He regarded her strangely until she realized she was staring. Her face flushed and she awkwardly looked away. He got up and walked past her in order to lean against the doorframe. Claire walked over and knelt down beside Lauren who was fiercely concentrating on arranging all her dolls on the tiny chairs. There was an elephant in a pink dress, two barbies, one blonde and one brunette. There was one chair that was missing an occupant.
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"Do you mind a fourth guest?" She asked and Lauren looked up at her. Claire reached inside her bag and took out a cute, handmade mermaid doll she's seen the previous week at the thrift store. And last night when Levi had told her that Lauren liked mermaids, she'd passed by the store earlier and bought it for her. The doll had black hair and a pink glittery tail. "Here, I think she'll love to have some tea with your friends." She said and handed the doll over to Lauren whose eyes had gone wide with excitement.
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"Oh wow she's sooo pretty. I like mermaids a lot.”She said examining the doll, "What's her name?"
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"She doesn't have one yet. You could name her if you like."
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"Really?" And Claire smiled her confirmation. "Okay." she said and thought of a name.
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"How about Marcy?" she asked while looking up at her, her eyes full of uncertainty.
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Claire's smile widened, "I love it." And that earned her a pleased smile back.
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Lauren put her little Marcy doll on the fourth chair next to the blonde barbie and the elephant “She can sit here next to Cece and Dory.” She then turned to her, "Would you like to join my tea party?" She asked hesitantly as if expecting her to refuse.
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That's when Claire suddenly realized that Lauren was probably very lonely. She had no one to play with and as kind as Pam was she was hardly the type to play games with a child. Claire's heart ached for her because not only did Lauren not have playmates she also didn't have a mother and Claire unfortunately knew what that felt like and it was worse for her because although her mother had been around she hadn't cared about her.
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She sat down on the floor while saying, "I'd be honored." And her response earned her another beautiful, warm smile.
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Claire had never owned any toys as a child nor had she ever played with other children, she had no idea how to go about it. She watched as Lauren placed a tea cup and saucer in front of her and then went on to pour imaginary tea into it from her little kettle. She then gave her a plate with plastic cookies in it. Claire followed her lead as they played pretend but she imagined that because she was so awkward it prompted Lauren to ask her, "Haven't you ever had a pretend tea before?"
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She placed the cup on the table, “No, this is my first time."
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"You didn't have a tea party when you were littler?" She asked confused.
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"I didn't have any toys at all."
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"None?" was Lauren's shocked response.
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She laughed, "None."
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"What did you play with then?"
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"I don't remember playing, I don’t think I ever did. I used to read a lot though, I really enjoyed reading."
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Lauren's mouth formed a silent 'oh' then she said, "I don't know how to read yet."
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"I could show you how if you like. It's quite easy to learn especially for someone as smart as you."
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Lauren looked at her and chewed on her lower lip. "Did you know how to read when you were little like me?"
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"I sure did, I learned very early." Claire took the golden opportunity that had been presented to her. She removed a children's storybook from her bag about mermaid adventures in the ocean. Lauren instantly scooted over and looked at the book. She looked back up at her, "What's this?"
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"This is a story book about a young mermaid who falls in love with a mer-prince. It's a lovely story, I think you'd like it very much. Would you like me to read it to you?"
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Lauren nodded enthusiastically, "Yes please."
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As Claire animatedly read the story Lauren slowly leaned closer to her until she was resting her head on her shoulder and Claire automatically put her arm around her, unconsciously stroking her hair. Fifteen or so minutes later when she turned the last page Lauren looked up at her and pouted, "It's finished already! Oh, I didn't want it to end. I like how he saved her from that mean old lady."
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"What's why she married him, everyone likes a brave and strong hero."
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"I want to marry a prince too." Lauren replied longingly.
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Claire gently laughed, "So do I. Marrying a prince would sure be nice.
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"Do you have another story book?"
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"I have lots of them at home."
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"Are you coming back again?" she asked anxiously.
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"I'f you want me to, I can come back."
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Lauren smiled, "I want you to."
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"How's tomorrow sound?"
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She beamed, "Tomorrow is okay. Will you bring another book ... please." She pleaded.
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"Sure. But you'll have to read it."
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"But ... but I don't know how." She pouted.
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"How about this, when I come tomorrow I'll start showing you how to read then that way you can read all the stories about princes you like. Is that a deal?"
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Lauren thought about it for a second then said, "Okay deal."
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"Shake on it?" Claire asked and they shook hands then they both stood up. As she put the book back in her bag Lauren said, "Here don't forget Marcy."
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"Why don't you keep her. She'll have more fun here with you?"
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"Really?" Was the delighted response and Claire happily said, "Sure, as long as you promise to take very good care of her."
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"I promise."
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When Lauren ran to the door saying, "Look daddy." Claire realized that Levi hadn't left the room. He was still leaning against the door. She had assumed he'd left a while ago, he hadn't even made a sound. Heat spread up her face as it dawned on her that he'd been watching them the entire time. It was scary how silent and stealthy he was.
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He knelt in front of his daughter and gently ran his fingers on the doll as if it were a delicate specimen, "Take care of her like Claire said."
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"Yes daddy I will. I want to go and show Pam." She said and ran out of the door. Claire reached him as he straightened.
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"Impressive. You got her to agree to let you teach her how to read."
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Claire feeling warmed by his praise, smiled and said, "I just saw an opportunity and took it. I'll start teaching her tomorrow."
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"Was that true?" He asked unexpectedly.
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Puzzled, she responded, "What?"
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"That you didn't have any toys when you were a child."
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She shifted and said, "Yes it's true. My mother wasn't the toy buying kind of parent."
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"What about your father?"
