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Page 160
They had shared an intimate experience last night that she had found wonderful. But he had left her quickly that morning. Had it truly been to protect her reputation with Hannahor did he now consider her a fallen woman, a seductress, and might he use that as an excuse to banish her?
Andoh, dear lordwhat would she do if she were pregnant?
She had to face whatever would happen. Looking in a mirror, she examined herself. Her lips were full and somewhat bruised from Mike's avid kisses the night before. Her dark eyes looked huge, and she appeared frightened. That would never doeven though it was the truth.
Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin. There. That was better. She headed downstairs.
She found Mike at a table on a veranda right outside the kitchen that overlooked the greenery-filled courtyard. Ignoring the lush view of the valley below, he studied an expanse of newspaper. His pale blue shirt, of a stretchy fabric, molded tightly to muscles that she had seen bared not long before. Flushing, she tossed him an uncertain smile as he rose to pull out her chair.
The way he squeezed her shoulder seemed reassuring, but he moved away as Hannah bustled out the door. She again wore that silly white cap upon her purple-black hair, but today her pinafore was over a dress of bright green. "Good morning, Abby!" she effused.
Abby swallowed her discomfort. Did Hannah not know Mike had been alone with her in her

 
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