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Cracking open one eye, Carli noticed the light that filtered through the partially closed, opaque curtains. She guessed it was about eight. Lifting her head off the pillow, she confirmed the time, then shifted her gaze to Ethan. He was slumped in the desk chair, legs askew, one arm dangled while the other rested across his belly, and the growth of beard that darkened his jaw added a particular edge to his handsome face. He had stayed. The corners of her mouth curled into a smile. She sat up and leaned closer to him.
Sensing her movements in his light doze, Ethan opened his eyes. Sleep tousled curls, warm hazel eyes, and a smile that confirmed the storm had passed, filled his vision. There were no indications of the previous evening’s meltdown. Straightening the kink in his neck, he sa