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She ran a hand through her hair, "I never knew him." Then she laughed nervously, "I don't think she knew who he was either."
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"That must have been tough on a kid."
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She could have said, 'you have no idea' but she kept that to herself. When she looked up at him she was shocked by the deep intensity in his gaze, it made her feel exposed and naked. Like he could see all the things she kept hidden inside. Things she'd rather remain buried and unacknowledged.
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She shrugged and looked away, "Well, I should get going."
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He nodded and followed her as she left the living room and entered the hallway. Because of the prickling sensation she felt down her back she knew his eyes were all over her. She opened the door and walked to her car with him silently following behind her.
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She turned and faced him, "Thanks for the breakfast and please tell Pam and Lauren that I said goodbye."
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"Sure."
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As she turned away from him intending to go on and open her car she stepped on a stone and tripped. She would have fallen flat on her behind had it not been for Levi's quick, sure reflexes. His strong, powerful hands landed on her waist and caught her. He effortlessly turned her around, towards him. She held on to his upper arms as he brought her firmly on her feet. She was so close to him that she could smell his sexy, musky scent and it's potency wrecked havoc on her already fragile senses.
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She looked up and saw the tiny golden flecks in his dark, unyielding eyes. Her gaze slowly moved down to his sensual lips, resting briefly on the full lower one. And she instantly remembered how it had felt all those years ago when he'd kissed her and she desperately longed to feel those sinfully delicious sensations again. To be surrounded by his strength and warmth, to feel his tongue stroke and move against hers. Her hands flexed on his arms as she subconsciously moved her head upwards as if to sate her desire with the taste of him.
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But she thankfully came back to her senses and stopped herself right in the nick of time. Her face turned red with embarrassment. She pushed herself away from him and gently removed his hands from her waist, "Thanks." She said breathlessly and stepped back.
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"No problem." He said in a husky voice. It was a small consolation when she finally chanced a glance at him and realised that he'd been as affected by their close proximity as she had been. But it didn't alleviate her mortification of how she'd nearly thrown herself at him. She mumbled a quick 'see you tomorrow.' got in her car and drove out without looking back.
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As she made her way back home she noticed that it was the first time since she'd entered Levi's house that she was breathing normally. She almost laughed hysterically when she thought about the days that loomed ahead were she'd have to spend time in his presence. Considering how deeply alarmed she was by her uncontrollable response to him it was a wonder how she was going to survive. No other man had ever made her so achingly aware that she was a woman. It was as if the eight years she hadn't seen him had magically melted away. He made her want things she had no business wanting, she wanted him kissing her and loving her, his strong, rough hands touching every inch of her ...
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Claire ruefully shook her head and stopped her thoughts from going any further in that dangerous direction so she focused on more sold ground. Levi had made it so clear to her that she was alone and she hated it. As it was, she was on her way to an empty house. There wasn't a loving husband waiting for her at home, certainly not a pretty little daughter needing her either. For a moment, when Lauren had rested her head against her shoulder Claire had imagined what it would be like if she'd been the girl’s mother and her heart had broken at the thought that she'd probably never be anyone's wife or mother.
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She was probably too broken inside to do anyone any real good anyway. She was as alone now as she'd been for virtually her entire life. Maybe it would help if she accepted the probability that she would be alone for the rest of her life because what she truly wanted seemed entirely out of the realm of possibilities. She touched her cheek and felt a wetness there and realised that she was crying. She shook her head in anger and disbelief. What in the world was wrong with her lately! She'd never before been a cryer but recently, she'd been crying a lot and for no apparent reason.
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She cursed softly and roughy wiped the tears away with the palm of her hand. Maybe she should have married Greg. Maybe they could have had a happy life together, maybe even had a kid or two and a dog. Maybe two dogs and a cat. She'd met him at college and they'd quickly become friends. After a while he had suggested that since they got on so well that maybe they should try and have a relationship. She'd agreed, figuring that since she liked him, she could grow to love him as well.
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But a year into it when he had asked her to marry him she'd realised that she would never love him. Not in a way a wife should love her husband and to his dismay she had ended things. They had tried to remain friends but things hadn't been the same and their friendship had eventually died. Maybe if she'd married him she might have eventually loved him, maybe it could have worked.
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Well, a whole lot of maybes were useless. It was too late. He was now happily married with a second child on the way.
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She sighed as she turned into her driveway. It was just the loneliness talking, messing with her. She knew she had done the right thing by ending things with Greg. Marrying him would have only caused more unnecessary pain and heartache later. She was happy he had moved on and found someone who truly loved him. She wouldn't have been content with him. That much she knew. Maybe if he'd made her feel even a tenth of how Levi had made her feel the day he'd kissed her maybe they could have made it.
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Fortunately she wasn't lacking in the male attention department. She got asked out plenty of times but she often refused. It was as if Levi had ruined her for any other man. She wanted what he'd given her that day and she couldn't settle for anything less. Maybe that's why she'd end up dying alone because no one was like Levi. No one!
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He simply mesmerised her. He'd cast a spell on her and she was completely lost. The depth of her feelings for him frightened her since she didn't even know him that well at all. All she knew was how she felt when she was around him. Her heart beat like a wild pagan drum during a full moon dance. Her breasts tightened and ached. There was a constant throbbing sensation between her legs and all she could think about was wanting, no needing to touch and be touched ...Wait a minute, she was ... aroused.
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That's it! She was always aroused when ever she was near him. She laughed out loud as she got out of her car and thought back on all their previous encounters over the years and it was suddenly glaringly clear. He'd always made her feel that way. And became she had been young and inexperienced she'd been alarmed by it, not knowing what it was. But even then her body had known and had responded to him in a deeply primitive way, as a woman responds to a man she finds sexually desirable.
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