Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

"Does he?" Wayne shot back.

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Cole chuckled, waving Xander forward. "You tell me. Or do you need to look closer to figure it out?"

Xander stepped closer, stopping just shy of Jace and Wayne. At this distance, they could see everything-every line, every feature, every little detail.

And so could I. My breath hitched, and that voice deep in my chest screamed louder than ever: He was Hayden.

"You've really gone all out for this. Where'd you dig up someone like him?" Jace sneered.

Cole's smile didn't waver. "Fate," he said casually, then turned to me. "Wouldn't you agree?"

I didn't bite. My eyes stayed on Xander, searching, digging past the surface, desperate for even the faintest sign that he was Hayden.

"Xander," Cole said, finally cutting to the chase, "Ms. Kay has taken quite the liking to you. She wants to keep you. What do you say?"

those kinds of service." The implication landed hard. Wayne and Jace's faces darkened immediately, their faces darkened instantly. Cole turned back to me with an exaggerated shrug. "See? Told you. He's

else, I'll take my

squeeze that silently

rising from my

closed the gap between us in two quick steps, reached out, and hooked

are you doing?" Jace's angry

"She's flirting," Lena quipped.

my hand drifted to Xander's neck, fingers brushing the back of it, searching. My heart

up, even brushing the back of his head. Still, nothing. I leaned closer,

there-small, distinct, impossible to miss. But the guy standing in front of

dropped, the realization hitting hard. That hope keeping me afloat

next to me, her hand curled around my arm. Her

to report a harassment. This lady just laid hands on

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were Hayden, there's no way he'd pull this stunt-not when it could blow his cover. He said it without a second's hesitation. That

flicker of hope burned out, leaving this