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He laughed. “Probably. People tell me I’m not very smooth. I’ve never figured out why.”

Hollywood emerged from the hallway, Ruby at his side. I glanced over. “I should go.”

“Yeah, I’ve got an actual job to do here,” Kit said. “But I’ll hear from you?”

I waggled my phone. “That’s what this is for.”

He smiled and nodded as I backed away. I returned to Hollywood and Ruby. “Hey, how did it go?”

“Good.” He nudged me. “But maybe not as good as it went for you with the hottie, huh?”

My face heated and I glanced back toward Kit, unable to suppress a smile. “Oh, we just⁠—”

The words dried on my tongue.

A woman in a wheelchair rolled up to Kit. She lifted a drink carrier—much like the one I’d taken to Hollywood’s place this morning. Her voice carried across the lobby as she spoke.

“I was out running errands, so I brought you a coffee.”

She looked familiar. But she couldn’t be⁠—

“Dakota, you didn’t have to go to that trouble,” Kit said.

She shrugged. “Maybe I just wanted to see my little brother working his magic.”

I clutched at Hollywood’s arm like it was a lifeline, because I was suddenly drowning.

“Quick. We have to leave.”

“What? Why?”

I scooped up Ruby from the floor and hustled for the door. “Hurry.”

I flung open the glass door and took the steps two at a time, Hollywood on my heels.

“What’s the rush?” he asked.

“Let’s just get to the car.”

“Kit was talking to his sister, Joy. She wasn’t a girlfriend or anything, if that’s what you’re worried about?”

I handed Ruby to Hollywood and jerked open the passenger door. I climbed inside and slumped low, shaking.

“Okay, this isn’t about jealousy, is it? What’s going on?”

“I wish it was,” I mumbled. “Kit’s sister… That’s Dakota Willis.”

“And you know her name because…”

“Because I’m the one who put her in the wheelchair, Holly. That’s the driver from my accident. She’s para—” My voice broke. “Paralyzed.”

“Oh my god.” His eyes went wide. “And that’s not the first time you met Kit, is it? You two…”

“We hooked up at a club in Omaha,” I rasped. “Yeah. We were just flirting. Oh my god, this is a nightmare. This is exactly what I deserve. He’ll hate me. I’m sure he already does. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

CHAPTER 2

KIT